[sustran] Re: Article in Guardian Newspaper

[Debi Goenka]

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
>
>
>