Could we get new Monorails at D23?

[Pizza Moon]

Genuine question because I mean (not trying to be hyperbolic but they are ridiculously old).



Atlanta recently got new trains, it’s time!

Inside MARTA’s new trains: A first look at the fleet designed for Atlanta’s future

MARTA’s future is being stress-tested in College Park.

www.atlantanewsfirst.com

I feel like this would be a pretty good curveball.

 

[monorail81]

Doubtful. Breakdowns will always happen - new trains or old. In order for them to tow a train, power is cut to the beam, which means no a/c. At least now they allow them to remove the windows. Back in the day, they didn’t.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

…no

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

…no

Speaking of "(not trying to be hyperbolic but they are ridiculously old)."


(I'm sorry I had to just one more time)

We definitely need new monorails, not sure if they will bite the bullet this D23 though on them

 

[Chef Mickey]

No.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Speaking of "(not trying to be hyperbolic but they are ridiculously old)."


(I'm sorry I had to just one more time)

We definitely need new monorails, not sure if they will bite the bullet this D23 though on them

They’re just as likely to tear down the beams than build new trains

It is a completely obselete, high maintenance, energy guzzling system

…but you’re new here…so 20 years ago when people started talking about new trains…ya missed it

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

It is a completely obselete

If monorails are the future how can they be obsolete? Did we miss the great big beautiful tomorrow that was on the horizons of our great spaceship earth?

 

[dmc493]

It is a completely obselete, high maintenance, energy guzzling system

And yet it's 1) a critical component to help get people to/from TTC, 2) a key selling feature of three of their biggest resorts, and 3) engrained in people's perspective of disney parks

I don't see a future where monorails don't exist. There's so much infrastructure around the property and at two parks

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

And yet it's 1) a critical component to help get people to/from TTC, 2) a key selling feature of three of their biggest resorts, and 3) engrained in people's perspective of disney parks

I don't see a future where monorails don't exist. There's so much infrastructure around the property and at two parks

They hold nothing sacred the way you want to believe. If a Lower longterm cost alternative ever exists…bye bye chooch

 

[dmc493]

They hold nothing sacred the way you want to believe. If a Lower longterm cost alternative ever exists…bye bye chooch

I’m aware of that.

The lower cost long term alternative already exists. They could run busses and larger watercraft to each resort, plus expand the dock and run additional ferries to TTC.

It’s too big a system to walk away from

 

[Goofyernmost]

I'm not a gambling kind a guy, but I would wager everything I own that the answer to that is NO.

Trains, even Monorail trains are not like a car. They are expensive, are renewable and made to last. Over the years, I would guess that that whole fleet has been completely replaced on every level except the shells and I'm sure even some of those have been upgraded. The one thing I can tell you is by now every single one of them has millions of miles on them in theory, but in reality the inner workings, motors, transmissions, axles and other parts have been replaced, probably more than once. So the only thing that hasn't been made new is the design. They aren't as old as the years they have been there.

The claim that they are not being maintained fails to pass the logic part. They have been running that fleet for almost 40 years. They don't go far away on any trip but if it runs even just around Seven Seas all day, probably averaging 10 to 12 hours per day, almost every day for the past 40 years, if not extremely well maintained all that would be left is a heap of shattered fiberglass and rusted pieces parts in a landfill someplace. If it were cheaper to replace the fleet than it is to keep them running dependably, they would do that in a heart beat. Or they might just replace them with a gondola expansion. But I don't see any new monorail trains in any part of the future. I suspect that as soon as they start to have issues with the rails themselves (concrete also has an expiration date) they will start to sting up the gondola cables and that will likely, really be a thing at some point and since the rails are as old as the park to MK and the Epcot ones are only ten years younger.

 

[Goofyernmost]

If monorails are the future how can they be obsolete? Did we miss the great big beautiful tomorrow that was on the horizons of our great spaceship earth?

They stopped being the future when it was deemed not flexible enough to be used in actual block based city layouts. They were thought of as the future in the 1950's but it didn't catch on to anyplace that didn't have a circular point to point path. Buses were far cheaper and entirely instantly flexible in routing. It is no longer the future, it is more a idealistic dream that didn't come true except in a few isolated places and theme parks. Electric technology will eventually replace the fuel burning vehicles and get us back the the turn of the 20th century when there were electric street cars everywhere. So when you get right down to it, this will be the second time that electric solid rail trains have become obsolete except as a novelty. Europe has almost all electric train system that is powered overhead. No plug ins.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Europe has almost all electric train system that is powered overhead. No plug ins.

Overhead catenary and 3rd rail (do they call it 3rd rail or 2nd rail for a monorail) accomplish the same task.

I’m not sure if one is more efficient than the other.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I would love to get new monorails at WDW but this is too much magical thinking even for me.

 

[esskay]

Ugh again.

Yes we all want new monorails. No it’s not simple. No they can’t just buy ready made ones. No it’s not going to happen until it absolutely has to, and even that’s not a given. And yes, they can and absolutely will make the current fleet last MUCH longer to avoid replacing them.

Nobody makes a vehicle suitable, so it needs to be custom made, so it costs billions.

TLDR see the other long monorail threads (any of em, they all cover it) for more details.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Nobody makes a vehicle suitable, so it needs to be custom made, so it costs billions.

Not quite. Realistically would be $200-300 million to replace the trains. Still not cheap!

 

[Tom P.]

Honestly, I would imagine the concrete beams are more in need of replacing than the trains themselves.

 

[monothingie]

Honestly, I would imagine the concrete beams are more in need of replacing than the trains themselves.

They were extensively rehabbed in the late 2010's. They are also continuously inspected.

 

[monothingie]

Speaking of "(not trying to be hyperbolic but they are ridiculously old)."


(I'm sorry I had to just one more time)

We definitely need new monorails, not sure if they will bite the bullet this D23 though on them

The trains over the past decade have gotten more attention and care then they ever had received in the decades of service. Complete replacement of the train controls with the installation of the automation system and refurb/replacement of the mechanicals. Complete refurb of the cabins and climate control. Complete refurb and repainting of the exteriors.

These trains will be around for a while longer.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

If monorails are the future how can they be obsolete? Did we miss the great big beautiful tomorrow that was on the horizons of our great spaceship earth?

Isn’t your air car that folds up into a briefcase obselete now?