Monorail to Maglev....

[Dannek]

This is more idea than rumor, but maybe the right people will see it and it will spur an idea...

The monorail was designed to be a futuristic mode of transportation when it was first unveiled. Unlike anything else that was available at the time in any park.

In keeping in that mode but refreshing it for the future, I think that WDW should replace the monorail with a Maglev train. Maglev trains look like the monorail already, and it is the technology of the future.

What better way to bring the monorail into the future than to make it a new style Maglev train system? The existing monorail tracks are about the same height and width of a Maglev track system, so just take out the old Monorail tracks and supports, install new Maglev track and supports in it's place, and install Maglev train cars.

Shazam, you've just taken an old high maintenance system and turned it into a truly futuristic low maintenance system that would exemplify what Disney is all about. Plus the cars would be much smoother riding, and be able to go faster in a very safe manner and with greater control.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

What do you think the TTA is?

It is actually driven by magnetic impulse; the wheels are only for stabilty.

 

[beer dave]

This is more idea than rumor, but maybe the right people will see it and it will spur an idea...

The monorail was designed to be a futuristic mode of transportation when it was first unveiled. Unlike anything else that was available at the time in any park.

In keeping in that mode but refreshing it for the future, I think that WDW should replace the monorail with a Maglev train. Maglev trains look like the monorail already, and it is the technology of the future.

What better way to bring the monorail into the future than to make it a new style Maglev train system? The existing monorail tracks are about the same height and width of a Maglev track system, so just take out the old Monorail tracks and supports, install new Maglev track and supports in it's place, and install Maglev train cars.

Shazam, you've just taken an old high maintenance system and turned it into a truly futuristic low maintenance system that would exemplify what Disney is all about. Plus the cars would be much smoother riding, and be able to go faster in a very safe manner and with greater control.

We would all like to see monorail expansion, but suggesting that they completely remove the existing one and replace it with a new one is a bit (insert sarcasm icon here) optimistic. If they ever remove the entire monorail, it aint coming back.

 

[doconeill]

Maglev still has a number of issues, although there are some production uses. It is more effective over a longer, straighter distance though.

What do you think the TTA is?

It is actually driven by magnetic impulse; the wheels are only for stabilty.

The TTA isn't maglev. It still runs fully on wheels on a track. The difference is the cars have no motors in them, just magnets on the bottom. Embedded in the track are electromagnets which power up as the car gets close and pulls on the magnets on the car, then shut off so the car can glide over and not be decelerated by the same magnets.

So the propulsion mechanism is similar (linear induction), but no levitation.

This is slightly different than the original WEDway PeopleMover at Disneyland. Instead of magnets, there were tires embedded in the track. As the car passed over, the tire would push the car forward. Those tires still needed periodic replacement.

Trivia: Disney originally asked Ford, for whom Disney built the Ford's Magic Skyway attraction on which the later PeopleMover was based, to sponsor the PeopleMover. Ford refused because the PeopleMover essentially replaced cars, which Ford sold. So Disney approached Goodyear, the tire manufacturer, and they agreed to sponsor it...after all, it still needed tires...

 

[BeerMe]

I want Star Trek type Transporters

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . In keeping in that mode but refreshing it for the future, I think that WDW should replace the monorail with a Maglev train. Maglev trains look like the monorail already, and it is the technology of the future . . .

1) Two of my patent-pending filings are in Mag Lev.
2) The monorail is not a good application for such.
. . . the stations are too close to each other for efficiency
. . . the trains are too close to one another for safe operation
. . . the funds to change over the system would be cost prohibitive
3) Just like expanding the current monorail, the proposal sounds good on the surface.
4) However, not feasible.

 

[OKW Lover]

The existing monorail tracks are about the same height and width of a Maglev track system, so just take out the old Monorail tracks and supports, install new Maglev track and supports in it's place, and install Maglev train cars.

In other words, there's nothing left to be used from the existing system except the stations? Or would those be replaced too?

 

[ParrotBill]

The existing system is too specialized to be reused for any other type.

I think if we ever see another type of mass transit it would be a light rail system, like many of our cities have, or like the Orlando Airport. Good news is there is lots of open land and parking lot space on which to build it, but as with all such idea, the ROI may make it impossible. Cost savings would come from reduced transportation labor, fuel cost efficiency, and reduced capital and maintenance costs for buses.... oh and the elimination of all operating and maintenance costs for the monorail. But the huge capital cost to build it will take years to match the cost savings... and eventually you reach a point where replacement costs kick in and maintenance costs climb... maybe before you reach the break even point on the cost savings. In that case you don't have an ROI case any more... and it's not worth doing. Unless Goodyear wants to kick in $1B for sponsorship!

 

[Andrew015]

What better way to bring the monorail into the future than to make it a new style Maglev train system? The existing monorail tracks are about the same height and width of a Maglev track system, so just take out the old Monorail tracks and supports, install new Maglev track and supports in it's place, and install Maglev train cars.

#1 - The bolded sentence above would keep this from ever getting off the ground (no pun intended). The majority of cost in the monorail system is the track, which as you're pointing out, would need demo'd and re-built to fit the new train. You can bet that any update to the existing Monorail program will revolve around a train that can utilize the existing track system and supporting infastructure (platforms, stations, maintenance facilities, etc.) to keep overall capital expenditure to a bare minimum.

#2 - Such a system is really designed for traveling long distances at high rates of speed. There is nowhere in the existing monorail loop - EPCOT leg included - that would take advantage of such a train and make the overall project worthwhile. If an MCO loop ever got off the ground, then this might be a slightly different story, but I think the likelihood of that is in the slim-to-nothing realm as well (once again, due to such high capital investment in track).

I understand that this is just a "dreaming" thread, but unfortunately, I think it will always remain in that stage and never become reality.