ACCRA | Monorail network | Proposed

[Simfan34]

Accra to get monorail system
Page last updated at Saturday, July 24, 2010 9:09 AM // Leave Your Comment

A monorail system is being planned to help ease traffic congestion in the Accra Metropolis.

Dubbed “Greater Accra Transit System,” the project would operate on elevated beams in order not to disturb pedestrians and traffic.

The transit system would commence in phases and will include retail and commercial facilities, shopping malls, parking facilities, hotel business conferences, and beach resorts.

Dr Ron Watson, Transportation Engineer and Project Manager of Intercontinental Commerce Corporation, (ICC) USA briefing journalists in Accra on Friday said the transit system would operate from Danquah Circle and Kwame Nkrumah Circle, the Castle Drive and Ohene Gyan Sports Stadium.

He said the double straddle beam monorail would use electricity and ICC would supply its own energy systems for the project.

Dr Watson said transit problems in the cities were similar and that the increase of new buses on roads and construction of new roads could solve those issues.

He said over 40 per cent of the total income of workers was spent on transportation.

Dr Watson said the introduction of monorail systems had been the solution to traffic in Germany, United States, Japan and Egypt.

Throwing more light on the monorail system in Accra, he said the elevated monorail system would be eight miles with 16 stations during the first phase estimated at 1.5 billion dollars.

Dr Watson said the project would be financed 100 per cent from loans and equity contribution by ICC and provide full time jobs for 1,000 people after completion and 15,000 during construction period.

He said a mono rail train could carry the equivalent number of what 20 cars could carry and that would restore the choice to drop out of traffic congestion.

Dr Watson recalled that monorail system introduced since 1877 had not suffered any pedestrian fatalities pointing and that it was one of the safest and inexpensive modes of transport.

He explained that time between trains would be as low as every three minutes to every nine minutes depending on their need.

Dr Watson said so far construction for phase one of the project would be approximately between four to five years and as soon as ICC was through with the feasibility studies concluded within 12 months, it would start construction.

Mr E.J. Miller, President of ICC, said management had completed monorail systems in Cairo and Mecca for pilgrims.

He said ICC had been in Accra for the past two years and that they were happy to start with the project as soon an agreement was signed between the Ministries of Transport, Local Government and Rural Development and Justice.

ICC to invest $1.5bn into Accra Monorail Project

…Provides Over 15,000 Jobs

By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh

Ghana’s quest to reduce traffic congestion in the capital city has been given a major boost, with the implementation of the Accra Monorail project. The project, which is being undertaken by the Intercontinental Commerce Corporation (ICC), a USA firm, is estimated to cost $1.5billion.

The project will be financed 100% from loans and equity contribution by Intercontinental Development Corporation (IDC). Though, work is ongoing, the proposed Monorail project will take 12 months to be completed, and will provide over 15,000 jobs for the teeming Ghanaian youth during the construction period. The project, when completed is expected to offer over 1,000 full time jobs to Ghanaians.

Currently, the public transit in the city of Accra is provided by a mix of privately owned mini-buses known as ‘tro-tro’, taxis and buses, which add to the congested streets and contribute to air pollution. The new transit system (Monorail) will operate on elevated beams in order not to disturb the pedestrians and traffic on the ground.

The well known ‘tro-tros’, buses and other commercial vehicles will be rerouted to feed the transit line after implementation, in order to link more passengers to the Monorail system. The Monorail will carry more than 700,000 passengers per day, with cruising speeds up to 80 kilometre per hour and run 24 hours in a day.

Dr. Ron Watson, a Transportation Engineer and Specialist told some journalists in Accra, over the weekend that the elevated monorail system would be eight miles in length with 16 stations during the first phase of the project and would help alleviate traffic congestion, reduce pollution and increase mobility in the Accra metropolis.

Additionally, the system will allow commuters to bypass stand still traffic by gliding over the congested streets safely, while eliminating hours of commuting between downtown and the residential areas. The Monorail project also includes hotel, business and conference centre, multi-storey shopping complex, beach resort with villas and golf course and other real estate developments.

This real estate development will provide substantial cash for the Accra Monorail project, ensuring project viability and no Ghanaian Government budgeted funding. Furthermore, the project will contribute to the modernization and economic development of the Accra metropolis, improve quality of life and boost tourism.

When quizzed why ICC’s elevated transit system for Accra, Dr. Watson stated that “ICC’s initial findings in Accra indicate that Ghanaians want more mobility, not less mobility. Elevated rapid transit will provide this mobility above and beyond that being provided by automobile and not at the expense of the automobile”.

Dr. Watson disclosed that the monorails may be automated and not requiring drivers and would be controlled by an electronic control system. The President of ICC, E.J. Miller said the company operates the same project in Cairo, Egypt, and Jida and Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

[royal_ron2012]

picture this monorail going through the Accra Central business district!...very picture-risque...I am particularly happy about this project

[popa1980]

Its a bogus project.

[ufookoro]

Originally Posted by popa1980

Its a bogus project.

Work has started...

[popa1980]

Originally Posted by ufookoro

Work has started...

You have a source for that?

[Simfan34]

Monorails are a terrible idea!

[nairoberry]

Originally Posted by Simfan34

Monorails are a terrible idea!

i watched this episode!!!!

ghana be careful not to make the mistake springfield made! lol!!

[nairoberry]

Originally Posted by Simfan34

Monorails are a terrible idea!

i watched this episode!!!!

ghana be careful not to make the mistake springfield made! lol!!

[Tatoo]

I don't see it happening and even if work already started, I don't vision it it being finished.

[ardamir]

Originally Posted by Simfan34

Monorails are a terrible idea!

First thing that came to mind when I saw "Monorail"

[Gadiri]

Monorail :
- 6 times more expensive than tramway (and BRT) for igual capacity
- 1,5 more expensive than LRT for 3 times less capacity

[Sky Onl]

Shall never see the light of the day

[xAbd0o]

Originally Posted by Gadiri

Monorail :
- 6 times more expensive than tramway (and BRT) for igual capacity
- 1,5 more expensive than LRT for 3 times less capacity

Yes but it's faster than them all. a Monorail in planned in Alexandria is going to be going at 320kmph (Meglev) and it produce electricity for it's self as well as maybe generate electricity for the stations. so that's the up side of it I hope Accra gets it

[Gadiri]

Originally Posted by xAbd0o

Yes but it's faster than them all. a Monorail in planned in Alexandria is going to be going at 320kmph (Meglev) and it produce electricity for it's self as well as maybe generate electricity for the stations. so that's the up side of it I hope Accra gets it

Meglev is an intercity monorail for long distance (Japan) or middle-distance (Munich and Beijing airport). Not an urban transportation with 1000m between stations.

The technology is different.

The well known ‘tro-tros’, buses and other commercial vehicles will be rerouted to feed the transit line after implementation, in order to link more passengers to the Monorail system. The Monorail will carry more than 700,000 passengers per day, with cruising speeds up to 80 kilometre per hour and run 24 hours in a day.

He explained that time between trains would be as low as every three minutes to every nine minutes depending on their need.

We don't know how long will be the line. But it's impossible to transport 700 000 passengers with a monorail in 24 hours ! 15 000passengers/direction/hour with the same numer each hour. With 1 train each 3 minutes during day and 1 train each 9 minutes during night, it's made.

Night 21h00 - 06h00 (1 train each 9 minutes) : 6481 p/d/h
Day 06h00 - 21h00 (1 train each 3 minutes): 19 444 p/d/h this is quite impossible !

[royal_ron2012]

[jeff91]

they need to cut some of them tro-tros and introduce more buses, they are a waste of oil for me, and pushes oil demand in Ghana too high. any-ways we got oil now, but it saves money and ghana is in-debt. the monorail is good i hope they dont cancel it, them tro-tros are everywhere you dont see a country where taxis are a main source of transportation.
it has to be balanced out.

[Го́голь]

Ghana needs less of these far-fetched projects and more down-to-earth ones, like the rehabilitation of railways for example.

[Simfan34]

+1

[jeff91]

Originally Posted by Го́голь

Ghana needs less of these far-fetched projects and more down-to-earth ones, like the rehabilitation of railways for example.

TRUE

[jamesamehere]

Originally Posted by Го́голь

Ghana needs less of these far-fetched projects and more down-to-earth ones, like the rehabilitation of railways for example.

Exactly I don't know why our leaders don't get it. You have to learn to crawl before you walk. They should be concentrating on buses and trains get rid if all the trotros , clean the streets and get the basics right infrastructures in place before thinking about all this. I was there in 07 and tho its improving I still think we need progressive leadership in Ghana and not the ndcs and npps who are all puppets.