Monorail Mayhem

[donsullivan]

The first set of monorail gates are visible, but boy are things all messed up at MK station with the next stage of things. I'll try to explain what it appears is going on, but I'm sure I'll end up generating more confusion than I resolve.

The construction wall surrounding the station gates on the unload side of the resort beam at the MK monorail station are gone. The gates are in place and operating right now. I didn't have my camera with me to take any pics but they aren't anything special at all, and certainly not something I would describe as consistent with a theme of Main Street USA at all; but that's a different debate.

Now that those are done, the same sort of wall is up on what is normally the load side of the resort beam. This is creating some big changes on the Express side however. The normal unload area in the center of the station is now being used for load and unload of the Resort monorail.

There is a 3' tall wall separating this center area of the station and the Express monorail beam. It's actually 2 walls about 3 feet apart with a canvas spanning across the top between the walls. Based on that, there is currently no unload area for the monorails on the Express beam at MK station.

The result of this is NO Express Monorail passenger traffic between TTC and MK. The express route is only transporting passengers departing MK and headed to TTC. The train runs empty back to MK. If you want to take a monorail from TTC to MK you must take the resort train and stop at Poly & GF along the way. There are magnetic sign overlays on the monorail station signs at the bottom of the ramps but it's thoroughly confusing at first what's going on.

Looks like it's back to taking the ferry for a while to get to MK.

 

[TimeTrip]

Wow.. that seems extremely ... painful. I find it odd that they would shortchange the express passengers like that. Maybe its related to time of day? Like the 1st part of the say they only allow incoming, and during the 2nd half only outgoing? When were you there?

 

[donsullivan]

I was there late this afternoon. It's certainly possible that they might do some different things at different times of day especially start of day on the Express beam. They still would have to deal with having to load and unload on the same side of the train at MK station since there are walls blocking access on the normal unload side.

 

[Chape19714]

Wow, confusing. Hope it looks good when it's done.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I guess it is all worth it in the end. A little confusion never hurt anyone.

 

[monothingie]

Just wait until they start this at the TTC. It will redefine confusion. :brick::brick:

 

[TURKEY]

They took the unload side down and put the load side up sometime during Tues. night/Wed morning.

The walls were still up on the unload side on Tuesday morning.

 

[TomorrowlandTyler]

What a mess...

It's certainly possible that they might do some different things at different times of day especially start of day on the Express beam. They still would have to deal with having to load and unload on the same side of the train at MK station since there are walls blocking access on the normal unload side.

I agree, espically at park close, why would they be bringing people to MK and running empty monorails back to the TTC. That would be where eveyone who is taking the Express would want to go at that time of day.

What a mess this is going to be when it starts at the TTC. :hammer: :brick:

 

[FourFourSeven]

Is there an estimated finish date for the monorail construction? Sounds extremely un-fun - I hope they have it figured out by spring break...

 

[Tom]

Does anyone have any photos of this work?

 

[Invero]

From what I am to understand, they have the Express beam inbound only during the morning, and then at some point around Noon-1pm, they switch over so that it's outbound only. All reverse traffic is directed to the resort beam. They've been doing a modified version of this for years. Before the gates, Express never opened up to go outbound until 1-2pm, give or take. And then it was two-way until park close, when it became outbound only.

The gates may not look like anything special, but coming from a drivers perspective, they are GREAT for two reasons:

1st, when passengers exit, they are forced to go beyond the gates to assemble strollers, or do whatever they have to do. Prior to this, people would stand right next to the train, and we couldn't leave the station.

Secondly, it will prevent the folks from walking up and down the train, and getting into cars that we have gated off. (A problem we would have when we'd be trying to hold off loading the wheelchair accessible car)

I'm assuming the gates will be painted green to match, later on.

 

[tk421-sw]

Does anyone have any photos of this work?

This was the one pic I had from late Jan. at MK...

It did make it hard to get around a bit, but not too much. :slurp:

Is this the construction Your speaking of?

 

[KumbaRider]

Yes, that is accurate, however what is now present is the opposite side....those walls are now put up on the resort side, 7 seas side of the station, and everyone is loading where the walls were before.....to get to the resort monorails....tell me if i'm wrong

All i know is there will be a big confusion with people if this isnt completed by spring break....good luck!

 

[donsullivan]

Yes, that is accurate, however what is now present is the opposite side....those walls are now put up on the resort side, 7 seas side of the station, and everyone is loading where the walls were before.....to get to the resort monorails....tell me if i'm wrong

All i know is there will be a big confusion with people if this isnt completed by spring break....good luck!

That's correct. Normally the Resort beam loads on the outer-most segment of the MK station facing Seven Seas Lagoon. The same construction wall that is shown above is now installed on that side of the station. As a result, the Resort monorail is now loading and unloading from the center of the station. There is a half wall between the center area of the station and the express beam which is what puts the constraint of one-way traffic on that route.

 

[peter11435]

Yes, that is accurate, however what is now present is the opposite side....those walls are now put up on the resort side, 7 seas side of the station, and everyone is loading where the walls were before.....to get to the resort monorails....tell me if i'm wrong

All i know is there will be a big confusion with people if this isnt completed by spring break....good luck!

Actually their now on the express side.

 

[donsullivan]

Actually their now on the express side.

Does that mean that there are full height walls on both the normal load side of the Resort monorail, and the normal unload side of the Express? The unload side of the Express beam was only a half wall when I was there the other day.

 

[mikeb_86]

When are thay going to start the TTC Counstruction for these gates and when will that end?

Thanks,
mikeb_86

 

[goofyfan13]

From what I am to understand, they have the Express beam inbound only during the morning, and then at some point around Noon-1pm, they switch over so that it's outbound only. All reverse traffic is directed to the resort beam. They've been doing a modified version of this for years. Before the gates, Express never opened up to go outbound until 1-2pm, give or take. And then it was two-way until park close, when it became outbound only.

Tyler, thats basically the way it happened when we were there on Friday. The Express monorail was running to MK in the morning, but the change from inbound to outbound changed a little later than what you said. When we left at around 3 they were still going outbound on the resort monorail, and inbound on the express, it wasn't until later that they changed. :wave:

 

[Invero]

When we left at around 3 they were still going outbound on the resort monorail, and inbound on the express, it wasn't until later that they changed. :wave:

Really? A late switchover. Must have had a lot of folks coming over to the MK. My guess is that they would switch it over no later than 3:30, due to the parade exit. *shrug*

 

[tk421-sw]

geesh! It's crazy there. I might be there next tuesday, if so I'll get some pics of the walls. Thnaks!