Do you think this transport system for London is possible?

Question

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOQyFYXQSEQ

I have doubts about if the supporting structure could be made so slim especially around the curves. Also would it not create a lot of noise?

Answer 1

Noise is a big factor

Answer 2

Very pretty, but not a practical proposition in modern London (with one exception).

In modern cities, the presence of existing roadways and buildings preclude developments of this type. Overhead railways still need significant land areas for their supporting columns. And what about the infrastructure needed at stops to get passengers to/from street level?

But, if you had an area that was being developed from scratch, then overhead railways could form part of a planned transport infrastructure. And the one area of London that fits this bill, is the East London Olympic Park.

As I said, very pretty.

Answer 3

I ASKED THIS QUESTION A FEW DAYS AGO. STEALER

Answer 4

For an example of what one would look like in the real world, there is a system in Wuppertal, Germany. See the Wikipedia link for pictures

Answer 5

I'm sure that with some more "Flowing Traffic Offence" cameras, funding should not be a problem... At least then you could see where all those fines are going!

Answer 6

It is an idea doomed to failure by its own brilliance, unfortunately.

I'm sure that the planners of this vision had the best intentions, but I'm afraid to say it is not likely to happen in the near future (I'd love to be proved wrong).

The monorail infrastructure would be horrendously costly. Although I've never been to London, from watching the video in that link it seems to cover an extensive area; you would never be able to get enough people to agree. NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard) protestors would also be a big issue.

Also, the logistics of constructing it would bring London's traffic to an even bigger gridlock than anything previously seen. Then there is the issue of safety. What happens in the event of a terrorist attack? How would you evacuate five hundred passengers suspended 40 metres in the air while the carriages are in between two stations? On a less extreme note, what would happen if a power failure ocurred?

And ultimately, monorails are eventually deemed to be an eyesore by the people they were built to serve. They are planning on demolishing the monorail here in Sydney (Australia) because it's useless, goes nowhere and only carries tourists. I'd much rather Sydney's streets rumbled to the sound of the trams they promised to build us than screech earpiercingly with the old, run down monorail that we have.

Answer 7

structure wouldn't be a problem as mono metro system are in operation in other parts of the world without problems. London's noisy anyway so would it matter?

Answer 8

A nice little film for transport enthusiasts and OH, wouldn't it be luverly (to quote from the song!) BUT you'd get so many protests from the owners of buildings all along the routes that it would be more like 3012 before it was all settled!

Anyway, nice views of Eastbourne Terrace, especially with RMs still on the 36's. Thanks for the link - normally I don't give them a chance, but I'm glad I did this one. Cheers.

Answer 9

Its a good idea, but it'll never happen.

Firstly, London's streets (especially in the older, central part of town) are way too narrow and bendy to build these kind of lines.

Secondly, with all the architecture in London, there's no way people would allow this to be built and block the views (just like that person was saying about Sydney).

Answer 10

There doesn't have to be much more than a "swishing" sound if, as it looks, it's suspended on rubber tyred wheels on concrete, but would the 'planners' get away with all that 'street furniture'?

It's a pity that Alex M asked this very same question six days ago !!!! (Resolved)

Answer 11

TFL is RUBBISH. Don't think anything they do works properly and it's overpriced. Your avatar, is that Audiotrix ?

Answer 12

Wow.

It would be nice if London could have it, but somehow I don't trust that it's gonna happen...at least not soon.  I mean, London's already struggling to run the existing transport system normally, right?  Even though the transport fee keeps going up every year stupidly, but the money's being spent on things like engineering works and lots other things, but it's never enough, so the fee goes up again.  How are they going to build something like this then?    Or if that happens, how high the transport fee will be, I wonder.