Sapporo City to get new trams

[bikkuri bahn]

The trams will be low floor designs, and will replace the oldest trams currently operating, which have been in use since 1958.  One vehicle will be introduced in spring of 2013, and two more in spring 2014.  No word on the builder yet.

 

article (Japanese):

http://www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/news/donai/347543.html

[Nozomi]

wow! beauty! looks like an oversized smart phone...

[miyakoji]

No word on the builder yet.

Let's see, what are the options...

 

Alna Sharyo - part of Hankyu Holdings, built recent Toden Arakawa Line cars.  In fact it looks like they're the manufacturer of all the cars currently on the Arakawa Line

 

Niigata Transys - built Okayama Tramway 9200 and Toyama Chitetsu 9000 class

 

Kinki Sharyo - with Mitsubishi and Toyo Denki built Hiroshima's Green Mover cars

 

Nippon Sharyo - they don't appear to build a lot of trams but Toyama Chitetsu's 8000 class trams are from them

 

 

I'm going to guess... Kinki Sharyo, mostly because of appearance.

[bikkuri bahn]

wow! beauty! looks like an oversized smart phone...

 

Yes, I'm happy they use more black than standardeverywhereonnewtrains white, much more chic IMO.

[westfalen]

I don't know which is stranger to our non-Japanese ways, that builders entertain bidding for a three tram order or that the first one will be delivered next year.

[Guest ___]

Of course I can see it now, NHK reporting Ninja Tram kills 100th inattentive pedestrian.

[bill937ca]

Here`s a German web site tracking low floor trams.

 

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=de&tl=en&twu=1&u=http://www.strassenbahn-online.de/Betriebshof/LF100/index.html&usg=ALkJrhh-JBNOrPfgYo_8xj5gv4gM1Gpy-A

[marknewton]

I wonder what will happen to the 1958 cars when they're withdrawn - the chairman of my tramway museum has some good contacts in Sapporo!

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

[bikkuri bahn]

I wonder what will happen to the 1958 cars when they're withdrawn - the chairman of my tramway museum has some good contacts in Sapporo!

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

 

I certainly hope they will find new owners rather than be scrapped.  Here is the type slated for replacement, the 210 series:

(in modern livery, not my favorite):

http://js3vxw.cocolog-nifty.com/photos/sapporo_c/sapporo_c_211.html

(in original livery, better):

http://js3vxw.cocolog-nifty.com/photos/sapporo_c/sapporo_c_215.html

 

I do hope Sapporo still keeps my favorite tram running, M101, which is still kept in its original colors, and occasionally runs.  This picture is on front of the Central Library, where I visit typically every two weeks, as it has an excellent railway book collection.

[westfalen]

I've always liked them, they have a bit more style than some of the modern plastic and glass boxes on wheels.

[keitaro]

yeah i share no enthusiasm for those. Getting to boring why do everyone have to go with the new technologically advanced look from the future.

[westfalen]

I bet in the new ones you won't be able to hear the traction motors grinding away as you accelerate or the air compressor thumping when you stop either.

[bill937ca]

I bet in the new ones you won't be able to hear the traction motors grinding away as you accelerate or the air compressor thumping when you stop either.

And that is why I have little interest in new trams.

[marknewton]

I do hope Sapporo still keeps my favorite tram running, M101, which is still kept in its original colors, and occasionally runs.  This picture is on front of the Central Library, where I visit typically every two weeks, as it has an excellent railway book collection.

 

Nice looking car. We'd be glad to give it a good home! 

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

[bikkuri bahn]

In addition to the new trams, the current tram line will be extended to close the gap between Susukino and 4 chome, making the line a loop.  This portion actually had a line, but was torn up with the building of the subway line for the 1972 Winter Olympics. At that time, the tracks were in the middle of the boulevard, but this time they will be on the sides, which is safer and more pedestrian friendly (see attached pic).

[westfalen]

I always thought the Sapporo trams were interesting because you could spend 45 minutes riding from one end of the line to the other and end up two blocks away from where you started, now you will be able to ride all day and end up where you started.

[bikkuri bahn]

I always thought the Sapporo trams were interesting because you could spend 45 minutes riding from one end of the line to the other and end up two blocks away from where you started, now you will be able to ride all day and end up where you started.

 

Yes hopefully the lines to Soen and Naebo will also be built.  Sapporo is a city with sprawling suburbs dependent on cars (sound familiar?).  Developing the inner core should be a priority, given the aging population.