Monorail Envy

[Timon]

Look at this -

This is a rendering of the finished Sao Paulo, Brazil Monorail Service depot. currently in the land clearing stage. Yes, that's 30 7 car Bombardier INNOVIA 300 trains with walk thru cars! Dag gum that there's a lot of Monorails! Well so much for the too expensive argument.

If anyone wants to see more pictures check out this Transportation website for Sao Paulo, besides regular trains, trams and buses they have the occasional monorail line and stations construction shots. Enjoy

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=151447&page=92

 

[Monorail Lime]

And to think Disney can't even manage to link all 4 parks together. We've got to step up our game!

It's a shame they are driverless though.

 

[Timon]

For those unfamiliar with the INNOVIA 300 here's an exterior rendering.

Here's an interior mockup for car one. They have some full car mock ups on the site mentioned before.

I imagine these mock-ups are a work in progress until the first train is delivered, expect changes. Driverless, yes, but what a cool view.

 

[trr1]

is there a cost per mile for the monorail lines and a cost for the service depot?

 

[Timon]

I don't know, but if you go through www.monorail.org news I'd bet they quote a price in local currency. Oh by the way this is one of two monorail lines being built in Sao Paulo, the other one is by SCOMI. Why would they buy two incompatible designs of monorail trains - uh ... I can't figure that one out.

 

[trr1]

I found more here
http://www.planetizen.com/node/50103
http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/sau-paulo-monorail/

Sao Paulo, Brazil has awarded a contract to build a new monorail system connecting the airport to the city's transit system.

The project is unlikely to complete in time for the 2014 World Cup, of which

Sao Paulo will be a host city.

"The São Paulo Metro recently awarded a US$862 million contract to build the city’s first elevated monorail, linking the city’s airport to its existing subway system. A consortium that includes Malaysia’s Scomi Engineering – a company that focuses on transport solutions – and Brazil’s Andrade Guttierez and CR Almeida will begin work on the project next month.

The monorail will run 49 feet above ground for 11 miles, stopping at 18 stations. Construction is expected to take three and a half years. Although the project is meant to be part of the city’s transportation overhaul in anticipation of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the competition is likely to kick off in mid-2014, a full six months before the project is expected to be completed."

found here
http://theworldcovered.ivyfunds.com/home/monorails-aren’t-just-for-disney-anymore/
The first 15-mile line of the São Paulo system is valued at $1.44 billion. It will have 17 stations and feature 54 seven-car trains

 

[c-one]

Those trains are gorgeous. And I'm sorry if they put drivers out of work but that IS a great view. To be honest, the figures quoted don't seem terribly expensive.

 

[Timon]

I found more here
http://www.planetizen.com/node/50103
http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/sau-paulo-monorail/

Sao Paulo, Brazil has awarded a contract to build a new monorail system connecting the airport to the city's transit system.

The project is unlikely to complete in time for the 2014 World Cup, of which

Sao Paulo will be a host city.

"The São Paulo Metro recently awarded a US$862 million contract to build the city’s first elevated monorail, linking the city’s airport to its existing subway system. A consortium that includes Malaysia’s Scomi Engineering – a company that focuses on transport solutions – and Brazil’s Andrade Guttierez and CR Almeida will begin work on the project next month.

The monorail will run 49 feet above ground for 11 miles, stopping at 18 stations. Construction is expected to take three and a half years. Although the project is meant to be part of the city’s transportation overhaul in anticipation of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the competition is likely to kick off in mid-2014, a full six months before the project is expected to be completed."

found here
http://theworldcovered.ivyfunds.com/home/monorails-aren’t-just-for-disney-anymore/
The first 15-mile line of the São Paulo system is valued at $1.44 billion. It will have 17 stations and feature 54 seven-car trains

I believe that's the price quoted just for SCOMI who got a later start on their Line 17. Bombardier is on Line 2 and has been at it for a couple of years. I think the SCOMI line has drivers, I've never seen mention of them being driverless. SCOMI trains are very similar to the ALWEG Seattle design and neither their Kuala Lumpur or Mumbai installations are automated. You'll need to look back further in time to find Bombardier's cost.

Found some beam construction, love those columns:

 

[C.FERNIE]

lets face it, if they wanted to extend the wdw monorail they would, but they aint found there own reason to do it yet! money is not really reason, they spend millions every day! :wave:

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

For those unfamiliar with the INNOVIA 300 here's an exterior rendering.

I imagine these mock-ups are a work in progress until the first train is delivered, expect changes. Driverless, yes, but what a cool view.

I believe these are one's that are quite similar to the one's used on the Las Vegas Monorail system.

 

[Timekeeper]

I would be happy with a covered people mover to AK and HS. Anything really. I usually end up driving myself between those parks as that can be - unfortunately - more convenient than the buses

 

[Admiral01]

The cost argument will always be there, as will the comatability issues with other rail systems. But, the fact still exists that for the extra money that is paid for the initial acquisition of the track, you get a raised system that uses far less concrete and other building materials than traditional rail systems, a 5-square foot footprint every 110 feet, an incredibly quiet train, and with proper maintenance, a train that lasts a long time. Heck, without proper maintenance the WDW system has done incredibly well.

In many cases, a typical raised monorail track's footprint can fit in the median of a normal road, glide next to buildings, and even through buildings as is demonstrated by the Contemporary Resort. You can't do that easily with raised traditional rail tracks. The world's monorail systems have gotten a bum rap due primarily to their initial track costs. It continues to hurt their reputation because places like Disney, seeming proponents of monorails, haven't even expanded the WDW Monorail System since 1982...and Disney is who debuted the first regularly operating monorail system in the western hemisphere in 1959 at DL. If anyone should expand, it is WDW. They have the money, the land, the reason, and the opportunity to be cutting edge and show what an American monorail system can do, outside of the 2 parks and 3 resorts that are currently serviced. Cities with existing infrastructure who can't afford an underground subway system have this great monorail option, but most don't know it because not many cities have tried.

This isn't the 50s, 60s, and 70s where monorail systems had to be specially designed for each client. These modern monorail trains are standard products produced off of a standard design using a standard track size. I am happy to see more and more cities building and expanding monorail systems. I've only ridden monorails at WDW, DL, Sydney Australia, Las Vegas NV, and Seattle WA. I would like more opportunities. Well done Brazil.

 

[lnsemsf]

I've only ridden monorails at WDW, DL, Sydney Australia, Las Vegas NV, and Seattle WA.

Next time you visit WDW, fly in to Tampa and take a ride on the Tampa International Airport long term parking garage monorail. It puts all others world wide to shame!

 

[Skibum1970]

Though it will probably never happen, I wish that WDW had a monorail link to the Orlando airport. How truly awesome would it be get on the monorail and instantly be transported via "Disney Magic" to the resort? Economically, it may not make sense but it would be a lot of fun.

 

[imagineer boy]

It's a shame they are driverless though.

I think its awesome they're driverless!

 

[Mickey_777]

Brazilians love WDW so much they decided to build thier own super fleet back home lol. Anyway I'm sure this has EVERYTHING to do with the fact that they're hosting the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.

 

[WDWFanatic]

If they are driverless why the windshiled wiper? Seems like an unnecessary cost. perhaps just a mistake on the mock up.

 

[Admiral01]

Next time you visit WDW, fly in to Tampa and take a ride on the Tampa International Airport long term parking garage monorail. It puts all others world wide to shame!

I've actually flown through TPA on my way to WDW in the past, but I missed their monorail! I will make a special point to ride to the long term parking garage next time I am in Tampa International. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Timon]

I believe these are one's that are quite similar to the one's used on the Las Vegas Monorail system.

Those are Bombardier INNOVIA 200's (formerly M-VI) which was derived from the current Mark VI at WDW.

Found some Sao Paulo Train Stats:
San Paulo – Bombardier INNOVIA 300
● 40,000 per hr per direction (7 cars)
● 43 7 car trains / 50.2m long / 3.1m wide
● 623 Passengers (7 car train)
● Wheel hub mounted motors
● Walk thru design
● Open visual end design
● Fully Automated
● Train coupling

 

[MarkTwain]

Well, so much for the argument of too expensive...