Monorail plan back on track?
Monorail mock-up A mock-up of a proposed Milton Keynes monorail system. MPMC WK23 M11
A MONORAIL system running alongside city grid roads could revolutionise public transport in Milton Keynes, the Citizen can reveal.
This week the council officially agreed to investigate the possibility of installing a network of Personalised Rapid Transport trains, identical to those at Heathrow Airport, throughout the entire city.
The system would be speedy, cheap to run and, because it uses electric rechargeable batteries, one of the most environmentally friendly options avaialble.
Most importantly, the city was built for it – literally. For in the original plans for the city 40 years ago a monorail was a favoured choice by planners, who designed the entire grid road system with that possibility in mind.
This year, tasked with preparing its transport strategy for the next 20 years, Milton Keynes Council commissioned a report by the city’s resident expert, Professor Stephen Potter from the Open University.
And, in no uncertain terms, the report criticises the level of car dependancy throughout the city and recommends a monorail as a sutainable solution.
“Car-orientated urban designs such as that of Milton Keynes, far from being exemplar, are viewed professionaly as environmentall irresponisble, economically extravagant, risky and socially diverse,” he states.
The professor, who describes existing bus services as “poor”, says a monorail would provide a high quality, low carbon service to suit the needs of residents.
He estimates a city-wide system would cost around £700 million to build. But he suggests work could be carried out in stages, starting with the most popular routes.
“It is viable to build a small network that would connect CMK destinations to the railway station and key car parks for around £10 million,” he suggests.
The idea has been applauded by former council leader Sam Crooks, who addressed Tuesday’s full council meeting.
“It would be perfect for Milton Keynes. It was a recommendation from our planners four decades ago and it is now time to start looking seriously at the possibility,” he told the Citizen.
“The fact that the council has agreed to investigate is a huge milestone and a cause for celebration.”
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Friday 25 May 2012
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Comments
There are 4 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Dr N. Dalton
Sunday, April 22, 2012 at 11:43 PMI rode one of these recently before a trip abroad, extraordinary! I didn't have to wait a second for a bus to turn up- it waited for me! By way of correction the original plan for MK NEVER included a MONORAIL it included light rail ( Trams in old money ). Yes it would be possible to introduce a PRT system like Heathrow very simply given the original urban designers foresight. Those treelined avenues are just screaming out for such a project. I know Daventry - which is similar in MK in design (big expansion in the 70s, red routes ) was looking to PRT to solve its problems. I think it would be great for MK to get something like this. I for one would love to have a fully developed system which extents out to the further reaches of MK, that way I could stop being a free taxi service to my kids! Seriously we could go from being one of the blackest to the greenest cities with this kind of all electric vehicles.
BruceH
Friday, June 10, 2011 at 12:47 PMWith the huge housing developments being build in the east and west, and Economic Development Strategy, there is going to be a growing strain on the already struggling road system. Have you been part of the twice daily MK rally recently? this is a symptom of a struggling road system, and will get worse quickly. So a viable and reliable alrenative is not a nice to have, but a key part any growth strategy, if they want to prevent transport chaos. Considering the cost of parking in town for shoppingwork, or at the station to cummute, I belive there is good ecomonic opportunity for operators and users alike.
StevePotter
Friday, June 10, 2011 at 10:36 AMI am glad the proposal for a PRT system is getting positive attention in Milton Keynes, but please, Please, PLEASE stop calling it a Monorail. A monorail is a big, massively expensive and inflexible system that nobody in their right mind would contemplate for Milton Keynes. What I am advocating has no rails - it is an automatic electric taxi. So let's at least get that clear.
zordanajones
Friday, June 10, 2011 at 12:06 AMI can't wait but why has it taken so long to come to fruition? When i moved here over 20 years ago i thought it was going to happen then and i cannot believe it has taken them this long to sort it out.
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