Figment2005
Well-Known Member
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Monorail Automation Testing
- Thread starter monothingie
- Start date
Disone
Well-Known Member
I think he gets that, but the point being, the driver is completely separated from the passengers. Whether it comes from a pilot in the cab, or a controller in a tower, emergency instructions to the guests are going to come via telecom from an outside source. The tower would easily be able to handle this. IF the trains were all automated, there were not be so much radio traffic and not too much for the tower controllers to do but supervise the automation.
I was much amazed by the frequency of the Skytrain system in Vancouver. Over forty miles of an uncountable number of trains operating at the same time. In station wait times between a departing train and then next arrival were in the ball park of 90 seconds to three minutes. I think for what ever reason, Disney is trying to automate there system in house, but really they need to reach out to Vancouver and just pay them to configured the WDW monorail system in the same manner.
It really opened my eyes. According to Wiki, many of there 1986 rollling stock is still in use. And in my experience, in better condition then the WDW monorails.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
Thales did the automation for Vancouver and is doing the automation for Walt Disney World.
I understand what your saying, but isnt the Monorail pilot confined to the front cabin? Is that any different for the passengers to hear a voice on the intercom from a pilot in the front cab vs someone in the tower? I would think the power of calming down panicking passengers relies more on what is being said to calm them down. The pilot isnt actually in every monorail cab to calm them down, he is on the intercom, same as it would be for the tower, or am I mistaken?
Rob562
Well-Known Member
One thing the Vancouver system has is a walkway along the tracks the entire time. In case of a major breakdown or fire, passengers can self-evacuate onto the walkways and get away from the train.
That is impossible on a WDW monorail.
While the cabins are almost always the safest place for a passenger to be in an emergency, there are those rare instances where passengers would be safer to either evacuate from one cabin into another, or even rarer to evacuate onto the beam itself. The pilot can access the roof from inside their cockpit, and then each cabin has two hatches onto the roof. I believe there are also safety ropes for the pilot in the cockpit to use in such a situation.
Can you imagine trying to coordinate that remotely over the cabin intercom without any trained personnel on-scene?
-Rob
From some reading I did when this was originally announced one of the major benefits was supposed to be the ability for one train to be going out of service back to shop or between beams and the rest of the operation can continue to run. I believe right now if a switch is occurring, ALL traffic on both beams stops. The idea behind the automation was the ability for the trains to know what is going on and be able to avoid a situation like the accident without having to go through these very long and disruptive safety procedures.
Also once a train departs, I believe the automation is supposed to control speed based on the cycle of the trains, but also within the sped limits of course. As it stands right now, a pilot at MK doesn't know when the pilot at TTC leaves the station. They just have to rely on platform times and assume things are in sync. Of course many times one train is held up, but the other pilot doesn't know and thus speeds along to the destination only to have to hold. Automation is supposed to resolve that. I assume the train leaving would be automatically driven at a slower pace in order to keep that distance and avoid having to hold. Psychologically guests HATE holding. They always want to be in motion even if that motion is slower than usual.
Also once a train departs, I believe the automation is supposed to control speed based on the cycle of the trains, but also within the sped limits of course. As it stands right now, a pilot at MK doesn't know when the pilot at TTC leaves the station. They just have to rely on platform times and assume things are in sync. Of course many times one train is held up, but the other pilot doesn't know and thus speeds along to the destination only to have to hold. Automation is supposed to resolve that. I assume the train leaving would be automatically driven at a slower pace in order to keep that distance and avoid having to hold. Psychologically guests HATE holding. They always want to be in motion even if that motion is slower than usual.
BernardandBianca
Well-Known Member
Does anyone else find it confusing that Figment2005 and danib_2000 are using the same avatar? When they were having their discussion, I had to keep reading to see who was talking. Just an observation, not a complaint, nor am I suggesting one of them change.
I cant imagine how passengers seeing a CM crawling in trough the roof of the cabin could:
A. Make them feel relaxed. It would most likely have the opposite effect.
B. Solve any problem whatsoever.
4. Be something TWDC would ever want guests to experience.
flynnibus
Premium Member
But it has happened... when the monorail caught on fire and burned up on the beam.. that was how people got away. But AFAIK it was the guests doing it on their own anyways until the fire dept got there and pulled them off.
The tires have been known to get overheated and burn.. its a fire hazzard when a tire gets dragged from brake or tire failures.
Figment2005
Well-Known Member
It has never needed to be done thankfully, but yes, anyone in that department that is drive trained knows the responsibility may one day be needed.
*edit* I mean evacuating onto the beam. The roof hatches have been used many times, most recently when gold was stuck after the beam was struck by lightning last year. If it wasn't for the cast member in the front, things could have become very messy very fast.
Figment2005
Well-Known Member
They are ever so slightly different.
Unplugged
Well-Known Member
Perhaps an inflatable Mickey head could be worn by the CM. Every kid loves a surprise visit by Mickey!
Disone
Well-Known Member
Are you sure on that? Sincerely asking and here is why. I have met some on the team working on this project and they are decisively Disney. Until now I have never even heard of Thales. They have been struggling on this for years..... why would Thales struggle to automate such a comparatively tiny system? (12 trains vs 100's, and just under 14 miles vs. over 40 miles) If you drive pass the Disney University at WDW, there is a small WDI project trailer for the monorail rail automation project complete with a neat picture of Walt and Mark 1 monorails.
danlb_2000
Premium Member
Permit with Thales as the contractor...
Monorail Beamway and all Stations and TTC West Gate - Electrical Modifications
Disone
Well-Known Member
Thank you, I cannot see the permit, its asking me to log in. So whats the big hiccup? Or is Thales a recent development?
danlb_2000
Premium Member
Go here http://or.occompt.com/recorder/eagleweb/, click accept and then re-click on the permit link and it should work. The permit is from 2013, so they have been with the project since the beginning.
Disone
Well-Known Member
Or just take your word for it? So basically, YES, he is sure it is Thales. Thank you for that. Mind boggling they are still struggling with this project.
ABQ
Well-Known Member
This is bordering on insanity though, that permit was pulled 3 years ago. Do they file extensions to these permits @danlb_2000 ?