[sustran] Re: Article in Guardian Newspaper

[Alan Patrick Howes]

>From these sites (the third has the best pictures) it's obvious that the Wuppertal system IS a true suspended monorail. "Schwebebahn" in German - is that "suspended" or "swinging"?


-- 
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 18:01
> To: sustran-discuss at jca.apc.org
> Subject: [sustran] Re: Article in Guardian Newspaper
> 
> 
> 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
> >
> >
> >
> 
> 
>