Disney's monorail system is one of the safest forms of mass transportation on the planet. The automation testing isn't putting safety at risk, and there is always a pilot in the cab who can override as an additional safeguard.
As others have already alluded to the automation implementation in no way increases or decreases the already extremely low chances of something like this happening. The Monorails are an extremely safe means of transportation.
It must stink that you don't take mass transit trains in most other large cities then, too.
I can't speak to Disney's thoughts on new trains. My position is that it would be a waste of money versus extensive refurbishment and rebuilding. People want the satisfaction of newness but being new doing fix the underlying organizational problems.
I get that, but if they bought a system already integrated within the trains, they wouldn't have to try to make it work all together. They buy the trackside system, the automation management system/controls and the trains with the system already integrated then it would be a lot like buying 2017 Chevy Corvette vs a 1967 Vette and then trying to put a 2017 Vette engine in it. If done right, the 67 is going to cost way more to retrofit vs just buying a 2017.
Bombardier uses Thales for the automation features they advertise for their monorails. These projects, even when new, have start up difficulties because they're not all using the same systems. There is no standard and Disney's system is existing.
is their a decal or something somewhere honoring that younger driver that got killed a couple years back? which is partly what prompted this automation?
Isn't Las Vegas automated and aren't those trains Mark VI variants? I am sorry. I am admittedly clueless on automation for trains like this. I just assume that if it has been done once, it should take 3-4 years to install and test it in another location.
Yes, Las Vegas is an automated system using what we're then called M-VI trains (since renamed INNOVIA 200). The Las Vegas automation system is a Thales system. Thales is doing the automation for Walt Disney World. Thales has done this many times before, could be described as one of the best in the business, and still has plenty of headaches.
The M-VIs have not been replaced. Bombardier rebranded the M-VI as the INNOVIA 200 a few years ago. The M-VIs replaced the two Walt Disney World Mark IVs (Lime and Coral) that operated on the initial part of the line between Bally's and MGM Grand.
You might be thinking of the two old WDW Mark IV trains that were originally used there. From what I understand they were phased out after a short while and replaced with what they're running currently.
