Disney Announces new Monorails for WDW

daguru

WHOA... before anyone get's the wrong idea and too excited, Disney is not replacing the fleet of monorails. They are going to take the remains of the Pink and Purple monorails (which were in the accident a few months ago) and build a new one. The Pink and Purple colors are being retired and the new monorail will feature a teal stripe.

However, this still leaves the fleet one short (only 11, the previous was 12)... Disney has stated that they will build a replacement monorail and add it to the fleet some time next year.

I guess this means that the long shot wish of many: new monorails based on the new DLR monorails is not gonna happen.... BUMER!
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sarah91182 · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:26 pm Post subject:

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

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.

WDWFan · Pilot Joined: Mar 01, 2006 Posts: 10863

I had expected them to salvage the remains.

Would be nicew to see the fleet get an overhaul, but the expense there would be huge.

for that type of investment, I'd rather see the routes expanded to include the other parks and lux. resorts.

CTKnight3 · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 7:42 am Post subject:

I also expected them to salvage as much as possible but I still wonder if riding "Teal" will give people the Heebe-Jeebies.

So if they buy a new Monorail to replace number 12 (Call it Matthias?) what color should it be? I wonder if they could get a nice "Plaid" design for it? Of course the horizontal stripes make the monorails look thinner but... Razz

sarah91182 · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 8:31 am Post subject:

daguru · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:06 am Post subject:

WDWFan · Pilot Joined: Mar 01, 2006 Posts: 10863

I just finished getting all of the monorail pins.... Now I got to get a Teal one!

They do not have a brown or tan one yet, nor light blue.

sarah91182 · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:00 pm Post subject:

WDWFan · Pilot Joined: Mar 01, 2006 Posts: 10863

Turquoise is still available as well...
Rust, well may want to avoid that one...