Monorail strikes again :(

skull · Post by **skull** » Dec Sun 13, 2009 7:54 am

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/21953364/detail.html

Walt Disney World, monorail, rescue
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Emergency crews rescued passengers aboard a monorail train at Walt Disney World early Sunday morning after they were stranded for nearly three hours because of a power failure to the system, authorities said.

According to the Reedy Creek Fire Department, the monorail system went down at about 1 a.m., affecting seven trains and stranding numerous passengers on the red train near the Magic Kingdom, many of whom had to be rescued by emergency personnel.

Three of the seven trains were carrying passengers, two of which were towed into a station where riders could exit. Three other trains were at a station when the incident occurred, and another train was empty, Local 6 News reported.

Passengers aboard the red train contacted Local 6 News at about 3:15 a.m., describing the condition inside the train as "stuffy, muggy and hot."

"The monorail just shut down and came to a stop," said a woman aboard the train who had a 3-month-old with her. "The lights turned off, the air conditioner turned off, and then the pilot said we're experiencing technical difficulties."

Other children were also aboard the red monorail, and Reedy Creek Fire Department emergency personnel used a ladder truck to remove several people, according to witnesses. Passengers also helped each other exit the monorail through the roof of the train, witnesses said.

The exact number of stranded passengers was not immediately known, and no injuries were reported.

The cause of the malfunction is not known.

The red train was later moved to the Ticket and Transportation Center.

In a statement released Sunday morning, Disney said, "Our commitment to safety guides all we do and this is the type of situation we train for with Reedy Creek. We extend our apologies to guests who were affected and are working directly with them."

Disney said the monorail system was restored to full operation at 7:30 a.m.

The incident comes about five months after a monorail pilot was killed in a crash, the first fatal accident in the 38-year history of Walt Disney World's monorail.

Austin Wuennenberg, the operator of one of the monorail trains, was pronounced dead at the scene after two monorails collided at about 2 a.m. on July 5 at the Ticket and Transportation Center near the Magic Kingdom.

DaRkNeSs · Post by **DaRkNeSs** » Dec Sun 13, 2009 9:55 am

Wow thats odd Disney is having major problems with Monorail system past couple mouths after years of working excellent.

Another odd point to bring up, 1am! 3 mouth old out and about what is wrong with you. I know you are on vacation but come on, common sense should be used by parents. Dont run the kids ragged! Enjoy your time!
Just my 2 cents dont mean to offend anyone.

mindflipper · Post by **mindflipper** » Dec Sun 13, 2009 11:14 am

Hey, remember Disney World is for kids! For kids to have a good time and think about nothing else. It's just a shame that some of those kids are kids-at-heart and forget they have a children now that they're adults....

Post by **acp** » Dec Sun 13, 2009 12:36 pm

The Monorail has had a bad year this year. Hopefully next year will be smoother for it.

Andy.

Post by **Len90** » Dec Sun 13, 2009 12:50 pm

Wow the monorail has had no luck this year. Wonder which colors were affected besides Red. Glad to see that service has been resumed.

Also interesting to note that two trains were towed back. Looks like the diesel tow tractors saw some action.

Jacca5660 · Post by **Jacca5660** » Dec Sun 13, 2009 2:28 pm

Is Amtrak running the Monorail now?

MmeLeota · Post by **MmeLeota** » Dec Sun 13, 2009 4:19 pm

Jacca5660 wrote:Is Amtrak running the Monorail now?

ROTFL!!!!

Sure starting to sound like it....

joeyflds · Post by **joeyflds** » Dec Sun 13, 2009 9:34 pm

im starting to think my brother and sister inlaw are bad luck, we were down there with them in July when the accident happened, they just happened to be there last night as well.

MetalRage · Post by **MetalRage** » Dec Sun 13, 2009 11:35 pm

o.O again?! Dang, what is going on?! Did someone get in trouble in WDW and is taking it out on the monorails?? I don't think I will be taking the monorail when I go in a few weeks

I may end up in this mess!

Admiral01 · Post by **Admiral01** » Dec Mon 14, 2009 1:58 am

Lets remember that the monorail system is 99.9% reliable. All large mechanical/electrical systems have issues, some due to age, some due to operations, some just due to unforseen circumstances. System wide power failures aren't the result of the monorails themselves, but Disney does need to increase their maintenance efforts of the whole system (and the whole resort). They are, in essence, running a city. Roads, utilities, fire department, security force, housing, mass transit system. As for our beloved monorails, I don't think this has anything to do with the issues from July. Just a coincidence that it happened in the same year.

I'm there from January 3rd to 13th, for business in Orlando but staying on property (it was actually cheaper than the conference hotel). I will be riding the monorail system as much as I can. Best transit sytem I have ever been able to use. I only wish the monorail system ran everywhere in WDW. If it did, I wouldn't rent a car.

Jacca5660 · Post by **Jacca5660** » Dec Mon 14, 2009 5:40 am

Admiral01 wrote:Lets remember that the monorail system is 99.9% reliable. All large mechanical/electrical systems have issues, some due to age, some due to operations, some just due to unforseen circumstances. System wide power failures aren't the result of the monorails themselves, but Disney does need to increase their maintenance efforts of the whole system (and the whole resort). They are, in essence, running a city. Roads, utilities, fire department, security force, housing, mass transit system. As for our beloved monorails, I don't think this has anything to do with the issues from July. Just a coincidence that it happened in the same year.

I'm there from January 3rd to 13th, for business in Orlando but staying on property (it was actually cheaper than the conference hotel). I will be riding the monorail system as much as I can. Best transit sytem I have ever been able to use. I only wish the monorail system ran everywhere in WDW. If it did, I wouldn't rent a car.

It's not a city, it's Reedy Creek Improvement District. They're sort of their own county!

casrin · Post by **casrin** » Dec Mon 14, 2009 9:37 am

Jacca5660 wrote:Is Amtrak running the Monorail now?

Although, I shouldn't laugh; I never had a bad Amtrak experience when I traveled to Anaheim with them, and later to Chicago...

Yikes with the monorail though. At least it was only a power failure.

mindflipper · Post by **mindflipper** » Dec Mon 14, 2009 10:30 am

Admiral01 wrote:I only wish the monorail system ran everywhere in WDW. If it did, I wouldn't rent a car.

Second that! I found in the past the buses to be a hassle (especially if the bus that shows up to your hotel is already full!)...

timekeeper · Post by **timekeeper** » Dec Mon 14, 2009 10:40 am

Wow, too bad for the people who were stuck but I would love to take a monorail everywhere at WDW! Way better than the bus! It runs 365 days a year and how many hours a day????

wdwannabe · Post by **wdwannabe** » Dec Mon 14, 2009 11:00 am

Maybe Disney made some cut backs in the wrong department?

Subsonic Radio

Monorail strikes again :(

Monorail strikes again :(

Hmmm