Seattle monorail project on the ropes
See Slashdot page. There is also a good discussion on the page which addresses a question I have always had: what is supposed to be so great about a monorail? Why not just take standard gauge, two-rail equipment (which has been debugged) and use that, rather than a less common technology? Is it because monorail seems more "high-tech" because it's in Disneyworld? Well, I still don't have any firm answers to these questions, but the talk on the page sheds a little light on the issue--it is said that monorails are quieter, for example. (Somehow this I doubt. I live right next to a railroad track just outside Washington, and the electric trains are very quiet. They're loud only when they roll over switches, and I doubt this is untrue for monorails.)
Post Author:
massysett | 4:39 PM |
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For a variety of local Seattle factors -- hills, water, narrow rights-of-way -- an above-grade system makes more sense than does tunneling. And if you are going to go above-grade, there is a significantly lower sound level from a rubber-tired vehicle than from steel wheels. Is there anything magic about monorail? No. And it's a pity that the government of Seattle took the enormous positive political energy behind the monorail and tried to kill it.
Monorails can handle slopes and curves better than elevated light rail, so very rarely they are the better option. But usually monorail = light rail capacity for third rail cost.
Switch tracks for monorails are much more complicated than for "regular" rail.
Monorail is supposed to be safer. I think I read that no one has been killed by an operational monorail since they started running over 100 years ago. Also they look cool. Have you seen The Princess and The Warrior?
