#Railway

The Utsunomiya LRT, Supporting the Compact City Concept, is Running Smoothly

On August 26, 2023, the Light Rail Transit (LRT) "Light Line" opened in Utsunomiya City, marking the first LRT in Japan in 75 years and the first new LRT in the country as it is not an extension or improvement of an existing line. PACIFIC CONSULTANTS participated in the introduction of this LRT, which is expected to play a major role in the next generation of public transportation networks, as a member of the joint venture. They were mainly responsible for the design of sections that were considered difficult to construct on the new line, such as the improvement of the Minemachi Overpass and the Kinu River Bridge. Bunya IKEHATA from the Transportation Infrastructure Div., Osaka Headquarters, who led the project, and Takenori MIKAWA from Railway Planning Sec., Railway Dept., Transportation Infrastructure Div., reflected on the project.

What is LRT?

2026.07.01 #Mobility #Road #Railway Attention is growing on the next-generation light rail transit (LRT) system. In August 2023, a new line opened in Utsunomiya City, the first in 75 years. What kind of new urban transportation system is this, which also plays an important role in urban development known as compact cities, and what points should be considered when planning its introduction? We talked to Bunya IKEHATA, General Manager of the Transportation Infrastructure Dept., Osaka Headquarters who is centrally involved in LRT introduction projects, and Takenori MIKAWA, General Manager of Railway Planning Sec., Railway Dept., Transportation Infrastructure Div. of PACIFIC CONSULTANTS to find out.

What is TOD?

TOD was first proposed in the United States in the early 1990s. Over 30 years have passed since then, and various TOD initiatives have been undertaken not only in Japan but also around the world, further developing the original concept and adding new elements, with great results and new possibilities becoming apparent. Yasuo KANNAMI, Vice President of Global Company and General Manager of the International Project Management Dept. who engaged in both domestic and internal TOD projects in PACIFIC CONSULTANTS, Masaya NAKANO, General Manager of the Urban and Transportation Sec. of the International Smart Planning Dept. of Global Company, and Hidetoshi TAMAOKA, Chief Project Manager, talk about the present and future of TOD as seen through their initiatives.

Taking Responsibility for the "Once In a Century" Shibuya Great Renovation  <Part 2>

The large-scale redevelopment of the area around Shibuya station is said to be a "once in a century" event, not because many skyscrapers will be built. It is because it is an attempt to reinvent the area into a completely new town through cooperation between the public and private sectors, moving the station, changing the flow of the river, and creating a new pedestrian network. Moreover, it is unprecedented in that it will be realized while maintaining the functions of a huge terminal. PACIFIC CONSULTANTS has been involved in this project since the early planning stages and continues to support it up to day. We talked to five people who have been central persons in the project for many years: Ryuji KOWAKI, Hisashi KUBO, Takayasu NIWA, Yoshio NAMIKI, and Terue KAMINO.

Taking Responsibility for the "Once In a Century" Shibuya Great Renovation <Part 1>

The large-scale redevelopment of the area around Shibuya station is said to be a "once in a century" event, not because many skyscrapers will be built. It is because it is an attempt to reinvent the area into a completely new town through cooperation between the public and private sectors, moving the station, changing the flow of the river, and creating a new pedestrian network. Moreover, it is unprecedented in that it will be realized while maintaining the functions of a huge terminal. PACIFIC CONSULTANTS has been involved in this project since the early planning stages and continues to support it up to day. We talked to five people who have been central persons in the project for many years: Ryuji KOWAKI, Hisashi KUBO, Takayasu NIWA, Yoshio NAMIKI, and Terue KAMINO.

Hokuriku Shinkansen Tsuruga Extension Project Vol.3 ~ Kakehashigawa Bridge ~

The Kakehashi River is a first-class river that originates at Suzugatake in Komatsu City, flows north through the mountains, enters the plains, then changes direction to the west before flowing into the Sea of Japan. The downstream area is surrounded by the Komatsu city area, making it a valuable open space and a place of relaxation for local residents, who go for walks, fishing, boating, etc. It is also in this downstream section that the Hokuriku Shinkansen crosses the Kakehashi River just before Komatsu Station, and because the river is wide, bridge piers must be built across the river channel. As well as flood control, it became more important than anything to reach an agreement with the river manager, who is promoting the development and conservation of the river environment that is loved by local residents.

Hokuriku Shinkansen Tsuruga Extension Project Vol.2 ~Miyama Tunnel~

The Miyama Tunnel, located just before the end of the line at Tsuruga Station, is less than 800 meters long. It is much shorter than the Shin-Hokuriku Tunnel (approximately 19.8 km) and the Kaga Tunnel (approximately 5.5 km). However, this tunnel was one of the tunnels that required particular environmental consideration in the construction of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension. Miyama is one of the water sources for the Nakaikemi Wetland - a wetland designated with Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, and it was necessary to minimize the impact on the groundwater.

Hokuriku Shinkansen Tsuruga Extension Project Vol.1 ~ Okura Yoza Bridge ~

The Shinkansen, which travels at a speed of 260km per hour, requires extremely high precision in its bridge piers. The allowable deflection is only a few millimeters. This is why engineers who aspire to be civil engineers think, "I want to work on the Shinkansen someday." Furthermore, the Okura Yoza Bridge had to be built on soft ground with a maximum pier's height of about 30m. This was one of the most difficult projects in the long history of Shinkansen construction.