The Chester Zoo monorail was an iconic internal transport system that operated within the Chester Zoo in the United Kingdom from 1991 to 2019. This elevated guideway connected the two halves of the zoo, providing visitors with a unique and convenient way to explore the vast expanse of the zoo’s grounds.

The Monorail’s Specifications

The Chester Zoo monorail was 1.4 kilometres (0.9 miles) long and travelled on a single track elevated guideway. It had two stations: the Jubilee Square station near the lion enclosure and the Tsavo station (formerly known as Monkey Island station) near the monkey building. The system operated four trains, each seating 24 passengers and taking around fifteen minutes for a full tour. It carried approximately 2,000 passengers per day.

Upgrades and Improvements

In 2009, the Chester Zoo monorail underwent a significant upgrade by T&M Machine Tool Electronics. The system was converted from DC to AC electrical operation, and various automation improvements were made, including the laying of over 25 miles (40 km) of cabling. The upgraded system used pairs of 2.2-kilowatt (3 hp) AC motors for each carriage, with remote monitoring managed over a 5 GHz wireless link.

The monorail was initially built and installed by Computerised People Mover International at a cost of $4 million and opened by the Duchess of Kent in 1991. During the inaugural trip, the train suddenly broke down while the Duchess was still on board. Following the 2009 upgrades, the monorail was re-launched by music producer Pete Waterman, who drove the first loop of the new system.

Memorable Moments and Closures

The Chester Zoo monorail has been the site of several notable events over the years. In 2012, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip took a tour of Chester Zoo in a specially redecorated monorail set painted in a Union Flag theme for their Diamond Jubilee tour of the north-west of England.

However, the monorail’s reliability had become a concern in recent years. In 2017, Redcroft Management Ltd conducted a “Monorail Future Options Appraisal & Viability Assessment” to evaluate the commercial and practical viability of extending, replacing, or closing the system. Ultimately, in June 2019, Chester Zoo announced that the monorail would be closing, as it had become unreliable and covered less than half the zoo due to the zoo’s expansion to over 125 acres (51 ha). The zoo stated that the monorail “no longer fits our vision for a world-class modern zoo,” and the system closed on 3 September 2019.

Conclusion

The Chester Zoo monorail was a beloved and iconic feature of the zoo, providing visitors with a unique and convenient way to explore the vast expanse of the zoo’s grounds. Despite its closure in 2019, the monorail will be remembered as an integral part of the Chester Zoo experience, offering visitors a captivating journey through the heart of the zoo.

References:
– https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/what-replacing-chester-zoos-monorail-16523266
– https://www.chesterzoo.org/news/great-british-monorail-train-unveiled/
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTcHTP017gI
– https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/chester-zoo-monorail-make-final-16857972
– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_Zoo_monorail