"Sky Train has received many requests from political and consulting groups, and we have replied with descriptions of our unique features, alternative choices and innovations."

By Alan Wetbum     (Australia - STC rep Rob M)

CALLS have gone out to adjust the construction agenda on the $200 million Petrie to Kippa-Ring rail link as private firms emerge as keys to the project.

State Transport Minister Steve Bredhauer said on Monday a Dumber of "significant players" in the construction industry had expressed interest in developing the link with the Government.

He would not speculate on when the link would be operational and was adamant commuter fares would be similar to those on CityTrain despite the possible involvement of private stakeholders.

A draft impact assessment study launched last year and recommending construction "proceed immediately" on an already preserved route with up to seven stations highlighted a role for private sector investors.

It said the Government would seek maximum private sector involvement and normal planning processes meant rail services were likely to start in 2007.

But it also suggested Rothwell would be excluded from the first stage, with stations opening at Ka11angur, Murrumba Downs. Mango Hill and Kippa-Ring, riling civic leaders and residents who want a rethink.

Redctiffe mayor Alan Boulton said a Rothwell station would be "good for Deception Bay" and wants it built as a priority and Cabootture councillor Chris Whiting said delaying Rothwell would be damaging.

Rothwell resident Rob McJannett said: "Redcliffe has waited over 115 years for this to happen and so a 1ooping system should be consructed which also travels across Hays Inlet via a new combination bridge joining the main line at Deagon or North Boondall and, in doing so, services a much larger portion of Redcliffe and Deception Bay."

A rail link was first mooted in the 1880s and in 1977, the Bjelke-Petersen government promised to build a $20 million line in time for the 1982 Commonwealth Games but work never started In 1989, the incoming Goss government promised to complete the extension, then estimated to cost $42 million, by 1994 but funding was not made available.

Friday May 4th, 2001 09.05 BST
Monorail plans for Hull unveiled

The Florida-based design company Sky Train Corporation wants to build a monorail in the city to tie in with the planned new superstadium.

Robert Fossett, chairman and project principal of Sky Rail UK Limited has chosen Hull to be the first European city to operate the transport system.

The uniquely-designed system would serve the stadium, hospital and city centre.

The company wants to build a so-called "elevated circulator system", which they say is an improved version of monorails operating around the world.

The company say the circulator will allow access over roads, bridges and other obstacles without interference.

The Florida-based design company Sky Train Corporation wants to build a monorail in the city to tie in with the planned new superstadium.

Robert Fossett, chairman and project principal of Sky Rail UK Limited has chosen Hull to be the first European city to operate the transport system.

The uniquely-designed system would serve the stadium, hospital and city centre.

The company wants to build a so-called "elevated circulator system", which they say is an improved version of monorails operating around the world.

The company say the circulator will allow access over roads, bridges and other obstacles without interference.

The Florida-based design company Sky Train Corporation wants to build a monorail in the city to tie in with the planned new superstadium.

Robert Fossett, chairman and project principal of Sky Rail UK Limited has chosen Hull to be the first European city to operate the transport system.

The uniquely-designed system would serve the stadium, hospital and city centre.

The company wants to build a so-called "elevated circulator system", which they say is an improved version of monorails operating around the world.

The company say the circulator will allow access over roads, bridges and other obstacles without interference.

Skyrail sees the new superstadium as the main selling point. Mr Fossett says that the current main access for future visiting fans and concert goers is by car, traditional rail or bus.

He says both stations are beyond reasonable walking distance from the stadium, and that access by car will cause congestion.

The company has already had talks with planners and developers and people in the city were invited to an interactive presentation last night.

Mr Fossett says that in addition to providing safe and reliable transport, the system will act as an economic regenerator, creating jobs and drawing the attention of Europe and the world. The company believes the cost of the system could be met by European, council and international institution funding.

Northcliffe Newspapers Group Ltd, is the regional arm of the Daily Mail and General Trust, publishers of the Daily Mail and London Evening Standard.

(April 19, 2001 front Page News) Is this the shape of things to come in Hull? That's the question being posed by Cambridge-based entrepreneur Robert Fossett, who has unveiled ambitious proposals for a monorail system in the city. 

Mr. Fossett, chairman and project principal of Sky Rail UK Ltd, says he is keen to initially develop the so-called Circulator system between the city centre, Hull Royal Infirmary and Hull's new £43.5m community sports stadium, which is due to be built at The Circle sports ground, off Anlaby Road.
And he has teamed up with Florida-based design company Sky Train Corporation, which has Hull-born brothers Wilfred and Victor Sergeant as vice-presidents.
Mr. Fossett said the idea was to use designs developed in Florida to build a monorail system to serve the new community stadium.

"Currently, the main access for future visiting fans and concert-goers is via car, traditional rail or bus," he told the Hull Daily Mail.
"Unfortunately, both bus and rail stations are beyond reasonable walking distance and access by car will cause congestion.
"In order to move up to 25,000 people within a short period of time, a different transport system is needed."
Officials from Sky Rail UK have already met Kingston upon Hull City Council, which last year commissioned consultants to look at the feasibility of a new light rail system serving the city centre.
The consultants' report is expected to be published later this year.
Mr Fossett said another meeting with the council was planned for next week, before a public presentation on the project in Hull on May 3.
"Looking past the community stadium development, I believe Hull can enjoy an economic revival," he added.
"However, I also believe that transport facilities must be planned in advance."
"The Circulator system can be extended to provide highly effective and efficient metropolitan transport."
No details have been revealed on the likely cost of building a monorail in Hull, but Mr. Fossett said he was confident funding could be secured from Europe and institutional sources.
Next month's public presentation will be staged at the Portland Hotel, in Paragon Street, city centre, on May 3, starting at 7.30pm,
Mr. Fossett said: "The people of Hull need to be consulted and the proposal discussed. It will be a good opportunity to ask questions about the system and examine the benefits.
"In addition to providing safe and reliable transport, the system will also act as an economic regenerator, creating jobs and drawing the attention of Europe and the world."
A city council spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the company's plans and we have passed the information on to the consultants working on the light rail transport proposals, who will consider them before their final report is released."                             Pictured: What a Hull monorail could look like. Montage by Alex Leys.
ayoung@hulldailymail.co.uk
Try this link: Monorail Hull Northcliffe Newspapers Group Ltd, the group of newspapers behind many of the "This Is..." community websites, is the regional arm of the Daily Mail and General Trust, publishers of the Daily Mail and London Evening Standard in the UK.

Pinellas County advances elevated rail.  From the Monorail society (10/13/00) 

Pinellas County, Florida. The Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPO) has approved transportation plans as put forth in a report by consultant firms Dames & Moore and Grimail Crawford. Several options to improve transportation in the County are outlined in the Mobility Major Investment Study report. Elevated rail is favored over rail at grade in several corridors and that opens up the possibility for monorail. In fact, some officials and community leaders have been openly supportive of monorail over other rail modes. The MPO authorized its staff to move forward with tasks outlined in the report. Michael Crawford, partner in Grimail Crawford, tells us that the MPO is "extremely interested in getting a demonstration project in the ground. One of the Board members used Seattle as an example - he said that the people there built demo from downtown to the Space Needle, and recently voted an initiative to expand it because they liked it so much." A demonstration project would consist of a starter line system along a high-traffic corridor that would prove the technology and open the door for expansion. The local Fox TV affiliate ran a story showing the Walt Disney World monorail and called it the future of transportation in Pinellas County. While there is still much to be done before we see a Pinellas Monorail, this is indeed a victory in that grade level light rail has been eliminated from the mix and officials are pushing for the quick development of a system. Our thanks to Michael Crawford for keeping us up to date on the progress.

Board plans to study elevated rail system Published St. Petersburg Times 10/14/99

By Joe Newman

An elevated rail system connecting Clearwater, St. Petersburg and the beaches is one of the best ways to move commuters, shoppers and tourists through Pinellas County in the coming decade, the county's transportation board decided Wednesday.

In endorsing a " fixed guideway system", the county has also has, for the first time, settled on possible routes, through the specific path and location of stations has yet to be decided.

Generally, the system would run either along Alt U.S. 19 in the west or along Fourth Street N. to Roosevelt Boulevard to U.S. 19 in the east or in a loop connecting both corridors.

With almost no discussion the Metropolitan Planning Organization accepted a committee recommendation to begin preliminary engineering studies, cost estimates and environmental impacts studies.

The plan endorsed Wednesday also calls for improving bus service, upgrading bicycle and pedestrian paths and implementing "intelligent transportation systems," which call for better traffic signal systems and the use of electronic billboards and video cameras to communicate with drivers and monitor traffic.

In the coming months, county planners and their engineering consultant will try to further narrow the route of the rail system, as well as decide the type of technology the county should use. The choices include building connections to Tampa International Airport, extending the system to Tarpon Springs and crossing to the beaches in Clearwater, Madeira Beach and St. Pete Beach.

The MPO also must decide whether to go with light rail, a monorail or some other type of guided rail. Ultimately, the MPO has the final say on whether to go ahead with the plan, but it will likely seek county and state input.

Through spring 2000, the county will have spent about $2-million in federal grants to study its transportation options. Next year, it will receive another $2.5- million in federal transportation money to continue its engineering studies.

Constructing the system, which could begin in the next five years, would likely cost hundreds of millions of dollars, depending on the final plan.

Pinellas Park Mayor Bill Mischler, chairman of the MPO, said the county has studied its rail options to death. This is the last study he'll support on the issue, Mischler said.

" This has been going on for so many years now," Mischler said. "It's time to fish or cut bait."

County planning director Brian Smith said it is likely that Pinellas county will get federal money to build its system. That's because the county has done all the necessary federal studies so far, Smith said.

" By playing it their way, we're now in a good position to get some of those federal dollars," Smith said " But it took some patience to get there."

However, not everyone on the MPO supports a guideway system. St. Petersburg City Council member Kathleen Ford was the lone vote against the plan.

She said she was concerned about the impact the project would have on the neighborhoods it cuts through.

" No one in the city of St. Petersburg has really looked at all these issues," she said. " Very few people in St. Petersburg know about it."

· The county's transportation board will look at the costs and effects of an elevated rail system throughout Pinellas.

Anyone wishing more information about Sky Train may see their booth at the Largo Enviro Fair on May 6, or at the Summit 2000 at Harborview Center on May 11.