Post by nickchu

• The city of Seoul plans to build a gondola across the Han River. The intention is to connect major leisure attractions and cultural sites on the river’s banks. While station locations have not yet been selected, there are four options currently being examined. The local government will start accepting construction proposals after doing initial environmental impact and technical feasibility studies. There is no timeline for the project.

• The world’s highest ski lift is in one of the oldest resorts in France, Chamonix Mont-Blanc. The Aiguille du Midi cable car rises a total of 9,209 feet in just 2.3 miles. The system has three stations total, with the elevation for the lower, mid, and upper stations being 3,392 feet, 7,602 feet, and 12,395 feet, respectively. The journey from the mid station to the upper is the steepest vertical climb by any ski lift in the world. The system is not only used by skiers, but over the years has become a popular tourist attraction due to its beautiful panoramic views.

• The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) for North Texas is looking for congested areas in select cities, hoping to build autonomous gondolas. RTC has requested cities to submit their most congested areas to study and ultimately select the first location for this new technology. The cabins are to be self-propelled, unlike traditional gondolas that are propelled by the haul rope. This application has yet to be built, and it is unknown when construction on the first will begin.

• London has unveiled a new transit alternative to the Luton airport: the Luton Dart. The £290 million automated guided people mover takes the 30-minute journey down to 3 minutes, replacing a slow and infrequent shuttle. The Dart, or Direct Air-Rail Transit, carries 170 passengers in its four walkthrough cars. Fare will be £4.90 per adult, half price for children 5-15, and free for children under 5.