[sustran] Re: Article in Guardian Newspaper

[Alan P Howes]

I'm not sure if Wuppertal is a real monorail either (must look at
those urls) - in fact it could be argued that most monorails are not
"true" monorails, as they mostly have more than one support across
their cross-section. To be a true monorail, it would either need to be
suspended, or be kept upright by gyroscopes (yes, it has been done!).

But perhaps I am being pedantic! My favourite "monorail" was the
Listowel and Ballybunion, which was steam-powered and generated some
amazing anecdotes. Irish, of course. 

Cheers, Alan

On Sat, 29 Mar 2003 19:30:44 +0530, Debi Goenka <debi at beag.net> wrote
to sustran-discuss at jca.apc.org:

>Whoops!
>
>Found these websites on Wupperstal
>http://www.trainweb.org/subwaymark/transit/Germany/wup_mono.htm
>http://www.monorails.org/tMspages/Wuprtal.html
>http://www.monorail.org/wupper.htm
>
>The Skybus, incidentally, will not be a monorail.
>
>Cheers
>
>Debi
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Debi Goenka" <debi at beag.net>
>To: <sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org>
>Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2003 7:23 PM
>Subject: Re: [sustran] Re: Article in Guardian Newspaper
>
>
>> Hi Alan
>>
>> Yes, that is the Skybus I was referring to. I understand that it is now
>> going to be built in Kochi (Cochin) and we should soon know how successful
>> it is.
>>
>> There are some advantages over light rail though the costs may be
>comparable
>> (the Indian costs however for light rail seem to be about 40-60% higher).
>> The advantages are -
>>
>> 1. can follow road alignments
>> 2. lower heights for commuters to access
>> 3. no risks of derailment
>> 4. the space on top of the tracks can be used as a pedestrian
>walkway/cycle
>> track/ etc.
>> 5. no displacement of people
>>
>> Anyway, if it works, it might take care of a lot of problems.
>>
>> We are keeping our fingers crossed.
>>
>> Is there any website on the Wuppertal monorail?
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Debi
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Alan Patrick Howes" <APHOWES at dm.gov.ae>
>> To: <sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2003 1:05 PM
>> Subject: [sustran] Re: Article in Guardian Newspaper
>>
>>
>> OK Debi, I take it you are talking about Skybus as at
>> http://www.konkanrailway.com/website/ehtm/sky_bus.htm
>>
>> Interesting - but it appears that this is not even yet at prototype
>stage -
>> more of a "pipe dream". And Wuppertal, Germany, has had a suspended
>> "monorail" for about 100 years!
>>
>> From the description of Skybus on the website, I see no immediate reason
>why
>> it should be substantially cheaper than an elevated VAL system. (Véhicule
>> Automatique Legère - French - see
>> http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/lille_val/ which gives another
>> explanation for the acronym.)
>>
>> The Skybus webpage quotes US$10m per km as a cost - but does not really
>> quantify this figure, and until a prototype has been built and shown to
>work
>> any cost estimate must be treated with a lot of caution.
>>
>> Having said that, if India could "home-grow" its own light rail technology
>> and make it work, then good luck!
>>
>>
>> --
>> Alan P Howes, Special Transport Advisor,
>>      Dubai Municipality Public Transport Department
>> aphowes at dm.gov.ae
>> http://www.dubaipublictransport.ae/
>> Tel:    +971 4 286 1616 ext 214
>> Mobile: +971 50 5989661
>>
>>
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: Debi Goenka [mailto:debi at beag.net]
>> > Sent: Sat, 29 March, 2003 05:50
>> > To: sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org
>> > Cc: gh7 at york.ac.uk; Matoff, Tom; vuchic; Francis Vanek;
>> > Ritjavakhtar at aol.com; oeyvind.espe at ps.ge.com
>> > Subject: [sustran] Re: Article in Guardian Newspaper
>> >
>> >
>> > Hi folks
>> >
>> > I tend to agree with Eric.
>> >
>> > There are also now options such as the Skybus metro, which do
>> > not involve
>> > any displacement at all, and which, whilst not as cheap as
>> > bus lanes on
>> > existing roads, are much cheaper than metros.
>> >
>> > (Incidentally, how does one fix a cost/value for bus lanes on existing
>> > roads?)
>> >
>> > Cheers
>> >
>> > Debi
>>
>>
>>

-- 
Alan Howes, Dubai, UAE (Otherwise Perthshire, Scotland)
alaninthegulf at yahoo.co.uk
Professional website   (Needs Updating!): 
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/alanhowes/