TASK _ DESIGN A MOBILITY CONCEPT FOR RURAL AREAS
WITH A FOCUS ON REGIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

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WHY ?

SEEKING WHAT IS LOST

To make the way we travel sustainable, a re-evaluation of our dependence on the automobile, especially in rural and suburban areas, is necessary. That is why it is important to make public transportation more attractive to compete with the comfort of the automobile. When looking at the German traffic network, a pronounced imbalance becomes apparent. The infrastructure for cars dominates the infrastructure for rail disproportionately. In the last 100 years, the state of Schleswig Holstein alone has discontinued over half of its rail routes. These facts prompted us to take a closer look at one of those discontinued routes and develop the ABACUS principle for it. It is focusing on reinterpreting the values and social function of a historic rural train route to the present day.

PART _ 2

CONCEPT FOCUS AND FRAMEWORK CONDITIONS

This transportation concept is based on utilizing short, regional routes. Thanks to the short track, ABACUS can reach every point on the route in a few minutes. Instead of rigid schedules and train stops. How it works: Passengers can always enter and exit the vehicle. The rails asymmetrically run along one side of the trail, to leave enough space for pedestrians and cyclists. The product architecture should be designed specifically for hop on hop off interaction.

In the development phase, we put the regional conditions, namely the path with its historical significance, more and more in the spotlight, which resulted in a very radical archetype. The open sides and low floor of the vehicle enable maximum accessibility. Two handrails frame the sides of the interior, acting as a medium for new ways of sitting, leaning, and holding on while enjoying nature passing by. The rail track itself contains a power line that enables the tram to be powered by induction. This eliminates the need for large batteries and ensures lower weight and less environmental impact.