High-speed monorail promoters describe railroad technology as mired in the 19th century, while their vision is supposed to be in the 21st. But the facts are that both were invented in the 19th century (as was the automobile).
Since then, commercial applications of monorails have gone to up to 50 mph, with most found at lower speeds in amusement parks and airport people-movers. Passenger railroads, on the other hand, routinely operate at speeds exceeding 180 mph, with hundreds and hundreds of daily operations in excess of the 120-mph top speed envisioned by the advocates of monorail for the I-70 mountain corridor (and autos routinely operate at 80-85 mph in Colorado).
While the book SMARTrans points out that 120-mph speeds are clearly impractical for the I-70 mountain corridor, there can be little question that rail can meet any speed demand with relative ease. The top speed currently envisioned of 80-85 mph can easily be advanced to 100 mph in order to qualify for funding under the High Speed Rail Act being co-sponsored by both U.S. Senators Lott and Daschle. And there are segments of the route where this speed can be attained with passenger comfort.
Which technology represents proven 21st century technology? Clearly rail!
Denver Post, Feb. 20, 2001, "Going Back to the Future" by Ed Quillen
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