A monorail is a railway system in which the track consists of a single rail or beam that acts as its sole support and guideway. The term "monorail" comes from the words "mono" meaning "one" and "rail". Monorails are often elevated, but they can also run at grade, below grade, or in subway tunnels. They are single-rail systems that are always separated from other traffic and pedestrians, and they do not use pantographs. Monorails differ from trams and light rail systems in that they are always partitioned from other traffic and pedestrians.
Monorails are often found in airport transfers and medium-capacity metros. They are used for passenger or freight vehicles and can be suspended from or straddle a narrow guide way. Monorail vehicles are wider than the guide way that supports them.
Several monorails initially conceived as transport systems survive on revenues generated from tourism, benefiting from the unique views offered from the largely elevated installations. Some monorails are driven by linear induction motor, and the vehicle bodies are connected to the beam via bogies, allowing curves to be negotiated.
Examples of monorail systems include the Tokyo Monorail, the Seattle Monorail, and the Disneyland Monorail. However, some systems that are often referred to as monorails, such as the Detroit People Mover and the Vancouver Skytrain, are actually elevated light rail systems that run on conventional steel dual rails on a massive wide beam.
In summary, a monorail is a railway system that uses a single rail or beam as its sole support and guideway. It is often elevated and always separated from other traffic and pedestrians. Monorails are used for passenger or freight vehicles and can be found in airport transfers and medium-capacity metros.
