This document provides a review of monorail and maglev transit technologies. It summarizes that monorail systems have over 60 installations globally, with the most common suppliers being in Japan and Canada. Monorail capital costs are estimated to be similar to elevated rail, while operations and maintenance costs are also expected to be similar. Maglev systems only have 6 existing lines globally and are located in China, Japan, and South Korea. Maglev is expected to have higher capital costs than monorail or elevated rail. Both technologies would require separate maintenance facilities and trained staff. In conclusion, monorail is more established but maglev remains emerging, and capital costs for either are estimated to exceed those of conventional rail.

1. Monorail and Maglev Transit
Technology Review
TPO Fiscal Priorities Committee
Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization
November 5, 2018

2. Agenda
 Profile of Monorail Technology
 Profile of Maglev Technology
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3. Monorail Technology

4. What is Monorail?
• A monorail is a railway in which the track consists of a single rail.
• Two basic types, with straddle beam more common.
Mumbai, India
Las Vegas, NV
STRADDLE BEAM
Chengdu, China
SUSPENDED
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5. Supplier Overview
• Market strength and capacity is focused on 4-5 vendors with most of the
operational lines.
• 3 vendors in Japan and Canada  for 70% of listed monorail lines:
 Bombardier (Canada) 6 lines
 Hitachi (Japan) 8 lines
 Mitsubishi (Japan) 2 lines
• Bombardier
 US rail presence in Pittsburgh and Plattsburg, NY
• Part of the business model of established firms is ongoing transit
maintenance contracts.
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6. Where are Monorails?
• Over 60 monorail installations globally.
• 30 are public sector line haul systems:
• Balance are at theme parks, zoos, tourist attractions, schools, and
shopping areas.
• Another 60+ are in some stage of planning or concept development.
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7. Example Monorail Lines
ZooMiami
Ashgabot, Turkey
SingaporeDaegu, South Korea
Tokyo, Japan Okinawa, Japan
Mumbai, India Chongqing, China Chengdu, China
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8. Monorail Stations
• Similar in size and scale to Metrorail stations.
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9. Monorail Costs (Conceptual)
• CAPITAL COST:
 Average cost/mile of 4 built systems = $106.8 million, ranging up to $190.1 million.
• OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE (O&M) COST:
 Limited data from US systems yields annual cost per route mile:
 Range: $2.4 million to $5.5 million
 Costs would be dependent upon operating plan and systems-related costs.
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10. Conclusions - Monorail
• Capital cost with adjustments to US similar to elevated Metrorail.
• O&M cost appears similar to Metrorail.
• Require separate maintenance facility and trained staff.
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11. Maglev
Technology

12. What is Maglev? [Magnetic Levitation]
Beijing, China
Linimo, JapanIncheon, Korea
Shanghai, China
A form of train using two sets of magnets, one set
to repel and lift the train off the guideway, and
another set to move the 'floating train’ forward.
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13. Where are Maglevs?
• Only 6 operational maglev lines in commercial service globally.
• These are located in:
 China 3
 Japan 1
 South Korea2
• Other variations on maglev are in testing or development stages.
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14. Existing Maglev Lines
Okinawa, Japan
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Incheon, South Korea
Daejeon, South Korea
Shanghai, China
Changsha, China
Linimo, Japan
Beijing, China

15. Maglev Stations
• Similar in size and scale to Metrorail stations
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16. Maglev Costs (Conceptual)
• CAPITAL COST:
 Average cost/mile of 4 built systems = $145.7 million, ranging up to $250.4
million.
• OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE (O&M) COST:
 Insufficient data on maglev O&M costs.
 Costs would be dependent upon operating plan and systems-related costs.
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17. Conclusions - Maglev
• Adjusted capital cost expected to be greater than for elevated
Metrorail.
• O&M cost not determined, due to insufficient data.
• Requires a separate maintenance facility with trained staff.
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18. Conclusions – Monorail and Maglev
• US monorail lines are short and few. Technology is proven but not in wide
use.
• No US maglev lines and only 6 globally. Technology is still “emerging” and
not in wide use.
• Buy America requirements would likely affect cost and timeline.
• Capital costs expected to be similar to elevated Metrorail for monorail and
exceed for maglev.
• O&M costs for monorail expected to approach those of Metrorail.
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Monorail and Maglev Transit
Technology Review
Questions & Discussion