Why Did Port Liner Abandon Long Seats for Cross Seats? — An Invitation to a High-Tech City via the "Aerial Window"

In urban rail, where the goal is often to

cram in as many passengers as

possible, the "long seat" (bench

seating along the walls) is the symbol

of efficiency. However, Port Liner,

Japan's first AGT system, chose to

abandon this standard for its second

-generation vehicles. Their surprising

switch to "cross seats" (forward-facing

seating) hides a sophisticated new

strategy for the city of Kobe.

The driving force behind this seat

arrangement is Port Liner’s new

function as a link to Kobe Airport—a

feature that didn't exist in the first

generation. For passengers touching

down from a flight, the ride into the city

is their first encounter with Kobe. The

design philosophy here is to let them

soak in the panorama of Kobe—a

vibrant, high-tech city—from the unique,

elevated vantage point of the AGT

track. It’s more than just transit; it’s

about making people fall in love with

the city. This sincere hospitality,

offering the gift of Kobe’s scenery,

is etched into every forward-facing

seat.,

Of course, other lines have chosen

different paths based on their specific

needs. While the Nippori-Toneri Liner

sticks to long seats to achieve

"ultimate efficiency,"

the Osaka New Tram has

experimented with an asymmetric

layout to maximize standing room

during intense rush hours. While

reducing seats can sometimes feel like

a service trade-off, these choices are

honest answers to the pressing need

to manage extreme congestion.

Even the orientation of a single seat

contains "urban intelligence"—a

message of what the city wants to

deliver to its passengers. The next time

you take the Port Liner, I encourage

you to enjoy the view unfolding

beneath you. Those cross seats are

proof that the city of Kobe is

welcoming you with open arms.

I hope you look forward to the next

AGT Blog!