Another monorail accident?

[comcastlover33]

https://www.reddit.com/r/WaltDisneyWorld/comments/3tc2au/monorail_accident/
https://twitter.com/wdwnt/status/667066710411866117

 

[rteetz]

Monorail was down for testing of the new automated system today. This occurred on the express line near the monorail. The tow tractor hit Monorail coral while on the line creating nose damage to the monorail. No injuries and no guests affected.

update: monorail coral brakes failed during automation test

 

[rteetz]

Photo of incident

https://twitter.com/allaroundorl/status/667079968912969728

 

[disneywv]

Traffic is really backed up at the Magic Kingdom it took 40 minutes to get from Magic Kingdom to Epcot via bus

 

[HopperFan]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CUH5Ep1XIAEX0aR.jpg:large

 

[rteetz]

https://twitter.com/allaroundorl/status/667088082878013440

Overhead shot showing the damage.

I would also like to add again no injuries, no guests on board. This happened while monorails were being tested. This was not a crash really either. The monorail brakes failed to activate and the tow vehicle went into he monorail.

 

[zaccaglin]

There was an issue somewhere with the system that led to the train having to be towed back to shop. During the tow the tow bar became un-hooked or something along that line and caused the train and tractor to collide. No injuries reported to any cast during the operation, no guests on board. Train was towed by another tractor and off the beam. I'm sure service will be resumed once everything is checked out and safety checks are passed. Just looks like monorail coral will be offline for a while.

 

[rteetz]

There was an issue somewhere with the system that led to the train having to be towed back to shop. During the tow the tow bar became un-hooked or something along that line and caused the train and tractor to collide. No injuries reported to any cast during the operation, no guests on board. Train was towed by another tractor and off the beam. I'm sure service will be resumed once everything is checked out and safety checks are passed. Just looks like monorail coral will be offline for a while.

Correct. I've also been hearing a auto brake sensor failed causing the monorail to continue into the tow tractor.

 

[zaccaglin]

Correct. I've also been hearing a auto brake sensor failed causing the monorail to continue into the tow tractor.

Nope look at the photos. There were heading up hill towards the contemporary near the garden wing. You can see the grand Floridian in the background. The work tractor clearly slid backwards into the train.

 

[Micca]

Maybe they should be doing this kind of testing during the overnight hours. It would impact fewer guests, and they might even pull it off without the whole world knowing about it.

 

[rteetz]

Nope look at the photos. There were heading up hill towards the contemporary near the garden wing. You can see the grand Floridian in the background. The work tractor clearly slid backwards into the train.

I am not completely sure about that. From what I've read based on the situation there was a brake problem with the monorail. This comes from good sources. I am not disputing what you said but I have heard the sensor that makes the monorail stop in this situation fails.

 

[rteetz]

Maybe they should be doing this kind of testing during the overnight hours. It would impact fewer guests, and they might even pull it off without the whole world knowing about it.

Other than a road closure to make sure everything was ok there were no impacts to guests. The automation system was supposed to be completely rolled out by now but has had numerous issues due to the age of the trains and only a couple monorails have actually tested the automation system.

 

[zaccaglin]

Maybe they should be doing this kind of testing during the overnight hours. It would impact fewer guests, and they might even pull it off without the whole world knowing about it.

Most testing does happen during the night but with parks closing at midnight trains don't get back to bed until about 2 then they start coming back out about 5:30. Mid day shut downs give them a larger window to test.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Long story short...

Not a good day.

 

[rteetz]

Long story short...

Not a good day.

Well it could've been worse

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Well it could've been worse

Is that like "other than that, Mrs Lincoln...how was the play?"

 

[rteetz]

Is that like "other than that, Mrs Lincoln...how was the play?"

Well there could've been people on board and/or someone could've gotten hurt.

 

[DDLand]

Is that like "other than that, Mrs Lincoln...how was the play?"

@rteetz is right about this. It could've been much worse. This wasn't during normal operations, it wasn't due to a technical problem, and no employee or guest was injured. Additionally the monorail itself while substantially effected, could've come out with much more of the train destroyed. It is on the other hand definitely more than say a bump or a small dent. That's for sure.

Most importantly there was no loss of life, no mainstream media coverage, and no reason to be fined. I think in that order.

Though as you say, this was not a good day for a monorail that is one of the first of an already delayed and cost overridden automation effort. This should put them further behind and keep Disney from taking this systemwide for the time being. Also Disney loses a whole monorail for the busy Christmas season. This also reinforces negative sentiments and raises questions about Disney's management of the monorail system.

Not a good day.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Nobody is debating it coulda been worse...

But honestly...and this is being fair...should there EVER be anytype of collisions on this thing?

This is a closed system with 3 lines and a Max of 9 trains in operation...not the London tubes.

I'm repeatedly told how "they'd never get rid of the monorail...its iconic!!!"

It's many things these days

 

[rteetz]

Nobody is debating it coulda been worse...

But honestly...and this is being fair...should there EVER be anytype of collisions on this thing?

This is a closed system with 3 lines and a Max of 9 trains in operation...not the London tubes.

I'm repeatedly told how "they'd never get rid of the monorail...its iconic!!!"

It's many things these days

Well this was during a testing time frame so it's obvious the test didn't go well. However there seems to be some fault on the tow vehicle as well.

I'm not in the limited group of people who think the monorail will go away but Disney is going to run this system into the ground before they change something. It's pretty obvious these trains are old and something needs to be done. Hopefully Disney will see that maybe it's time for some upgrades. I'm not even saying new trains yet but just upgrades to the existing trains.