Monorail is safer, more efficient than train

Prince William News ^ | 03/04/2005 | Keith Kessler

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

In a recent letter to the press, Del. William J. Howell, (R-Stafford), wrote about the Virginia Reform Initiative, which he formed for the purpose of developing free market based reforms to improve state government and the quality of life in Virginia.

Del. Howell states that this initiative is the most comprehensive transportation plan introduced during this General Assembly. This plan has generated more than $1 billion in investments for roads, rail, transit, seaports and airports.

I applaud Mr. Howell on his efforts but I don't think he is looking at the entire issue for a real remedy to transportation issues.

Although $1 billion is a lot of money, it will barely make any noticeable dent to improve the efficiency and delivery of transportation services as Del. Howell claims. It won't suddenly eliminate the gridlock now experienced in Northern Virginia or the Hampton Roads area.

Heavy rail and light rail seem to be the only solutions sought by our legislators. They still completely ignore a much more cost effective, environmentally and fatality free alternative -- the monorail.

The straddle beam monorails cost about one third the cost of heavy or light rail and have a history of no fatal accidents, which makes them the safest transportation in the world. Monorails operate in all kinds of weather and a system was recently completed in Moscow.

We have several rail accidents a year, costing not only human life but environmental hazards as well. Tokyo's monorail has never had a break in service that lasted more than a half-hour since it opened in 1964. Our heavy rail accidents often cause several days of delay, not to mention the untold hidden costs.

We are wasting billions of dollars on just the first phase of the Dulles rail project alone. There will be billions more for the second phase.

This is 18th century technology that should never have been allowed because it will certainly need to be government subsidized. A monorail system, once in place, would not need government subsidies.

Not only are our state representatives failing us by not looking to the future, but so are our federal representatives. South Carolina congressional representatives obtained grants from the federal government for millions of dollars just for the purpose of monorails.

Many organizations believe that an entire new American industry could be created using the monobeam monorail vision - assuming of course that it proves valid and the expected costs and performance are validated. And these costs can be validated if not done so by heavy rail representatives with their own agenda.

If Virginia wants to be the Silicon Valley of the east then the Metro area would be the best location in the United States to introduce the monobeam monorail to the world. Using or wasting more money on older technology in the 21st century simply doesn't make any sense.

Until our ideas change on mass transportation we will always have gridlock, no matter how many lanes are added to our major highways or how many additional roads are built. Isn't it time to try a better alternative than the ones already proven to be inefficient and not cost efficient, environmentally friendly or safe?

[Willie Green]

Monorails are cool!

[SengirV]

Tell that to Ogdenville, North Haverbrook, and Brockway!!!

[cripplecreek]

Ever read Stephen Kings Gunslinger series? Homocidal suicide trains creep me out.

[aomagrat]

Ever watch The Simpsons?

[shezza]

[DennisR]

Monorails are the ONLY way to go. They do not wait for traffic, so are inherently; the scenery is better; you can run them on existing rights-of-ways (above freeways, for example); and much safer than trains (how many people (okay, idiots) get killed every year trying to "beat the train?"

[Willie Green]

I stopped watching cartoons when I entered junior high school.

[GSlob]

If monorails are both safer and cheaper than railroads with 2 (two) rails, it follows that one could do one better and opt for a zero-rails road as even safer and cheaper alternative, or still better for building no road at all. In addition to construction costs savings, there are intangible benefits (such as noise reduction and having less disruption during the building phase) to be considered as well.

[Willie Green]

Maglev has the same advantages, only it is MUCH faster!
But maglev is suitable for longer distance, regional travel.
For local city commuting, monorail is probably more appropriate.
(Although there ARE low-speed maglevs under development.)

[yankeedame]

The straddle beam monorails cost about one third the cost of heavy or light rail and have a history of no fatal accidents....
If this is the case, why hasn't private industry latched on to these things? After all, unlike the government (state or federal) these folks do have an eye on the bottom line, and the reputation -- for safety, delivery, reliably, etc. -- of their companies.

...which makes them the safest transportation in the world.
Mile-for-mile against what?

Monorails operate in all kinds of weather...
So does a dog-cart.

...and a system was recently completed in Moscow.
Well, I guess that cinches the argument! (sarcasm)

We have several rail accidents a year, costing not only human life but environmental hazards as well...
Well, so? The same things can be said about cars, SUVs, trucks, semis, cargo planes, passenger planes, boats, ships.

Tokyo's monorail has never had a break in service that lasted more than a half-hour...
1)Was the Tokyo monorail carrying equivalent cargo over an equivliant distance(s) in equivalent conditions?
2)See as they're such a shinning example of safetly, efficiency, etc. Why isn't Japan hip deep in monorails? Why do they have any conventional railroads at all?

[yankeedame]

I stopped watching cartoons when I entered junior high school.

No need to explain, Willie. You're among friends.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Its your loss.

[kevkrom]

Forget a traditional train or monorail system, look into Personal Rapid Transit (PRT), which is a monorail-based system with individual cars, rather than long trains. Each 2-3 person car gets to go non-stop to its destination, bypassing other stations which are located on off-line spurs.

Non-stop trips have several benefits. First, they are quicker, since you don't have to wait in stations. They are more energy-efficient, since a majority of the energy used in a traditional rail system comes from braking at the stations along the way. Also, adding a new station arithmatically increases the usefulness of the system [sum(1..N-1) unique trips where N is the number of stations] without inconveniencing other passengers with additional stops (and using more energy stopping and starting).

Individual cars also allow for better resource usage in off-peak times while still allowing for riders to not have to wait long periods between trains.

The developers estimate (for what their estimate is worth) that a PRT system could be built for about 1/10 the cost of a similar light rail system. It should also be less expensive to operate. Plus, it can be built in stages, and simply increase the utility by adding additional tracks and stations to the layout.

[Disambiguator]

When trains are economically feasible, private industry will be there to build them. Until then, it will continue to be subsidy city. Also, to make this kind of transit work for the end-user, there needs to be other kinds of transportation infrastructure that are directly accessible from the rail stations.

Case in point: if you take the CalTrain to the San Francisco terminus, you have to walk several blocks (through a bad part of town) to get to the nearest bus stop. (disclaimer: this may have changed since I last tried this, which was a few years ago)

[Rodney King]

Lyle Lanley: Well, sir, there's nothing on earth
Like a genuine,
Bona fide,
Electrified,
Six-car
Monorail!
What'd I say?
Ned Flanders: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: What's it called?
Patty+Selma: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: That's right! Monorail!
[crowd chants `Monorail' softly and rhythmically]
Miss Hoover: I hear those things are awfully loud...
Lyle Lanley: It glides as softly as a cloud.
Apu: Is there a chance the track could bend?
Lyle Lanley: Not on your life, my Hindu friend.
Barney: What about us brain-dead slobs?
Lyle Lanley: You'll be given cushy jobs.
Abe: Were you sent here by the devil?
Lyle Lanley: No, good sir, I'm on the level.
Wiggum: The ring came off my pudding can.
Lyle Lanley: Take my pen knife, my good man.
I swear it's Springfield's only choice...
Throw up your hands and raise your voice!
All: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: What's it called?
All: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: Once again...
All: Monorail!
Marge: But Main Street's still all cracked and broken...
Bart: Sorry, Mom, the mob has spoken!
All: Monorail!
Monorail!
Monorail!
[big finish]
Monorail!
Homer: Mono... D'oh!

[Willie Green]

Why isn't Japan hip deep in monorails? Why do they have any conventional railroads at all?

Same reason you don't use a bulldozer to go grocery shopping.
There are different forms of transportation for different purposes.
Monorails are designed for commuters, not freight.

Monorails of Japan (Go ahead, take a peek. They're cool!)

[Willie Green]

When trains are economically feasible, private industry will be there to build them.

Private industry is already there to build them.
Here's a list of Monorail Manufacturers

[alloysteel]

Disney World COULD just extend theirs all the way to Tampa and Daytona Beach, taking the pressure off I-4.

Small problem with building monorails here in Florida - the prevalence of sinkholes. In a crosstown tollway being built in Tampa, a portion of it was to be an elevated highway, and the supports just sank down, sort of stopping construction for a while. I could imagine a similar pillar subsidence destroying a stretch of a monorail.