Doublemonorail

Doublemonorail is a term used for a proposed variation of monorail systems in which two parallel guide rails operate together to support and guide a single vehicle. Unlike conventional single-rail monorails, the doublemonorail concept aims to provide an additional level of guidance and load distribution by using a paired-track arrangement along the guideway.

The typical design concept envisions one of the rails primarily guiding the vehicle, with the second rail contributing to load-bearing or providing a redundant path for stability. Vehicles would be equipped with wheel assemblies that engage both rails, or with tandem bogies that couple to each rail. This dual-rail configuration can be applied to elevated or trench-style guideways and may be compatible with existing monorail silhouettes, reducing cross-sectional changes compared with some dual-rail systems.

Proponents suggest potential advantages, including improved lateral stability, higher allowable speeds, and increased operational safety through redundancy. The dual-rail arrangement can also offer smoother ride characteristics and potentially higher passenger capacity by distributing weight and loads more evenly.

Significant challenges limit practical adoption. The increased structural complexity raises construction and maintenance costs, alignment tolerances between the two rails become more stringent, and wheel-rail interaction dynamics are more complex. Durability, noise, and vibration management also pose concerns, as does integration with signaling, power delivery, and switching systems.

As of the last available assessments, doublemonorail remains primarily a theoretical or research-oriented concept rather than a widely implemented technology. See also monorail, dual-rail guided systems, and guided transit concepts.