Rumor- WDW to get new monorail trains in near future

[articos]

The good news for WDW is that the system there uses the standard gauge monorail beam. It's wider and heftier than the beam at Disneyland, which is a unique size from 1959 that was never used again. (And the reason why Disneyland's monorail system can make such tight turns and curves over and under things)

But with WDW, Disney can go to Bombardier or Hitachi and order a fleet of monorails to fit the beam, and then have WDI do an aesthetic treatment on the exteriors and interior cabins to Disney-fy them. And the whole thing can be done faster and cheaper per train for WDW than the customized fleet built for Disneyland.

Even then, the new Disneyland trains were built by Bombardier up in British Columbia. But it was a long and expensive custom job because the Disneyland beams are a one-of-a-kind size that no one builds trains for today. http://www.monorails.org/tmspages/TPBeams.html

My Beam Is Bigger Than Your Beam!

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=43253&start=30

Quick note: DL's trains are not Bombardier, WDW's are. Disneyland is still running what is essentially completely rebuilt trains from the Mark III era (which were also worked on by R&SE). The current trains were designed by one of WDI's designers, and fab'd in Canada by Dynamic Structures, who also has done a lot of other work for Disney, including the original Test Track and both Soarin's, and also Forbidden Journey. They do a lot of steelwork and robotics.

I always thought adding screens to the monorails/buses to give park information and such would be a cool idea.

Not a huge fan of this type of addition, and here's why: the monorail at WDW is not an attraction, it's part of the transportation system. As such, you're moving huge amounts of people, which means standing room only at times. There's nowhere to add screens within the cars that allows for equal usage, and you end up with people crowding around a spot in the cabin, which creates discomfort for others. Also, you want guests to take in the beautiful vistas outside the cabin - the MK, Epcot, the Contemporary across the lake. If you have guests completely focused on something inside the car, you're not taking them out of the normal world, as people cluster around their screens every day. There's something to be said for being on vacation and enjoying the view, so to speak. Finally, people have iPads and smartphones. Any info that can be given on a larger screen in the cabin can be pushed to your phone, which you can use in your seat or where you stand if you so choose, without impacting others. I am not opposed to adding modest information screens in the cars, but there's no easy spot to put them, as the emergency egress are in the unused space at the ends. Just my opinion, though.

 

[articos]

No, I meant the new Disneyland trains were built a few years ago by Bombardier, the big Canadian transportation firm, at a production facility they have in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The new trains were shipped down the West Coast to Disneyland on flatbed trucks on Interstate 5 from Canada in late 2007 and early 2008. Here's one of the newspaper stories from when the first train arrived in late '07, noting the Canadian factory that built them for Disney. http://www.ocregister.com/news/cars-76436-first-train.html

See my post just above.

One more thing to add: The current WDW trains, with any current issues they have, still have life in them. As Red mentioned, they are being continually upgraded and worked on, and with an interior refresh and the system upgrade that's coming, the chassis of the current trains could be in service for a while still. When anyone else says "New trains coming" that could mean current trains that have been overhauled.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

Not a huge fan of this type of addition, and here's why: the monorail at WDW is not an attraction, it's part of the transportation system. As such, you're moving huge amounts of people, which means standing room only at times. There's no where to add screens within the cars that allows for equal usage, and you end up with people crowding around a spot in the cabin, which creates discomfort for others. Also, you want guests to take in the beautiful vistas outside the cabin - the MK, Epcot, the Contemporary across the lake. If you have guests completely focused on something inside the car, you're not taking them out of the normal world, as people cluster around their screens every day. There's something to be said for being on vacation and enjoying the view, so to speak. Finally, people have iPads and smartphones. Any info that can be given on a larger screen in the cabin can be pushed to your phone, which you can use in your seat or where you stand if you so choose, without impacting others. I am not opposed to adding modest information screens in the cars, but there's no easy spot to put them, as the emergency egress are in the unused space at the ends. Just my opinion, though.

Ribbon board?

 

[articos]

Ribbon board?

Could be done, but the current gen of ribbon boards at a size that would fit is essentially a typical red/white LED board, not the high quality HD arena displays, which doesn't look all that futuristic, and would not add enough information-wise to detract from the negative of the optics/how it looks. I think a small 16:9 double sided HD display above the seating is probably the way to go, but even there, I'd have to see it mocked up to decide.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Great, new monorails to fall into disrepair.

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

This is strictly a RUMOR. I have heard from many sources that the WDW Monorail Sytem is getting new trains in the future. Similar to ones at DL. Comments?

 

[BalooChicago]

Here's one of the newspaper stories from when the first train arrived in late '07, noting the Canadian factory that built them for Disney. http://www.ocregister.com/news/cars-76436-first-train.html

I don't see Bombardier mentioned in the article. They were rebuilt by a Canadian company called Dynamic Structures.

 

[TP2000]

Quick note: DL's trains are not Bombardier, WDW's are. Disneyland is still running what is essentially completely rebuilt trains from the Mark III era (which were also worked on by R&SE). The current trains were designed by one of WDI's designers, and fab'd in Canada by Dynamic Structures, who also has done a lot of other work for Disney, including the original Test Track and both Soarin's, and also Forbidden Journey.

Fascinating! I guess through the mists of time back to '07 I had just assumed that Bombardier, the famous Canadian transit firm, was the one who was building the new Disneyland monorail fleet up in British Columbia.

Of course, it was Alweg who built Disneyland's monorail system in '59, and then helped expand it by an extra few miles in '61 before going on to build the Seattle system for the 1962 World's Fair. And I do know that Alweg and their monorail patents were acquired by Bombardier at some point in the 20th century. But I had no idea that another Canadian firm, this Dynamic Systems, was involved in the latest rebuild and fabrication of the new fleet. Again, fascinating info!

 

[jlsHouston]

Sadly, that's entirely accurate. And that's how we end up with Leave A Legacy absolutely killing Epcot's entry plaza. The other sad thing is if asked, Bob and George and the others who are left would go help in a heartbeat.

Wow and I thought it was just me that thought those blocks of granite were totally graveyard looking the first time I saw them last year.. I think that is why after I stayed at the BC and discovered the walkway into Epcot I fell in love with entering that park from the BC, so much so that last visit to the world I rode the monorail from the POLY to MK, then caught the bus to BC and walked into Epcot twice that way rather than using the monorail into Epcot via transportation center

 

[articos]

Fascinating! I guess through the mists of time back to '07 I had just assumed that Bombardier, the famous Canadian transit firm, was the one who was building the new Disneyland monorail fleet up in British Columbia.

Of course, it was Alweg who built Disneyland's monorail system in '59, and then helped expand it by an extra few miles in '61 before going on to build the Seattle system for the 1962 World's Fair. And I do know that Alweg and their monorail patents were acquired by Bombardier at some point in the 20th century. But I had no idea that another Canadian firm, this Dynamic Systems, was involved in the latest rebuild and fabrication of the new fleet. Again, fascinating info!

I'm sure if they had purchased new trains, Bombardier would have been a frontrunner. For this type of overhaul, they only needed someone with an expertise in metals, and there was a good working relationship already. When it comes down to it, though, the DL trains are essentially rolling stock going back decades with new parts and panels.

 

[articos]

Wow and I thought it was just me that thought those blocks of granite were totally graveyard looking the first time I saw them last year.. I think that is why after I stayed at the BC and discovered the walkway into Epcot I fell in love with entering that park from the BC, so much so that last visit to the world I rode the monorail from the POLY to MK, then caught the bus to BC and walked into Epcot twice that way rather than using the monorail into Epcot via transportation center

Definitely not just you. Sadly, the back entry to World Showcase is now "prettier" with the water and planters than the main entry with its hardscape overpowering what used to be a showstopping entry.

 

[monothingie]

I'm sure if they had purchased new trains, Bombardier would have been a frontrunner. For this type of overhaul, they only needed someone with an expertise in metals, and there was a good working relationship already. When it comes down to it, though, the DL trains are essentially rolling stock going back decades with new parts and panels.

There is no future for Bombardier and Disney after the lawsuit involving the VI's.

 

[PeterAlt]

Wow. That LED lighting is cool!

Any way, WDW will get new trains. This has already been semi-officially announced. The new trains are part of an automated system upgrade.

To see these new trains, go to Bombardiar's website and see what the latest Mark model is.

As to the LED lighting or other cool features that obviously don't come with pre-installed by Bombardiar, these upgrades could easily be made by WDI from the stock Bombardiar train and outfitted by WDI.

 

[PeterAlt]

IMO, there will be NBA teams in Europe before WDW gets new monorail trains.

The pessimisism here is not very encouraging.

All the discussion groups I'm on - for any topic (Disney, NASA, Star Wars, etc.), fans have been consistently negative of late! I don't get it - and I doubt being negative all the time is very healthy either.

 

[PeterAlt]

See my post just above.

One more thing to add: The current WDW trains, with any current issues they have, still have life in them. As Red mentioned, they are being continually upgraded and worked on, and with an interior refresh and the system upgrade that's coming, the chassis of the current trains could be in service for a while still. "New trains coming" could mean current trains that have been overhauled.

I get your point, but that won't happen. New trains have to be compatible with the new (planned) automated system. This is not possible by simply retrofitting the old trains. A whole new fleet has to be purchased. It doesn't matter if they are built by Bombardiar, Hitachi, or whom ever - just as long as they are compatible with the current tracks.

 

[articos]

There is no future for Bombardier and Disney after the lawsuit involving the VI's.

Not true.

I get your point, but that won't happen. New trains have to be compatible with the new (planned) automated system. This is not possible by simply retrofitting the old trains. A whole new fleet has to be purchased. It doesn't matter if they are built by Bombardiar, Hitachi, or whom ever - just as long as they are compatible with the current tracks.

Also not the case. The fleet can be upgraded.

 

[articos]

Wow. That LED lighting is cool!

Any way, WDW will get new trains. This has already been semi-officially announced. The new trains are part of an automated system upgrade.

To see these new trains, go to Bombardiar's website and see what the latest Mark model is.

As to the LED lighting or other cool features that obviously don't come with pre-installed by Bombardiar, these upgrades could easily be made by WDI from the stock Bombardiar train and outfitted by WDI.

The only official information released is an interview with Sam Lau. He does not mention anything about new trains in it, only talks about the automation upgrade, which does involve the current fleet. The system upgrade is projected to stretch into 2014. Any unofficial reports of new rolling stock is conversational, and it's generic in saying "in future". The first thing that needs to happen is the system automation upgrade, and it needs to work with 99.9999% reliability before introducing something new into the system.

 

[marni1971]

Wow. That LED lighting is cool!

Any way, WDW will get new trains. This has already been semi-officially announced. The new trains are part of an automated system upgrade.

To see these new trains, go to Bombardiar's website and see what the latest Mark model is.

Okay.

 

[PeterAlt]

The only official information released is an interview with Sam Lau. He does not mention anything about new trains in it, only talks about the automation upgrade, which does involve the current fleet. The system upgrade is projected to stretch into 2014. Any unofficial reports of new rolling stock is conversational, and it's generic in saying "in future". The first thing that needs to happen is the system automation upgrade, and it needs to work with 99.9999% reliability before introducing something new into the system.

I guess you can upgrade the current fleet, but WDI doesn't have the know-how and experience (any more) and if they were to tackle this themselves, it could end up costing more than buying new rolling stock that has already been tried, tested, and perfected.

 

[WDW1974]

No, no and no. WDW getting new trains ... what a laugh. Seriously and sadly.

But there are new buses!