The State & Future of the Monorails (WDW)

[s8film40]

An update on Monorail Red, via by Blog Mickey..

PHOTOS: Monorail Red Undergoing Maintenance After Door Operation Accident - Blog Mickey

Looks to me like they are getting it ready to be painted. Of course as we all know the best way to fix a monorail is to give it a new coat of paint.

 

[GAcoaster]

Yes, it's in the paint bay. They've been painting them all and that shot is showing the bellows removed for painting.

This will be the fifth train to be painted (Blue, Yellow, Gold, Orange) as an attempt to make them at least look better.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Yes, it's in the paint bay. They've been painting them all and that shot is showing the bellows removed for painting.

This will be the fifth train to be painted (Blue, Yellow, Gold, Orange) as an attempt to make them at least look better.

Does it include an interior touch up?

 

[Alicia]

Does it include an interior touch up?

Hopefully a good Fabreezing at least.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Quick update, but I don't believe removing any of the monorail lines is being seriously considered by anyone with decision making power in TDO. The opposite in fact.

 

[fryoj]

Quick update, but I don't believe removing any of the monorail lines is being seriously considered by anyone with decision making power in TDO. The opposite in fact.

By the opposite, do you mean adding lines, or adding trains?

 

[Teebin]

There was apparently a posting on screamscape that was picked up by a Florida news channel. They had the stupidity to post a rumor that the Epcot line was probably not long for this world and would be torn down in the next few years.

Foolishness

 

[GAcoaster]

I was skeptical about this rumor at first until I thought about how much sense it makes.

Closing the EPCOT line would be minimally painless for them adding bus service to and from the Magic Kingdom and the MK resorts.

There are 12 trains, and on most days 9 to 10 have to operate to handle the guests. Closing the EPCOT line (even if just a temporary thing while the hotel is built) and would allow two trains to be taken out of service for extended rehabs.

I've heard there are no current plans to replace the fleet, but instead the plan is to do what they did at Disneyland, stripping them down to the frame and essentially making them new again with updated internal and external components. This would allow them to keep operating the essential lines (Resorts and Express) and give them time to rebuild all the trains over time and not lose revenues from the hotels or impact the operations of the Magic Kingdom.

 

[Mr. EPCOT]

Quick update, but I don't believe removing any of the monorail lines is being seriously considered by anyone with decision making power in TDO. The opposite in fact.

My gut tells me that it is a bananapants crazy rumor, but then there is a little nagging voice in the back of my head telling me that this is the same company who has left abandoned PeopleMover tracks above Tomorrowland for nearly two decades. I still don't think they'll close it, just for the PR and guest services nightmare, unless they immediately started using the beamway and station infrastructure to install a newer, more advanced transportation system like someone was saying above, for an elevated PRT or something... but I think that's even more unlikely. That'd be way more expensive than just purchasing a new fleet of trains from Bombardier.

 

[SeventyOne]

I still don't think they'll close it, just for the PR and guest services nightmare

I know nothing about what's being done. But I will say the PR could be handled by "we're refurbing Future World" (even if it's a lie) and guests would actually get to and from monorail resorts faster on a bus than the aging, always delayed monorail fleet. As the guy who rides it two or three times a week--it's bad. Delays are common.

 

[Ultranel]

:doh: How old are the NYC Subways? Are they still running?

 

[s8film40]

:doh: How old are the NYC Subways? Are they still running?

The monorails were actually built right alongside some subway cars possibly even NYC subways. I believe they get new trains somewhat regularly and phase out the older cars. It would be interesting to know if they have some '89-'91 models still running. Here's a not so great photo during construction.

 

[WAJAS]

The monorails were actually built right alongside some subway cars possibly even NYC subways. I believe they get new trains somewhat regularly and phase out the older cars. It would be interesting to know if they have some '89-'91 models still running. Here's a not so great photo during construction.View attachment 5944

There’s still refurbished models from the 1960s on the NYC Subway. Although, I believe they have restrictions on their usage, like they can’t be at the end of trains due to collisions.

 

[randompixel]

The age doesn't really matter. There is still 1938 London Underground stock in active passenger operation. It's more about the looking after of these things.

 

[Viator]

From Bruce Nichols,

 

[WAJAS]

From Bruce Nichols,

Alright. At this point WDW’s negligence could be considered blatant and willing. There’s an obvious problem with these trains that they don’t seem to want to proactively fix.

 

[jtsalien]

So MK is pretty packed today anddddddddd the Express Monorail is down. So only way to TTC is the Ferry. Or taking the long loop on the Resort Monorail.

 

[Scott W.]

So MK is pretty packed today anddddddddd the Express Monorail is down. So only way to TTC is the Ferry. Or taking the long loop on the Resort Monorail.

I thought they ran buses now?

 

[jtsalien]

I thought they ran buses now?

I think they do when they know it's gonna be down. But when it breaks during the day like this, they may not be able to get them quickly. CMs directing traffic were not leading anyone to buses.

 

[Viator]

From WDWNT:

RUMOR: New Monorail Fleet Has Been Ordered For Walt Disney World - WDW News Today

The rumored fleet, would be using the new Innovia model's.