Wow! Monorail Orange.

[Figment2005]

The scratches are of the monorail hitting the borders of the stations or what?

It is the overnight cleaning crews in the shop. The trains come nowhere near the station platforms, the shop has put foam on all pieces of equipment that could come into contact with the trains. It has been witness the cleaning crews actually running into the trains. Nobody is happy and action is being taken towards it.

Also, the pilots hate the way the new trains operate with regards to braking forces and station approaches. While the automated system will pump the brakes coming down the hill, a pilot will coast, apply the brakes once, and then coast towards the bottom making a smoother decent. Also pilots know when to brake in the stations to make the stops quicker and smoother. Fixes are in the works, but no time-frame as to when they may be implemented.

 

[Bender123]

No matter what Disney does, they'll be criticized for it. Disney cleans up the outside:

*Disgruntled Disney Guest*

1) Well, the inside is absolutely trashed! Not like they are going to repair that anytime soon!
2) Well, ABOUT TIME. They should always look perfect no matter what. I mean, it's Disney and I'm paying to be there!
3) Well, this won't last long.
4) This doesn't fix the dying monorail system that is crumbling and always late!
5) Maybe they could invest in computer systems that don't crash into each other!

/*Disgruntled Disney Guest*

I do agree to a point on your post...

The problem with the WDW monorails is that they are also nearing 30 years old and they look it. After enough time, no amount of cleaning, painting or repairs will make them better. Nobody is expecting perfection, but to expect functioning A/C, cabs that don't smell like a locker room and trains that don't have parts falling off them is a bit of a base level expectation.

The monorails are the first "ride" most people have at WDW. Right now, that first ride is little more than a city mass transit system, that looks like a city run mass transit system.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

I do agree to a point on your post...

The problem with the WDW monorails is that they are also nearing 30 years old and they look it. After enough time, no amount of cleaning, painting or repairs will make them better. Nobody is expecting perfection, but to expect functioning A/C, cabs that don't smell like a locker room and trains that don't have parts falling off them is a bit of a base level expectation.

The monorails are the first "ride" most people have at WDW. Right now, that first ride is little more than a city mass transit system, that looks like a city run mass transit system.

What's needed is a complete rebuild, striping away everything down to the steel frames. Fairly certain Disneyland did this with the Mark VII trains, using the old Mark V frames that debuted in the mid 80s. For all intents and purposes, they're modern and new, even if the frames are more than 30 years old now.

A complete rebuild, rehabbing existing components, fitting completely new interiors, and installing new tech as needed, would easily extend the life of WDW's trains for another 10-15 years. I'm not sure if the current work is that comprehensive in scope, but it'd be nice if it was.

 

[Chef Mickey]

I do agree to a point on your post...

The problem with the WDW monorails is that they are also nearing 30 years old and they look it. After enough time, no amount of cleaning, painting or repairs will make them better. Nobody is expecting perfection, but to expect functioning A/C, cabs that don't smell like a locker room and trains that don't have parts falling off them is a bit of a base level expectation.

The monorails are the first "ride" most people have at WDW. Right now, that first ride is little more than a city mass transit system, that looks like a city run mass transit system.

They aren't up to snuff, agreed. However, once people get an idea in their heads, it's very difficult to change them. Sometimes, it causes good efforts in a positive direction to be ignored and the original thesis of failure to be reaffirmed.

 

[Monorail_Orange]

What's needed is a complete rebuild, striping away everything down to the steel frames. Fairly certain Disneyland did this with the Mark VII trains, using the old Mark V frames that debuted in the mid 80s. For all intents and purposes, they're modern and new, even if the frames are more than 30 years old now.

A complete rebuild, rehabbing existing components, fitting completely new interiors, and installing new tech as needed, would easily extend the life of WDW's trains for another 10-15 years. I'm not sure if the current work is that comprehensive in scope, but it'd be nice if it was.

Nothing you said was incorrect, however, the Mark V frames were reused from the Mark III. There also used to be a fourth train that was disassembled. The history looks something like this:
Mk 1: Red and Blue, 3 Cars
Mk 2: Red, Blue, Yellow, 4 Cars (Red/Blue still in service, extra car added)
Mk 3: Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, 5 Cars (All new trains, no re-use)
Mk 5: Red, Blue, Orange, Purple, 5 Cars (Frames re-used from Mk 3)
Mk 7: Red, Blue, Orange, 5 Cars (Frames re-used again)

 

[monothingie]

So I it's 2am and I can't sleep so I headed over to the contemporary concourse from my room and Coral was parked there for the night. To my surprise the outside contracted cleaning crew was there working on it. These were the same people that minutes ago were cleaning the bathrooms and mopping up Chef Mickey's. But in all fairness they were doing a good job considering the transportation people made it impossible for them to do a good job.

First the train was turned off completely so it had no lights inside. They were using flash lights in the cabs.

Second all the doors were closed. They had to use the overrides to open the doors to get in.

Third they couldn't clean the opposite side of the Monorail because it was inaccessible.

This seems like a failure on both sides to be honest. If daily cleaning is a priority, more planning needs to be done. The way this was setup was poor to say the least.

 

[Movielover]

So I it's 2am and I can't sleep so I headed over to the contemporary concourse from my room and Coral was parked there for the night. To my surprise the outside contracted cleaning crew was there working on it. These were the same people that minutes ago were cleaning the bathrooms and mopping up Chef Mickey's. But in all fairness they were doing a good job considering the transportation people made it impossible for them to do a good job.

First the train was turned off completely so it had no lights inside. They were using flash lights in the cabs.

Second all the doors were closed. They had to use the overrides to open the doors to get in.

Third they couldn't clean the opposite side of the Monorail because it was inaccessible.

This seems like a failure on both sides to be honest. If daily cleaning is a priority, more planning needs to be done. The way this was setup was poor to say the least.

That could be SOP when they work on the Monorail. In order to be cleared to work all over the train the whole system is probably locked out or as in no power being sent to the track and trains. This is just another safety method used to ensure that mishaps do not happen. That would also be why they had to use the overrides to open the doors, its the same thing with other forms of transportation like buses. You park and cut power to the vehicle at night, then in the morning or cleaning you use a manual system to open the door to proceed to start up. Are other trains parked at other stations like this during the night?

 

[Figment2005]

So I it's 2am and I can't sleep so I headed over to the contemporary concourse from my room and Coral was parked there for the night. To my surprise the outside contracted cleaning crew was there working on it. These were the same people that minutes ago were cleaning the bathrooms and mopping up Chef Mickey's. But in all fairness they were doing a good job considering the transportation people made it impossible for them to do a good job.

First the train was turned off completely so it had no lights inside. They were using flash lights in the cabs.

Second all the doors were closed. They had to use the overrides to open the doors to get in.

Third they couldn't clean the opposite side of the Monorail because it was inaccessible.

This seems like a failure on both sides to be honest. If daily cleaning is a priority, more planning needs to be done. The way this was setup was poor to say the least.

Yes, let's leave 600V unsupervised so that the custodial team can clean without flashlights.

 

[Bender123]

So I it's 2am and I can't sleep so I headed over to the contemporary concourse from my room and Coral was parked there for the night. To my surprise the outside contracted cleaning crew was there working on it. These were the same people that minutes ago were cleaning the bathrooms and mopping up Chef Mickey's. But in all fairness they were doing a good job considering the transportation people made it impossible for them to do a good job.

First the train was turned off completely so it had no lights inside. They were using flash lights in the cabs.

Second all the doors were closed. They had to use the overrides to open the doors to get in.

Third they couldn't clean the opposite side of the Monorail because it was inaccessible.

This seems like a failure on both sides to be honest. If daily cleaning is a priority, more planning needs to be done. The way this was setup was poor to say the least.

The roundhouse only holds 10 trains, so two are parked on the track in rotation each night.

 

[monothingie]

Yes, let's leave 600V unsupervised so that the custodial team can clean without flashlights.

Cut the snark. Have a transport cm there to supervise. Whenever I have any work done on my company's expensive equipment we have an employee to chaperone. That's the way it should be done. Instead you get a half a$$ job and no accountability.

 

[Bender123]

Cut the snark. Have a transport cm there to supervise. Whenever I have any work done on my company's expensive equipment we have an employee to chaperone. That's the way it should be done. Instead you get a half a$$ job and no accountability.

The issue, is that at most, one train has this problem, as the other is generally not stored at a resort. The problem is that the others, that are in the barn and at the other station are not kept up to the same degree as you would expect.

At this point, its just beyond "cleaning" on the trains and into rebuild/refurb territory. he day to day wear of tens of thousands of people just takes its toll over almost 30 years. For comparison, the previous trains at Disneyland and the Mark IVs at WDW lasted between 18-21 years before replacement.

 

[monothingie]

The issue, is that at most, one train has this problem, as the other is generally not stored at a resort. The problem is that the others, that are in the barn and at the other station are not kept up to the same degree as you would expect.

At this point, its just beyond "cleaning" on the trains and into rebuild/refurb territory. he day to day wear of tens of thousands of people just takes its toll over almost 30 years. For comparison, the previous trains at Disneyland and the Mark IVs at WDW lasted between 18-21 years before replacement.

They keep three trains in the TTC as well for the next day ops.

It if the habits aren't changed and they get new trains, they will quickly turn to crap based on the current sub standard tolerances for quality work.

 

[Figment2005]

They keep three trains in the TTC as well for the next day ops.

It if the habits aren't changed and they get new trains, they will quickly turn to crap based on the current sub standard tolerances for quality work.

The trains are internally cleaned wherever, and having one side open or closed does not affect this. The trains get washed, yes washed, at the TTC.

 

[peter11435]

Cut the snark. Have a transport cm there to supervise. Whenever I have any work done on my company's expensive equipment we have an employee to chaperone. That's the way it should be done. Instead you get a half a$$ job and no accountability.

Unfortunately this would never work with Disney's safety procedures. Even if there was a transportation cast member there Disney would still require power to the beam to be removed. The cleaning crew would still need to be locked out on something. This is their standard practice everywhere. Pretty much any work inside a ride path or ride vehicle requires power and the potential for motion to be eliminated. This often times makes things very challenging for maintenance and cleaning crews especially at certain attractions. But they have their reasons.

 

[monothingie]

Unfortunately this would never work with Disney's safety procedures. Even if there was a transportation cast member there Disney would still require power to the beam to be removed. The cleaning crew would still need to be locked out on something. This is their standard practice everywhere. Pretty much any work inside a ride path or ride vehicle requires power and the potential for motion to be eliminated. This often times makes things very challenging for maintenance and cleaning crews especially at certain attractions. But they have their reasons.

The cleaning crews are not going under the Monorail, they are going in guest only accessible areas to clean. During operating hours you have 1-3 CM responsible for 100+ guests. I think a single cm can handle 5 cleaners and their windex and vacuum cleaners. This is more an unwillingness by bean counters to justify paying for an extra body. But there in lies the problem with the many other maintenance issues which have become so commonplace.

 

[monothingie]

The trains are internally cleaned wherever, and having one side open or closed does not affect this. The trains get washed, yes washed, at the TTC.

They are not washing the train. But having access sure makes it less difficult to clean the windows.

 

[peter11435]

The cleaning crews are not going under the Monorail, they are going in guest only accessible areas to clean. During operating hours you have 1-3 CM responsible for 100+ guests. I think a single cm can handle 5 cleaners and their windex and vacuum cleaners. This is more an unwillingness by bean counters to justify paying for an extra body. But there in lies the problem with the many other maintenance issues which have become so commonplace.

You can believe what ever you'd like. But I can assure you disney would not allow it even if the cast member was there, it has nothing to do with paying the cast member. It's the same problem when cleaning ride vehicles.

 

[monothingie]

You can believe what ever you'd like. But I can assure you disney would not allow it even if the cast member was there, it has nothing to do with paying the cast member. It's the same problem when cleaning ride vehicles.

There is a huge difference between cleaning the Monorail and an attraction like Splash Mountain. If there was a worry about safety you wouldn't have Sodexho contract employees doing it. You would have in house trained cmto do it. By your line of thinking elevators should be locked out before being cleaned.

 

[peter11435]

There is a huge difference between cleaning the Monorail and an attraction like Splash Mountain. If there was a worry about safety you wouldn't have Sodexho contract employees doing it. You would have in house trained cmto do it. By your line of thinking elevators should be locked out before being cleaned.

I'm not talking about my line of thinking. I'm talking about Disney's line of thinking. Again you can believe whatever you want. Disney requires them to be powered down before work can begin just like any attraction.

Elavators are in no way comparable.

They used to be able to cycle vehicles such as pirates and splash so that crews could clean vehicles then move vehicles so they could clean the next set. This is no longer the case. It now requires a far more involved and cumbersome process.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I do agree to a point on your post...

The problem with the WDW monorails is that they are also nearing 30 years old and they look it. After enough time, no amount of cleaning, painting or repairs will make them better. Nobody is expecting perfection, but to expect functioning A/C, cabs that don't smell like a locker room and trains that don't have parts falling off them is a bit of a base level expectation.

The monorails are the first "ride" most people have at WDW. Right now, that first ride is little more than a city mass transit system, that looks like a city run mass transit system.

It sure seems like people are expecting perfection and cannot accept that A/C is a mechanical function, that might have broken just before you got on the monorail OR those trains, especially the hotel monorails, stop often with both doors open in the middle of summer in Florida, then load on a huge number of bodies all functioning at 98.6 degrees F only to do it all over again in just a couple of minutes. How fast or how powerful do we expect the AC to be to keep up with it. It's not all the time anyway, but, during high ridership times (opening/closing) I don't think god could keep it cool in those things. So many times the diagnosis if A/C broken is just nature against man situations. Nature usually wins.

Second point... in line with what was just mentioned... Florida, July, High Heat, thousands and thousands of sweaty, smelly people get on an off the monorail constantly, yet you expect it to smell like a rose. Also to repeat something I point out often. The smell that is being mistaken for urine or some other disgusting thing is the way those trains have been smelling since the first one ran. Whether it's the carpeting, or more likely the disinfecting chemical that is used daily to keep you whiners healthy is not really relevant, but, people are not generally peeing in the corner of the inside of a train car, in fact there are hardly any corners there to begin with.

Third point... can we get of the ridiculous notion that nothing ever goes wrong with mechanical things, not every thing is a lack of newness or lack of maintenance and not every thing can be predictable. One piece of a monorail, which appeared to catch on something, was torn off and fell to the ground and all of a sudden it's OMG the sky is falling. Get a grip folks. Those trains would never have run for thirty years without intensive maintenance, in fact it is likely that every part of them, with the exception of the passenger compartments have been replaced multiple times during that 30 year span. They are probably as new as one off the showroom floor in many areas.

Forth point... The monorails at WDW are nothing more then mass transit. They are multi-tasking as an attraction as a double benefit, but, never lose sight of the fact that are to take you from TTC, the MK hotels to MK and to and from Epcot. Just a fun way to do it.