"Technology and Design in Harmony" - the New Fukuoka Linear Metro

With the inauguration of the line No.3 project in Fukuoka on February 29th, Japan's fourth Linear Metro System has been successfully launched. With a linear motor for propulsion, this new type of subway incorporates many additional features - notably a smaller, compact cross-section and as a consequence, a smaller tunnel diameter, substantially reducing construction costs.

1. New Technology and New Design

Right from the start, the Fukuoka Municipal Subway Authorities wanted to combine new technology with a completely new type of train, designed to offer a new level of quality and comfort for its passengers, together with a modern exterior image. In a development process of nearly 3 years, the Design Division of Hitachi, the engineers of Hitachi's Kasado Works, as a manufactuer of the trains, and I, the German industrial designer Alexander Neumeister, with his Munich team, designed a new type of metro image, which hopefully will set standards for future Japanese metro-trains. as well. The 2 teams jointly designed both exterior- and interior of the new metro from the overall image up to the smallest detail.

1. Front detail of the Fukuoka Linear Metro 3000
2. Font view of the exterior
3. Inauguration ceremony
4. Side view and top view illustration of the front car

2. Small Size with Big Interior

One of the many design challenges was to create a roomy, comfortable interior despite reduced dimensions. And here, designers have many - sometimes very subtle - resources at hand. Like the placement and distribution of interior - lights more towards the side-walls which will help make the interior appear larger. Or using linear structures for ceiling and floor surfaces which will reduce the visual length of the car interior. Hand-poles which will bend outwards towards the side-walls, more out of sight for the standing passengers and the use of glass or even mirror finishes, large sized windows and more transparent end-doors.

Why use large side windows in a subway, when you will travel through dark tunnels anyway?

What might seem senseless, actually is a very important factor in avoiding a sensation of claustrophobia while traveling in small spaces felt by quite a number of metro passengers. The first, decisive impression for the passenger is created when he enters the subway in the station! And there, large windows, showing the platform or even a large hall, will give him a large-space feeling, an impression of space, which is repeated when he arrives a few minutes later at the next station, after a short stay in a dark tunnel.

The combination of colors and materials as well play an important role in creating a positive sensation! The interiors of high-density public transport vehicles cannot be compared with the interiors of a private car, but using a mix of wood, aluminium, stainless-steel and light colors, combined with more expressive colors for textiles and flooring, will create an inviting and practical environment. Many little details, not so obvious at first sight, are important in supporting this effort - like the mounting of advertisement boards on the curved corner - panels with plastic cover, or the newly designed line - display over the doors using the signal colors of the new line. It is this combination of all elements - especially designed for this train - which will hopefully turn a stay in the new linear metro into a rewarding and positive experience.

5. Drivers area
6. A spacious passenger area despite a small cross section
7. Information display at end-wall
8. Semi-separate seats

3. Clean Lines and Timeless Elegance

Much effort went into the design of the exterior - even though, with the new platform security system only the upper part of the cars will be visible. The lines of the softly rounded head of the first car with its carefully integrated emergency exit are continued along the sides of the train - featuring a color combination of white and green - the dominant color-sheme of the new metro line. Hitachi's double skin aluminium extrusion technology gives the exterior a high-quality appearance which underlines the overall quality of the exterior.

4. A Future without Drivers

This new metro is already prepared for a novelty - a fully automatic operation without drivers, planned for the years to come. At present, both forms of operation are possible, but the designers have already integrated a transparent counter instead of a closed wall which until now has separated the driver and the passengers. From now on, it will be possible to look onto the track over the shoulders of the driver - an exciting, new experience !

Photo : Hiroyuki Okatsugi, STUDIO NEXT