Gold Line monorail

[reader]

From The Nation

Now that all three driverless trains for the BTS Gold Light Rail Line have been delivered, trials on the 1.8-kilometre route will begin immediately before the service is officially launched on October 29.

The monorail will stop at three stations – Krung Thonburi, Charoen Nakhon and Klong San – before linking up with the BTS Green Line.

Constructed on a public-private partnership basis, the aim of the monorail is to make it easier for residents in Bangkok’s Thonburi district to travel to downtown as well as to places like Iconsiam.

Now that all three driverless trains for the BTS Gold Light Rail Line have been delivered, trials on the 1.8-kilometre route will begin immediately before the service is officially launched on October 29.

 

The monorail will stop at three stations – Krung Thonburi, Charoen Nakhon and Klong San – before linking up with the BTS Green Line.

Constructed on a public-private partnership basis, the aim of the monorail is to make it easier for residents in Bangkok’s Thonburi district to travel to downtown as well as to places like Iconsiam.

The unmanned Bombardier Innovia APM 300 trains can reach a maximum speed of 80 kilometres per hour. Commuters can use the service for free until October 29, after which rides on the Gold Line will cost Bt16 per person.

[Guest]

Surely the picture shows a rubber tyred vehicle with 2 distinct tracks, rather than a monorail ?      Why they choose this, rather than standardise on light rail, as with existing lines, I have no idea.

For comparison, here is a picture of the KL monorail.

 

[reader]

Construction cost savings was likely a big factor. The BTS selected newer technology for this relatively short, connector route compared to the KL system that opened in 2003. 

Projected passenger volume was also a factor in selecting a smaller scaled version. Iconsiam was a major player in the public-private financing of the route.

It's similar to the Mitsubishi people mover used at Changi Airport.

 

[Guest]

Neither the system in Bangkok nor the one at Changi are monorails,  so I don't understand why they are described as such.

Also, a painfully slow system is probably OK when connecting a couple of airport terminals (particularly if there is the faster option of walking).    

I think it has no place in a large city, as any system in a place like Bangkok should be part of a long line & in that case, speed is important. 

[reader]

Wrong, Z.

If you look at the photo of the new BTS Gold Light service, you'll notice there is only one rail. Hence, a "mono" rail.

And since the new trains are capable of speeds up to 80 kilometers (49.7 mph) per hour,  they aren't exactly "painfully slow" now, are they?

Third, I never referred to the Changi trains as a monorail. I said "Mitsubishi people mover" which is what they are.

Try to get something right before you pop your wad.

 

 

[Guest]

noun

noun: monorail; plural noun: monorails

1. a railway in which the track consists of a single rail, typically elevated and with the trains suspended from it.

    

    

   The system in the photo does not comply with the definition of a monorail.    The train is clearly not suspended from the single rail.   The train runs on wheels down 2 concrete tracks and has a separate line down the middle for power.      

    

[reader]

3 hours ago, z909 said:

noun

noun: monorail; plural noun: monorails

1. a railway in which the track consists of a single rail, typically elevated and with the trains suspended from it.

    

    

   The system in the photo does not comply with the definition of a monorail.    The train is clearly not suspended from the single rail.   The train runs on wheels down 2 concrete tracks and has a separate line down the middle for power.      

    

From Wikipedia

A monorail is a railway in which the track consists of a single rail or a beam. The term is also used to describe the beam of the system, or the trains traveling on such a beam or track. The term originates from joining "mono" (meaning one) and "rail" from 1897,^[1] possibly from German engineer Eugen Langen, who called an elevated railway system with wagons suspended the Eugen Langen One-railed Suspension Tramway (Einschieniges Hängebahnsystem Eugen Langen). Colloquially, the term "monorail" is often used to describe any form of elevated rail or people mover.

Monorails have found applications in airport transfer and medium capacity metros. To differentiate monorails from other transport modes, the Monorail Society defines a monorail as a "single rail serving as a track for passenger or freight vehicles. In most cases rail is elevated, but monorails can also run at grade, below grade or in subway tunnels. Vehicles either are suspended from or straddle a narrow guide way. Monorail vehicles are wider than the guide way that supports them.

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Clearly, monorails do not have to be suspended. Beyond that you fail to acknowledge that you grossly mischaracterized the speed of the the cars on the BTS Gold Line.

Btw, that "separate line" you refer to is a "rail" (a monorail to be precise) and not only supplies power but guides the directions of the train.

But the most crucial factor of this discussion is when readers will enjoy the opportunity be able to ride the new trains. At that point, I suspect that none of us will be debating definitions because we have our minds on other things.

 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, reader said:

Clearly, monorails do not have to be suspended.

I expect the majority of the people with any clue about technical definitions would not call a train running on rubber wheels with such a large spacing a monorail.     Even your definition states that a monorail is a railway in which the track consists of a single rail or beam.    The one in the photo has a pair of concrete tracks, so is not a monorail.   By your method, even the London Underground would be a monorail.  

Don't take up a career in engineering.

Of course, your objective is to NEVER admit an error,  even when proven so.    So you will doggedly stick to your incorrect position, rather like a flat earth society member.   Every board is has to suffer a small number of such people.

[reader]

1 hour ago, z909 said:

Of course, your objective is to NEVER admit an error,  even when proven so.    So you will doggedly stick to your incorrect position, rather like a flat earth society member.   Every board is has to suffer a small number of such people.

I think you're giving the correct definition of yourself here. You get off on nitpicking despite the fact your frequently wrong.

You are more in need a trip to LOS than anyone on the board.

In any case, thanks for repeatedly bumping the post.