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Brighton-Shoreham monorail plan back on track
11:16am Tuesday 1st July 2008
The route of a proposed monorail for Brighton and Hove has been revealed.
The futuristic transport system is planned to link Brighton Marina to Shoreham harbour under a multimillion-pound scheme.
The trains would connect the marina, Palace Pier, Brighton Centre, King Alfred, Shoreham harbour and Shoreham airport.
The first phase is estimated to cost £20 million, half of which would be provided by the monorail constructors, and connect Brighton Marina with the Brighton Centre, via the Palace Pier.
A second phase would extend the service to Shoreham airport and is seen as key to the redevelopment of Shoreham harbour.
Trains would glide along the track at just under 40mph, linking the marina to the pier in three minutes.
The team behind the bid has held a series of meetings with Brighton and Hove City Council and the South East England Development Agency (Seeda).
The scheme was sidelined in 2005 under the previous Labour administration, with both the council and developer blaming each other.
Instead, proposals for a bus-based transport scheme, which will run along a similar route, have been pursued.
However, Conservative councillors and James Brathwaite, chairman of Seeda, have expressed support for the project.
Seeda believes a monorail could unlock the huge development potential at Shoreham port, which is earmarked for up to 10,000 homes.
Developer David Courtney, who is behind the plans, said he had yet to receive firm backing from the council but is to make a presentation to senior figures in the next two weeks.
He said: "To get the investment, we need to show the support of the council.
"People are very, very positive about the scheme.
"The scheme has to work in line with the buses but Brighton Marina needs the monorail like Canary Wharf needed the Docklands Light Railway. If we are going to build in Brighton Marina, Black Rock and Shoreham harbour we need a monorail even more.
"With the Government calling for sustainable transport and the price of oil so high, a monorail is the answer."
Unlike many monorails, the scheme will not involve tracks raised into the sky and is likely to run near the Volk's Railway.
Mr Courtney estimates it would run until 3am at the weekend and carry 1.6 million return passengers a year.
He plans to produce a feasibility study for the full route once council backing has been secured.
Is the monorail the future of public transport in Brighton and Hove? Tell us what you think below.
Your Say YourArgus
censored, Brighton says...
11:30am Tue 1 Jul 08
Paul, North Haverbrook says...
11:33am Tue 1 Jul 08
LB, Hove says...
11:40am Tue 1 Jul 08
a monorail is the answer
Only if the question is
"What method of public transport is least likely to end up linking the Marina and Shoreham?"
Lyle Lanley, Taking the money and running says...
11:45am Tue 1 Jul 08
Steve, Hove says...
11:48am Tue 1 Jul 08
ss, Brighton says...
11:57am Tue 1 Jul 08
They ride as softly as a cloud
Is there a chance the track may bend??
Not on your life, my Hindu friend
What about us brain dead slobs?
You'll be given cushy jobs
Where you sent here by the devil?
No good man I'm on the level
The ring broke off my pudding can
Take my pen knife my good man
I say its Spiringfeild's only choice
Throw up your hands and raise your voice
MONORAIL!! MONORAIL!! MONORAIL!
But Mainstreet's still all cracked and broken!
Sorry, mom, the mob has spoken!
MONORAIL! MONORAIL! MONORAIL!
Flat Foot Soozie, Brunswick Square says...
11:58am Tue 1 Jul 08
Anyway, all these building "projects" have collapsed.
People do not come down to the sea, or live beside it, so that they can hear the rattle and roar of a railway.
It's a non-starter. So it will probably have Councillor Watkins's support.
Lemmola, Brighton Seafront says...
12:03pm Tue 1 Jul 08
censored wrote:Jesus, bet you're a bundle of laughs you pesermistic, negative old so and so!
Sorry, I just saw the answer. The tracks will cut across the back of the beach, splitting the shale off from the promenade, shops and restaurants and sending trains hurtling along at 40mph in an area enjoyed by millions of tourists. Brilliant.
Richard, says...
12:12pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Homer Simpson, Springfield says...
12:12pm Tue 1 Jul 08
ss wrote:MONO.... D'oh!
I heard those things are awfully loud They ride as softly as a cloud Is there a chance the track may bend?? Not on your life, my Hindu friend What about us brain dead slobs? You'll be given cushy jobs Where you sent here by the devil? No good man I'm on the level The ring broke off my pudding can Take my pen knife my good man I say its Spiringfeild's only choice Throw up your hands and raise your voice MONORAIL!! MONORAIL!! MONORAIL! But Mainstreet's still all cracked and broken! Sorry, mom, the mob has spoken! MONORAIL! MONORAIL! MONORAIL!
Nick, Brighton says...
12:16pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Flat Foot Soozie wrote:I think you'll find Canary Warf put Docklands on the map.
The Docklands "Light" railway did not put Canary Wharf "on the map". It needed the extension of the Jubilee Line to do that. Anyway, all these building "projects" have collapsed. People do not come down to the sea, or live beside it, so that they can hear the rattle and roar of a railway. It's a non-starter. So it will probably have Councillor Watkins's support.
Yet another potentially excellent idea poo pooed by miseries who would rather see B&H crumble than make any advances whatsoever.
Tim, Hove says...
12:17pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Chris, Brighton says...
12:28pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Flat Foot Soozie wrote:Rattle and roar of a railway! LOL. Do you think its going to be diesel powered?
The Docklands "Light" railway did not put Canary Wharf "on the map". It needed the extension of the Jubilee Line to do that. Anyway, all these building "projects" have collapsed. People do not come down to the sea, or live beside it, so that they can hear the rattle and roar of a railway. It's a non-starter. So it will probably have Councillor Watkins's support.
No, Way says...
12:33pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Tim wrote:Agreed, but then that wouldn't drive down the prices of Brunswick Terrace and other seafront properties, which is what the COuncil seem hell-bent on doing, for some reason.
Although a monorail sounds like an excellent idea, I just don't think there is the space for one. Surely a small underground from shoreham to the marina would be more pratical, but no doubt extremely expensive.
mark, brighton says...
12:35pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Jamie, Hove says...
12:38pm Tue 1 Jul 08
censored wrote:...kinda like Kings Road cutting of the beach from the town at the moment.
Sorry, I just saw the answer. The tracks will cut across the back of the beach, splitting the shale off from the promenade, shops and restaurants and sending trains hurtling along at 40mph in an area enjoyed by millions of tourists. Brilliant.
Perhaps we should abolish the road and use at that space to install a monorail. Would be good if the scheme could be extended up to the rail station and universities as other similar plans have.
Mr Snrub, Springfield says...
1:03pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Stuart Richardson, Patcham says...
1:04pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Be positive everyone its **** sight mroe sensible than this Brighton i , at the west pier ,thingy that is under review for safty
Ho-Ju, Springfield says...
1:09pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Leonard Nimoy, Springfield says...
1:18pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Stroller, Hove says...
1:24pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Frank Gehry has announced today that the King Alfred has "come to nothing".
Cannot see anybody wanting to go along the front in this way. If you're in the Marina why should you want to go to Shoreham? And vice versa.
Dave, Wivelsfield says...
1:35pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Tim wrote:Didn't Southern Water build the perfect tunnel just a few years ago? One underground, minimal cost. (for those of you taking this whole thing seriously this psot is a joke, just)
Although a monorail sounds like an excellent idea, I just don\'t think there is the space for one. Surely a small underground from shoreham to the marina would be more pratical, but no doubt extremely expensive.
Ad, Shoreham says...
2:48pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Yeah, they built one in 1840 and it works just fine!
The monorail is an interesting idea, but I can't see how it could be implemented without seriously impacting the whole promenade and beach which is a major asset for Brighton and Hove.
Mark, Brighton says...
3:05pm Tue 1 Jul 08
No, Way says...
3:08pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Ad wrote:Haha; agreed, not heard of national rail???
Stuart Richardson: "I like the idea of a railway that goes to Shoreham"
Yeah, they built one in 1840 and it works just fine!
The monorail is an interesting idea, but I can't see how it could be implemented without seriously impacting the whole promenade and beach which is a major asset for Brighton and Hove.
matt, brighton says...
3:24pm Tue 1 Jul 08
I say we invest that money back in the nuclear plant
I agree with Mr Snrub
Harry House, Brighton says...
3:26pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Tyekko, Brighton says...
3:35pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Nick, Hove says...
3:36pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Paul, Brighton Seafront says...
4:15pm Tue 1 Jul 08
What about a water link? Is that not more feasible?
Steve, Helping sick people says...
4:20pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Kim Pedersen, Fremont, California says...
4:21pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Seasider 1, BRIGHTON says...
4:22pm Tue 1 Jul 08
RAY, NOT BRIGHTON says...
4:56pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Grumps, LANCING says...
5:20pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Steve, Brighton says...
5:32pm Tue 1 Jul 08
PE, B&H says...
6:07pm Tue 1 Jul 08
yvonne, hove says...
6:29pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Should the council require any further bright idea's they can contact me.
Stu, Hove says...
7:29pm Tue 1 Jul 08
This money would be better spent finishing the A27 off properly.
oh good ball good ball, parked up with a bow says...
7:38pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Hector, Hove says...
7:41pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Mark wrote:Mark
Another chance to bring Brighton into the 21st Century brings out the moaners and whingers... will this place ever get past the Prince Regent and Abba winning Eurovision?! Move on Brighton....
Some of us live in the REAL WORLD!
Explain to me how the mono-rail will pass the new 'fantastic' King Alfred development or will pass alomg Brighton seafront between the piers? Two simple questions - I cant wait for your reply!
me, says...
7:51pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Hector, Hove says...
8:10pm Tue 1 Jul 08
yvonne wrote:It would save having to pay those robbing taxi bar-stewards £125- for a ride between the two airports! Rip-off Britain? You're not wrong!!
wouldn't it be a good idea to put this between Gatwick airport and Heathrow save on conjestion. Should the council require any further bright idea's they can contact me.
Happy Shopper, In tescos says...
11:28pm Tue 1 Jul 08
norman, hove says...
1:26am Wed 2 Jul 08
no one will allow 10000 houses to be built at shoreham harbour = to another 30,000 residents with cars needing utilities etc. get real.
the 700 bus travels from shoreham to brighton half empty every 10 minutes.
a monorail will only be useful as a tourist gimmick from marina to king alfred via the i360 and park and ride north to pier via station and churchill sq. and new confernce centre. all of which developments will never be built as this city is **** at this sort of thing. dont even think about it sorted.
Mrs Bomont., brighton says...
11:49am Wed 2 Jul 08
Lyle Lanley, Brighton says...
11:41am Thu 3 Jul 08
MONORAIL
Homer, brighton says...
12:02pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Bart, Brighton says...
12:03pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Dr Cobb, Brighton says...
12:10pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Homer Simpson, Springfield says...
12:15pm Thu 3 Jul 08
norman wrote:``What will happen.'' What will happen if I stepped in the shower and slipped on a bar
what will happen when it gets to millionaires row? no one will allow 10000 houses to be built at shoreham harbour = to another 30,000 residents with cars needing utilities etc. get real. the 700 bus travels from shoreham to brighton half empty every 10 minutes. a monorail will only be useful as a tourist gimmick from marina to king alfred via the i360 and park and ride north to pier via station and churchill sq. and new confernce centre. all of which developments will never be built as this city is **** at this sort of thing. dont even think about it sorted.
of soap? ... Oh, my God! I'd get killed!
The Mallen, Brighton says...
12:24pm Thu 3 Jul 08
upon. Except for the popsicle stick skyscraper. And the 50-foot
magnifying glass. And that escalator to nowhere.
Bare Grills, Brighton says...
5:00pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Spanish Gentleman, Outside th Henry Addington with a Pimms says...
7:12pm Sat 5 Jul 08
Flat Foot Soozie wrote:what rubbish. The DLR was an integral part of the development of Docklands and the Isle of Dogs 15 years before the Jubilee extention went into Canary Wharf. It gave much needed infrastructure and also a statement of intent that Dockland(s) investment was serious. 'Canary Wharf' in its current guise was well established long before the Jubilee, and if it was not for the DLR Docklands may still be a disparate region of light industrial developments and not perhaps Europes financial capital.
The Docklands "Light" railway did not put Canary Wharf "on the map". It needed the extension of the Jubilee Line to do that. Anyway, all these building "projects" have collapsed. People do not come down to the sea, or live beside it, so that they can hear the rattle and roar of a railway. It's a non-starter. So it will probably have Councillor Watkins's support.
Heseltine, Reg Ward and the LDDC moved heaven and earth in a very different and more difficult climate to get things done and undo years of neglect and create Europes greatest regeneration scheme and the DLR was vital to that.
To turn your nose up at initiatives such as that is idiotic. This is not the same but luddites have held Brighton back for years. Perhaps we should ban all industries that are not directly involved in supplying candy floss fish and chips or dirty weekends, who needs forward thinking people eh?
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The monorail scheme would connect Brighton Marina to Shoreham harbour
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censored, Brighton says...
11:27am Tue 1 Jul 08