Posted on 12/28/2004 7:07:20 AM PST by Yo-Yo
Las Vegas Monorail Is Back on Track
From Associated Press
LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Monorail began carrying passengers Friday for the first time since being shut down Sept. 8 for safety reasons.
"It's a new day for the monorail," Todd Walker, spokesman for monorail's administrator, Transit Systems Management, said after watching passengers board trains for free at a station behind the Sahara hotel-casino. He said the first trains ran about half-full.
Administrators planned to begin regular 8 a.m.-to-2 a.m. operations today, and start charging fares on Wednesday, Walker said.
Clark County officials ordered several weeks of close inspections and empty-train testing before granting 30-day conditional approval Thursday for public operation.
Restoring service in time for Christmas offered the monorail a chance to reap revenue during the busy New Year's Eve weekend and a big Consumer Electronics Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center the following week.
The 3.9-mile elevated track follows a Z-shaped route linking the Convention Center and several large hotels on the east side of the Las Vegas Strip.
Officials had said the shutdown was costing $85,000 a day in lost fares: $3 per trip; $10 per day pass.
Ron Lynn, head of the county building division, said system builder Bombardier Corp. of Montreal would have to pass a 30-day review to extend the conditional operating permit to June.
The nine-train, $650-million system opened July 15 — six months late — and operated for eight weeks before a metal piece fell off the drive shaft of a moving train Sept. 8 and hit a power rail, causing an electrical arc but no serious damage.
A week earlier, a wheel fell off a train and landed in a casino parking lot. No one was hurt.
Lyle Lanley: Well, sir, there's nothing on earth Like a genuine,
Bona fide,
Electrified,
Six-car
Monorail!
What'd I say?
Ned Flanders: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: What's it called?
Patty+Selma: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: That's right! Monorail!
[crowd chants `Monorail' softly and rhythmically]
Miss Hoover: I hear those things are awfully loud...
Lyle Lanley: It glides as softly as a cloud.
Apu: Is there a chance the track could bend?
Lyle Lanley: Not on your life, my Hindu friend.
Barney: What about us brain-dead slobs?
Lyle Lanley: You'll be given cushy jobs.
Abe: Were you sent here by the devil?
Lyle Lanley: No, good sir, I'm on the level.
Wiggum: The ring came off my pudding can.
Lyle Lanley: Take my pen knife, my good man.
I swear it's Springfield's only choice... Throw up your hands and raise your voice!
All: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: What's it called?
All: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: Once again...
All: Monorail!
Marge: But Main Street's still all cracked and broken...
Bart: Sorry, Mom, the mob has spoken!
All: Monorail!
Monorail!
Monorail!
[big finish]
Monorail!
Homer: Mono... D'oh!
"MONO meaning one, and RAIL meaning rail!"
The great Phil Hartman, R.I.P.
At least you had the decency to lead off with a Simpsons excerpt!
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