Walt Disney World to bring new monorail train into service

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-bk-disney-world-monorail-101609,0,3042435.story

Jason Garcia
Sentinel Staff Writer
3:03 p.m. EDT, October 15, 2009

Walt Disney World has built a new monorail train using the undamaged remains of two trains that collided in a deadly accident over the summer.

The new train is expected to go into service later this fall.

It will be painted with a teal stripe to distinguish it from the resort's other trains, each of which have a unique color. Disney said the colors pink and purple -- the colors of the two trains involved in the collision -- will be retired out of respect for employees following the first fatal accident in the Disney World monorail's 38-year history.

That July 5th accident killed 21-year-old Austin Wuennenberg, a part-time monorail driver and college student from Kissimmee. It also sparked investigations by both the National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which remain ongoing.

Disney declined to discuss details of procedural changes it has made since the accident. But it said the new train will undergo thorough mechanical and electrical testing before it begins carrying guests.

"The train will be subject to the same extensive testing as any new vehicle we add to our transportation fleet," Disney spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez said.

With the addition, Disney's monorail fleet will grow to 11 trains -- still one short of the 12 it had before the accident. The resort said it expects to add a 12th train next year.

 

[Kim&Chris]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-bk-disney-world-monorail-101609,0,3042435.story

Jason Garcia
Sentinel Staff Writer
3:03 p.m. EDT, October 15, 2009

Walt Disney World has built a new monorail train using the undamaged remains of two trains that collided in a deadly accident over the summer.
The new train is expected to go into service later this fall.

It will be painted with a teal stripe to distinguish it from the resort's other trains, each of which have a unique color. Disney said the colors pink and purple -- the colors of the two trains involved in the collision -- will be retired out of respect for employees following the first fatal accident in the Disney World monorail's 38-year history.

That July 5th accident killed 21-year-old Austin Wuennenberg, a part-time monorail driver and college student from Kissimmee. It also sparked investigations by both the National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which remain ongoing.

Disney declined to discuss details of procedural changes it has made since the accident. But it said the new train will undergo thorough mechanical and electrical testing before it begins carrying guests.

"The train will be subject to the same extensive testing as any new vehicle we add to our transportation fleet," Disney spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez said.

With the addition, Disney's monorail fleet will grow to 11 trains -- still one short of the 12 it had before the accident. The resort said it expects to add a 12th train next year.

Wow, I am not sure how I feel about this. Now when everyone (who is wise to this info) sees the Teal stripe, they will know they're riding on the same monorail (essentially) that Austin drove. That would make me really sad

 

[zulemara]

actually I had read earlier that the train they are repainting will be primarily the pink train. I assume only parts were pulled from Purple if this is the case.

 

[MemoToMe]

I'm sure that as far as the new train, they are pulling the best cars out of both trains to make it. After that, they will probably pull any other usable parts for spares.

Also, notice that there is mention of a new 12th train coming into service "next year". It makes you wonder what the new train color will be. My guesses are either, White, Ivory, Navy, Bronze or Copper--all of which would compliment the current fleet. Also, will they try to replicate the current trains, or will they come up with a new design. Lots of things to think about.

 

[DC7800]

Also, will they try to replicate the current trains, or will they come up with a new design. Lots of things to think about.

They are referring to these as "new" monorails, but in actuality, Teal is just a repainted monorail Pink with the (undamaged) rear cab car (or cars) of Purple substituted for the damaged Pink equipment. The "12th" train will then be the more heavily damaged Purple equipment and rear cab car(s) of Pink.

There are no new monorails, or even monorail cars, so far as I know. I assume a new cab section will be fabricated for the front cab of Purple which telescoped when struck by Pink, though of course we don't know.

 

[wishdisney]

They are referring to these as "new" monorails, but in actuality, Teal is just a repainted monorail Pink with the (undamaged) rear cab car (or cars) of Purple substituted for the damaged Pink equipment. The "12th" train will then be the more heavily damaged Purple equipment and rear cab car(s) of Pink.

There are no new monorails, or even monorail cars, so far as I know. I assume a new cab section will be fabricated for the front cab of Purple which telescoped when struck by Pink, though of course we don't know.

well, Monorail Teal is going to be made up from Pink AND Purples undamaged front/back cabins and then the undamaged cars. Disney wouldn't have anymore front/back cabins to take from to refurb Monorail purple...unless they just build entirely new ones.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

As CR Resort Fan 4 Life posted at the top of this thread, the net result of adding this "new " monorail train will be that there will be 11 trains, compared to the 12 trains before the fatal accident.

The two colors involved in the accident have been retired.

Disney can order a 12th train from Bombardier of Canada, the compant that built the current trains.

 

[DC7800]

Disney can order a 12th train from Bombardier of Canada, the compant that built the current trains.

The 12th train will apparently consist of the four undamaged (center) cars from Purple, a repaired front cab car from Purple, and the repaired rear cab car from Pink. From pictures of Teal posted elsewhere, it appears to consist entirely of (undamaged) monorail Pink equipment except for the rear cab car, which is from Purple (also undamaged).

Bombardier is said to be supplying parts, including body shells for the front and rear cab cars, but no actual new monorail trains. I'd frankly be shocked at an order for a single new monorail train anyway. It would probably cost an arm and a leg (plus maybe a kidney) to get Bombardier to restart production for just one custom train, and from what I've heard, they're not interested in building any more such monorails (I have very, very little confidence in Bombardier anyway).

 

[anthony2k7]

has their been any rumours of wdw getting complete new trains like disneyland has? it seems the disneyland ones get replaced about every 20 years but the wdw are also about 20 years old now as well?

 

[wishdisney]

has their been any rumours of wdw getting complete new trains like disneyland has? it seems the disneyland ones get replaced about every 20 years but the wdw are also about 20 years old now as well?

wdw could get new monorail systems but not the same ones at disneyland. the ones at disneyland will not fit on the wdw monorail beams.

 

[Disney-Kim]

I could have sworn I saw Pink running when we were at WDW last month....and I was surprised I was surprised it was repaired already too.

so...there must me another color close to pink and I was color blind that day....

 

[ChrisFL]

I think there's a Peach monorail that's very similar in color

 

[doconeill]

I think there's a Peach monorail that's very similar in color

Officially that is Coral. To make the difference clearer from other similar colors, both Coral and Lime have a white wedge dividing the stripe at approximately the middle of each car.