Sea World Monorail System

The Sea World Monorail System was a 2-kilometre (6,600 ft) monorail circuit around the Sea World theme park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.[1] It was Australia's only remaining monorail system, after the closure of the Sydney Monorail and the other system at Broadbeach, linking the Oasis Shopping Centre with The Star Gold Coast.

Sea World Monorail System
Sea World (Australia)
StatusClosed
CostA$3 million
Ride statistics
Riders per vehicle96
Height restrictionChildren shorter than 105 cm (41 in) must be accompanied by an adult
AccessibleAvailable
Line statistics
Service
TypeStraddle-beam monorail
Rolling stock3 × 9-car Von Roll Holding Mark II
History
Opened15 August 1986 (1986-08-15)
Closed2022
Technical
Line length2 km (1.2 mi)
Electrification500 V AC third rail
Operating speed27 km/h (17 mph)

History

The Sea World Monorail System opened on 15 August 1986 by Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen as Australia's first monorail system.[2][3][4][5] Following the conclusion of World Expo 88 in Brisbane, at least one of the monorail trains was relocated to Sea World in 1989.[6][7][8]

In 2022 the ride closed with the removal of two of the three trains. It is unlikely to reopen.[9]

Stations
The operator cab of one of the trains

Three stations are located on the 2-kilometre (6,600 ft) long line.[1] The first station is located near the front of the park adjacent to Penguin Encounter. It is known as the main monorail station. After taking a scenic journey alongside the Gold Coast Broadwater the monorail passes several Sea World attractions including the Dolphin Nursery, Fish Detectives arena, shopping plaza, Ray Reef and Polar Bear Shores.

The monorail then arrived at its next station known as the mid monorail station, located in the rough centre of the park. This station is situated between Shark Bay and the Sea World Theatre. From the mid monorail station the track then travels between the Sea World Resort's 1.6-hectare (170,000 sq ft) water park (also available as an upcharge for Sea World guests[10]) and Castaway Bay before arriving at the Sea World Resort and Water Park monorail station.

The final leg of the monorail circuit was the longest. It began by travelling alongside the Imagine Dolphin Show arena and Dolphin Cove pools before passing over Jet Rescue and through the Sea Viper. The track then runs alongside the main lagoon where Pirates Unleashed is held before making a small circuit around the Sea World carpark and returning to the main monorail station.[11] All stations are located several metres above ground level and can be accessed by ramps or staircases.

Trains
A monorail train at Sea World
Sea World Monorail System
 Sea World Resort Station
Maintenance facility
(not open to public)
 Mid Station
Main Station
Bus transfer
(via short walk outside park)

Three, nine-car trains are operated. Each of the trains can hold 96 passengers.[1][2] The last car on the train has been modified to accommodate wheelchairs and strollers. A section of transfer track is located above Sea World Resort's Water Park and Castaway Bay.[11] This transfer track allows trains to be removed from the main circuit and stored in a maintenance bay located directly under the mid monorail station.

It is rare for all three trains to operate on the same day. This only occurs occasionally in the peak summer season.[12] One of the monorail trains previously operated at World Expo 88 in Brisbane in 1988 and was relocated to Sea World in 1989.[6][7][8]

In May 2022, all three trains were removed for scrapping.[9]

References
  1. "Sea World Monorail System (Sea World)". Parkz. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  2. Australia's First Monorail Railway Digest December 1986 page 387
  3. Monorail first at Seaworld Network January 1987 page 58
  4. Sea World. "History and Development of Sea World". MyFun. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  5. Sea World. "Sea World Mono Rail". MyFun. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  6. "Brisbane World Expo '88". New2Brisbane. 10 April 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  7. Foster, Lee (1 May 1988). "Living It Up Down Under At Expo '88". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  8. "World Expo Park". Database Entry. Parkz. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  9. Forbes, Tom (6 May 2022). "Sea World monorail future unclear after carriages removed from Gold Coast theme park to be destroyed". ABC News.
  10. Sea World (2011). "Sea World Resort Water Park". MyFun. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  11. Sea World (2011). "Park Map". MyFun. Archived from the original on 18 October 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  12. Wilson, Richard (8 April 2005). "Sea World Monorail System". Photo. Parkz. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
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