Fwd: MONORAILEX News 25-2010 - Members Issue

[Jerry Schneider]

>[]
>
>
>MONORAILEX NEWS No. 25 -2010 - MEMBERS ISSUE
>www.monorailex.com
>
>FROM YOUR EDITOR
>Jaap Ketel
>
>[]
>
>
>Hello Monorail friends,
>
>This time we wish to congratulate Scomi for
>their new born baby "Sutra". The 4-car train
>rolled of their assembly line today!!
>The Inauguration of the first train-set for the
>Mumbai Monorail Project took place at the Scomi
>factory in Kuala Lumpur and the MMRDA
>Commissioner, Mr. Ratnakar Gaikwad took the
>honors to grace the train wishing it "good
>speed". Below a picture of the full train set on
>the test track just outside the plant.
>
>Three weeks ago the delegates of the MONORAILEX
>2010 Conference and Trade Show paid a visit to
>this plant and were impressed with the quality and efficiency of the operation.
>Unfortunately it was not possible to take any
>pictures inside the plant. Hopefully Scomi will
>provide us some pictures in the future on their
>assembly line showing the production of the other 14 units 4-car train sets.
>
>Anyhow, Scomi has proven it is possible within a
>short period (less than 2 years) to engineer and
>produce a new version of a monorail system which
>is another breakthrough in the advancement of
>this exciting and innovative area of public transport opportunities.
>
>We wish Scomi well in the further advancement of their work.
>
>Mumbai Monorail Project - Facts
>
> SUBJECT MATTER FACTS
> Awarded on 7 November 2008
> Awarded by MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority)
> Contract Period 30 months
> Contract Amount RM1.846 billion
> Consortium Partner Larsen & Toubro
> Length of monorail line 19.54km
> No of monorail cars 15 x 4 car train sets
> No of stations 18 stations & 1 central depot
>
>Jaap Ketel
>
>[]
>
>The Sutra 4-car train set outside Scomi plant
>
>MMRDA inaugurates Scomi's first 4 car Monorail for Mumbai in Malaysia
>India Infoline News Service / 15:09 , Jun 21, 2010
>
>[]
>
> India's first four-car train set for the
> Mumbai Monorail was previewed and inaugurated
> today by Ratnakar Gaikwad, Metropolitan
> Commissioner, Mumbai Metropolitan Region
> Development Authority ("MMRDA") on behalf of
> His Excellency, Ashok Chavan, the Chief
> Minister of Maharashtra State, India at Scomi
> Group's ("Scomi") manufacturing facility in North Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
>
>Scomi, a leading provider of urban transit
>systems across the globe is currently working on
>the 1st Indian monorail in Mumbai. The Mumbai
>Monorail project which is expected to be
>completed by 2011 is a 20-kilometer route
>between Jacob Circle and Chembur with one
>central depot and about 18 user-friendly and
>highly secured stations. Each monorail, which
>comprises of 4 coaches, will have a capacity to
>accommodate about 600 passengers thereby
>carrying nearly 0.3 mn commuters on a daily basis in the proposed route.
>
>The Mumbai Monorail is also a green project, as
>it saves 200 tonnes of CO2 a day on the
>monorail. The structure does not obstruct much
>sunlight and does not trap excessive emission
>apart from being quieter than other modes of transportation.
>
>Commenting on the inauguration of the first
>four-car monorail for India, Ratnakar Gaikwad,
>MMRDA Commissioner said, "The inauguration
>ceremony of the country's first four-car
>monorail train at the manufacturing facility of
>Scomi Group in Malaysia is a significant moment
>for all Mumbaikars and Indians back home. With
>the creditable work being done by the Scomi and
>Larsen & Tourbo ("L&T") consortium, we look
>forward to beginning operations of the Mumbai
>Monorail by mid-next year. It has been MMRDA's
>long-term goal to provide world-class
>infrastructure to Mumbaikars. We are confident
>that the Mumbai Monorail Project will complement
>Mumbaikars' commute by giving them a comfortable
>and safe mode of transportation."
>
>Source:
>http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/MMRDA-inaugurates-Scomis-First-4-car-Monorail-for-Mumbai-in-Malaysia/4864497946
>
>
>ODU to sell unused material to keep maglev research on track
>Posted to: Education News Norfolk By Debbie Messina
>The Virginian-Pilot © June 20, 2010 NORFOLK
>
>[]
>
>Mike Lockhart prepares a section of the maglev
>guideway to be removed from the monorail on ODU
>campus on June 18, 2010. The metal will be
>auctioned off to raise project funding. (Rachel Mummey | The Virginian-Pilot)
>
>About 134 tons of steel and 50 tons of aluminum
>are rusting atop an idle magnetic levitation
>train guideway at Old Dominion University.
>Meanwhile, money is running low for ODU's maglev
>research. So Thomas E. Alberts, an aerospace
>engineering professor and leader of the
>university's maglev research efforts, hatched a
>plan to sell the track materials as scrap metal
>to fund continued development of a maglev prototype.
>
>Crews last week began tearing out valuable metal
>bolted to about 2,200 feet of the elevated
>concrete guideway. Alberts said he expects it to
>fetch about $60,000 in an online auction -
>enough to keep research moving forward for
>another year. "We're funding ourselves with this surplus," Alberts said.
>
>ODU's research team is working to develop an
>affordable, energy-efficient, low- to
>medium-speed maglev train that could be used in
>urban settings. The only commercial maglev in
>the world, a high-speed train in China, cost
>billions of dollars to develop and billions more to build.
>
>Read full article:
><http://hamptonroads.com/2010/06/odu-sell-unused-material-keeping-maglev-track#rfq>http://hamptonroads.com/2010/06/odu-sell-unused-material-keeping-maglev-track#rfq
>
>Mitsubishi, Hitachi keen on Bangalore's monorail project
>17 Jun 2010, 0250 hrs IST,PP Thimmaya & Sobia Khan,ET Bureau
>
>[]
>
>BANGALORE: Japanese giants Hitachi and
>Mitsubishi have shown preliminary interest in
>executing the 55 km monorail project in
>Bangalore, senior state government officials
>told ET. Executives of the two companies have
>met with Karnataka state government officials to
>express the interest of their companies in implementing the project, they said.
>
>The monorail, which will act as a feeder route
>to the ongoing metro rail project, will be
>executed under a public-private partnership
>model with the government acting as the
>facilitator. The estimated cost is likely to be
>around Rs 7,700 crore and the cash strapped
>government needs private players to participate
>to push the project through. Several
>consultancies are readying bid submissions for
>preparing a detailed project report (DFR). State
>government officials said Hitachi, Mitsubishi
>and others will finalise their plans after the submission of the DPR.
>
>This is the second time that the state
>government is roping in the private sector to
>develop an urban transport system. The high
>speed rail link, connecting Bangalore city to
>the international airport has received
>expression of interest from five private players
>and the winner of this project is likely to be announced in another two months.
>
>However, before the monorail project is actually
>awarded to a particular firm or consortium, a
>DPR needs to be prepared which will provide
>complete specifications in terms of the cost,
>technical requirements and the timeline.
>
>The state government will hold a pre-bid
>conference to select the consultant to prepare
>the DPR, and 12 firms have confirmed their participation.
>
>These include Wilbursmith Associates, Delhi
>Integrated Multi-modal Transit System, RITES
>etc. Once the DPR is prepared, the government
>will come out with the request for quotation
>(RFQ) and later the request for proposal (RFP)
>between December 2010 and March 2011.
>Commissioning of the project is expected in May 2014.
>
>Source:
><http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/transportation/railways/Mitsubishi-Hitachi-keen-on-Bangalores-monorail-project/articleshow/6056807.cms>http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/transportation/railways/Mitsubishi-Hitachi-keen-on-Bangalores-monorail-project/articleshow/6056807.cms
>
>Mumbai monorail, Metro to get security from US-based institute
>Mumbai, June 15, 2010 First Published: 21:01 IST(15/6/2010)
>
>[]
>
>Maharashtra government has signed a pact with
>US-based Minata Transportation Institute (MTI)
>to introduce security of global standards in
>public transport in Mumbai, specially the
>upcoming metro and mono rail projects.
>A delegation led by Chief Minister Ashok Chavan,
>signed the memorandum of co-operation with
>Minata Transportation Institute (MTI) in Los Angeles, an official release said.
>The memorandum was signed by the Additional
>Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA, S V R
>Srinivas, Secretary to the Chief Minister, Nitin
>Kareer and the Executive Director, MTI, Rod
>Diridon in the presence of the Chief Minister.
>Chavan is currently in the USA as part of
>three-nation tour. The pact is a major step
>towards strengthening the Mumbai metro and
>public transport security, the release said.
>The ceremony was also attended by senior
>officials of Federal Transport Administration
>and Los Angeles, Metro Security Chief John Sullivan.
>Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister
>said the pact seeks to bring security and safety
>of global standards within the reach of Mumbaikars.
>
>Source:
><http://www.hindustantimes.com/Mumbai-monorail-Metro-to-get-security-from-US-based-institute/Article1-558189.aspx>http://www.hindustantimes.com/Mumbai-monorail-Metro-to-get-security-from-US-based-institute/Article1-558189.aspx
>
>Cabinet yet to study MRT proposal from Gamuda, MMC
>By SHARIDAN M. ALI shar...@thestar.com.my
>
>[]
>
>PETALING JAYA: Gamuda Bhd and MMC Corp Bhd's
>joint mass rapid transit (MRT) proposal is still
>at a preliminary stage as it has yet to be
>evaluated by the Cabinet, said a source close to
>the matter. The source, however, confirmed that
>the Finance Ministry had received the MRT
>proposal by Gamuda, adding that he was not aware
>if other parties had submitted similar
>proposals. He said the Government had set up a
>special task force within the Cabinet committee
>on public transport to study the proposal.
>
>Under the 10th Malaysia Plan, an MRT project for
>the Klang Valley has been identified to improve
>the city's public transport system. The project,
>estimated to cost RM36bil, will be the biggest
>infrastructure project in the country to date.
>The source said even though the MRT routes had
>not been finalised yet, they would cover areas
>not served by the light rail transit (LRT)
>system. "I reckon it will cover areas like
>Kepong and Cheras, among others," he said.
>According to AmResearch, the proposal sought to
>integrate the monorail and LRT with the MRT. "In
>addition, the MRT lines will also connect the
>northwest and southeast of the Klang Valley.
>
>"The new MRT system would have up to three main
>lines. The first line will run through Sungai
>Buloh, Kota Damansara, Kuala Lumpur and Cheras
>(right up to Kajang). "The second line will
>connect Sungai Buloh, Kepong, Kuala Lumpur and
>Serdang, while the third line will loop around
>Kuala Lumpur's business district - providing a
>link between the monorail and LRT services,"
>AmResearch said. It said the MRT lines mostly
>would be underground, with stops every 500m to
>1km in high-traffic areas such as the Golden
>Triangle in Kuala Lumpur. Conceptually, it would
>be similar to the MRT systems in Singapore and Hong Kong.
>
>On the beneficiaries of the project, AmResearch
>said while MMC and Gamuda had jointly submitted
>the original proposal, the project would be open
>to competitive bidding. "However, the MMC-Gamuda
>partnership could have an added advantage over
>its peers, given its track record in undertaking
>tunnelling works for the STORM water tunnel
>project. "In addition, Gamuda has the experience
>in delivering the Kaohsiung MRT system in Taiwan," it said.
>
>Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd has the biggest
>public transport ridership. Based on November
>2009 figures, it transported daily an average
>400,000 people on its buses, 300,000 people on
>its two light rail transit (LRT) services and
>100,000 people on monorail. Prasarana, the
>state-owned public transport operator, had early
>this year embarked on a RM7bil extension of its
>two LRT lines in the Klang Valley.
>
>The MRT project is in line with the Government's
>target of increasing public transport usage to
>25% by 2012 from 16% now. In contrast, public
>transport usage in countries like Singapore and
>South Korea stands at over 50% and 70% respectively.
>
>Source:
><http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/6/15/business/6469010&sec=business>http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/6/15/business/6469010&sec=business
>
>9 Injured in bus and tram crash Amsterdam
>Published: June 17, 2010 2:17 p.m.
>
>[]
>
>
>Amsterdam - In a collision between a bus and a
>tram Connexxion of the CFP in Amsterdam Thursday nine people were wounded.
>Three of them had light injuries and were
>admitted to a hospital, the police made known.
>The rest could be treated locally.
>Just about half past one bus 197 and tramline 24
>collided at the intersection of Amstelveenseweg
>and IJsbaanpad, near the VU Hospital.
>
>Note by the editor: Another incident with street
>level public transport. Grade separation is the answer.
>
>Haj official urges rethink on Makkah monorail fares
>by Andy Sambidge on Monday, 14 June 2010
>
>[]
>
>TRANSPORT PLAN: for the many pilgrims visiting
>the holy cities in Saudi Arabia. (Getty Images)
>A leading Haj official has urged Saudi
>authorities to reduce the proposed costs of the
>Makkah monorail project, which has reportedly been set at SR250.
>
>"The proposed fare of SR250 to be paid by each
>pilgrim using the railway is very high. It
>should be reduced to SR90," said Abdul Qader
>Al-Jabarti, chairman of the Haj Committee said
>in comments published by Arab News on Monday. He
>told the paper the proposed fare would increase
>the expenditures of Haj companies by five percent.
>
>Source:
><http://www.arabianbusiness.com/590454-haj-official-urges-rethink-on-makkah-monorail-fares>http://www.arabianbusiness.com/590454-haj-official-urges-rethink-on-makkah-monorail-fares
>
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>
>The above information has been derived from
>public sources on the internet. Brisk Events
>refers to the original source of the information
>for its correctness and takes no responsibility
>for any omissions or incorrect statements.
>
>For more information contact:
>Mr. Jaap H. Ketel
>MONORAILEX-IMA Secretary
>C/o Ketel Consulting Agents BV
>Sluithek 6, 3831 PB LEUSDEN
>P.O. Box 18, 3830 AA LEUSDEN
>The Netherlands
>tel. (31) 33-4343500
>fax. (31) 33-4343501
>Mobile (31) 6-532 61 771
>www.briskevents.nl
>Chamber of Commerce 08019831
>

[Kirston Henderson]

on 6/21/10 1:00 PM, Jerry Schneider at j...@peak.org wrote:

>> MONORAILEX NEWS No. 25 -2010 - MEMBERS ISSUE
>> www.monorailex.com
>>

>> This time we wish to congratulate Scomi for
>> their new born baby "Sutra". The 4-car train
>> rolled of their assembly line today!!
>> The Inauguration of the first train-set for the
>> Mumbai Monorail Project took place at the Scomi
>> factory in Kuala Lumpur and the MMRDA
>> Commissioner, Mr. Ratnakar Gaikwad took the
>> honors to grace the train wishing it "good
>> speed". Below a picture of the full train set on
>> the test track just outside the plant.
>>

From the photo of the "monorail" rail section, this system spreads the
car support and propulsion wheels apart by several feet and comes much
closer to the MegaRail® elevated road system. It appears that side steering
wheels and power supply bus bars are probably on the side below the main
support. I don't believe that you could class this system as a "monorail"
even more than you could class MegaRail as a monorail.

This guideway is much wider than other monorails and should cast a wider
shadow on the ground. However, the apparent rubber tires on steel traction
surfaces should result in much less noise than that of monobeam concrete
monorails. The steel running track surface appears to bolt to a rather wide
concrete support beam.

Kirston Henderson
MegaRail®