What happened to the old Sentosa Monorail?

#Sentosa #SentosaMonorail #SGMonorail
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When you heard the word 'Sentosa Monorail', you think of this one that's in active today as of Sept 2021. But they called it the Sentosa Express not the Sentosa Monorail which most people knows about it. But from what you didn't know that many years ago, this is not the Sentosa Monorail that it looks back then. All the way back to the 20th Century, this is what the Sentosa Monorail looks like. It's old, it's narrow and it's a bit longer than the today's Sentosa Monorail. And back then, it can be controlled by a driver at the front but not in both sides like the today's Sentosa Monorail And SMRT's NSL & EWL trains. And it's a non-air condition vehicle back then with only the windows are opened. The line began to Commenced it's operations on 23 February 1982, which marked as the oldest monorail and train to be exist. 5 years before Singapore first MRT train, KHI C151 to debut into service. Because back in 1982, MRT are still under construction as the old Monorail is short and cheap to build. The line was built with 7 stations: Ferry Terminal, Underwater World, Fort Siloso, Cable Car, Central Beach /Palawan Beach and SDC Office / Ficus, Gateway / Causeway / Visitor Arrival Centre. Compare to that of today's Sentosa Monorail with only 4 existing train stations. The system was constructed at a cost of S$14 million by Von Roll of Switzerland with 16-carts, who also built the Singapore Cable Car. It's also the same company who built the Jurong Bird Park Panorail trains. Plans for the monorail were first announced in 1979, and it was planned to serve as a mode of transportation around Sentosa as well as to make the island more attractive to visitors. At that point in time, transport around the island was provided by a fleet of double-decker buses. Site surveys commenced in March 1980, and construction began six months later. Initially expected to be completed in April 1982, it was completed two months before schedule at a cost of S$16 million, and opened on 23 February 1982. Bus service to these locations being terminated, and the monorail thus became the main mode of transport around the island. As a result of the monorail's opening, as well as the opening of several other attractions, the number of visitors to Sentosa also shot up, increasing to 1,067,192 visitors from 567,567 visitors over the same period in the previous year. The monorail was only built with 3.6 mi (5.8 km) in 1 line like that of the Jurong Bird Park Panorail, a unidirectional counter-clockwise single loop through seven stations located around the western half of the island. With only 1 line being used for the monorail, traveling in a whole loop will be very slow copmare of today's Sentosa monorail. Just like the Jurong Bird Park Panorail, the old Sentosa monorail only have seats in each car, with no standing capacity. Despite being the first Monorail to be exist in Singapore, there are several issues about the monorail. Traveling this old monorail with one existing line is very slow. Which were then later use buses and trams instead for fast traveling to other parts of the island. Another issue were the the rapid modernisation of the island, maintenance problems and the increasing costs as the monorail is getting old. But they still continue to operate the old monorail through out the late 20th century. But when they arrive in the 21st Century, that issue was rapidly increased. With that, the old Sentosa Monorail ceased operations on 16 March 2005. This use to make way for the new four-station Sentosa Express monorail which was still exists for today as of Sept 2021. The new monorail became more faster and more comfortable compare to the old ones. Much of the track and all of the rolling stock were sold as scrap for S$350,000. The remaining tracks of the old monorail are still there abandoned and can be seen as of Sept 2021. The tracks will be remain untouched and unused since 2005. Today, the Sentosa Monorail or commonly known as the Sentosa Express is still remains the only existing monorail in Singapore. With several upgrades that was being done in the past few years. With 14 (7 train sets) of the Hitachi small-type monorail with 1 unknown order of the white train by some. The monorail became automatic like the MRT and LRT trains. With 14 (7 train sets) of the Hitachi small-type monorail with 1 unknown order of the white train by some. And hopefully, more monorails will arrive to Singapore in many years to come.
What do you guys think about the old Sentosa Monorail? Let me know in the comments below.
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