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© KYODOTokyo eyes revitalizing water transport for 2020 Olympics
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kurisupisu
"But it remains uncertain whether water transportation will pay for itself as it is not widely known among the public and most of the docks are inaccessible from train and subway stations."
Right!
Without large numbers of users or big corporations subsidizing the routes then this is doomed from the start...
gogogo
This should be a major investment from the government, high speed ferries could bring so many people in and out of Tokyo without the trains.
gelendestrasse
All my friends were amazed when I found the tour boats from Hanode to Asakusa. They had no idea it was there. Of course it was a bit of a walk from the Yamanote line so all the points about no stations and no advertising are true.
Tokyo-Engr
I have used the boats several times - mostly when visitors come. For me they are convenient due to where I live. They would need to bring the price down a bit but I think this has the potential to be a great idea. I can see the Olympic village being built from my window and a couple of venue locations and I think this could work. Shuttles would be needed from a few of the train stops but there is certainly potential here I think.
Dango bong
the government is changing a lot of laws and rules just for a two week even that will be forgotten the day after its done
Derek Grebe
Dango - you're not wrong there. The blind belief that the Olympics will be a magical long-term cure for the economy astonishes me. Look how well Rio is doing after their Olympics. How many years has the UK been going through Austerity government?
Still, don't worry, we will ever know how much of our money was filched by this boondoggle. We have an established precedent from the Nagano Olympics - just destroy all the records.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/digest/daily/jan99/nagano21.htm
But after all, if we didn't throw money at this, it would only be wasted on fripperies like pensions and child care. Who needs future generations when you can have two weeks of running around and jumping?
JeffLee
Over the decades, Tokyo's planners have viewed the port, Sumida and other bodies of water as a hindrance, making them less and less accessible and removing their role from commercial and social life. Good luck trying to reverse this entrenched mindset.
Harry_Gatto
Wrong! Hinode station on the Yurikamome line is two minutes from the water bus terminal. Take the Yurikamome from Shimbashi station on the Yamanote Line.........................
Goodlucktoyou
with the M9.8 quake happening soon, these waterways and boats may be the safest place to be. the city will be destroyed, so water transport will be paramount.
Disillusioned
You can bet it won't be a ¥1,000 cruise when the Olympics are on.
The Apartment
Hotaluna is cool !
lostrune2
Even New York City got its ferry fleet going for the same price as a subway or bus ticket (flat $2.75 fare)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/29/nyregion/new-york-ferry.html
So a ferry system in a crowded city subway system can be done correctly
Luddite
The problem with river transport is that, by necessity, it's a slow way to get about. You can't move at particularly high speeds due to other water traffic and the risk of erosion of the riverbank. The river bus on the Thames is lovely if you have all day, but if you just want to get from A to B it doesn't work.
englisc aspyrgend
The boats in the picture at the top of the story are nice looking vessels and good for tourist trips but a ferry will need something larger. And if it serves beer so much the better! That will encourage users!
Nippori Nick
Many people remember the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, so not sure they will be "forgotten" the next day.
Whether they are a good use of money, my opinion is no they are not.