1988: Monorail Test Runs

Sydney's Monorail network which connected central Sydney with Darling Harbour operated between 1988 and 2013. It was controversial from its conception, construction and while in operation.

The Monorail was supposed to have commenced service in January 1988 as part of Bicentennial Celebrations with Prince Charles and Princess Diana to be the first passengers, but delays saw the monorail commence service in July, 1988.

 

Source: Aubin, T. "Ghost drivers in the sky: Sydney's monorail gets a test run". The Sydney Morning Herald, October 20: 1. 

In October 1987, the Monorail trains began the first of their test runs, using the tracks at their Maintenance Centre at Ultimo and travelling to the Haymarket Station.

Test runs were meant to have been run on the route from November 1987, but did not occur until February 1988. The first test run was on February 13 1988 in Liverpool Street and featured on the front page of The Sun Herald on February 14, 1988 (below). At the time it was anticipated that passengers could use the line from April, three months behind schedule. This did not eventuate. 

 

Below are another two newspaper clippings relating to test runs conducted soon after.

Source: Anon. 1988. "Everything's still up in the air but all aboard for $1 soon". The Daily Telegraph, February 27: 3. 

Source: Stevens, R. 1988. Untitled (Photograph). The Sydney Morning Herald, February 24: 1. 

In May, 6000 people were provided with an opportunity to ride the circuit ahead of its opening. 

Source: Hewett, T. 1988. "A hum of satisfaction from above". The Sydney Morning Herald, May 16: page unknown. 

James Oram was one of the first journalists to ride the monorail and shared his insights.

Source: Oram, J. 1988. "Magic Carpet Ride at 33km/h". The Sunday Telegraph, March 30:17. 

Finally, I published an entry in 2018 that looked at the opening of the monorail in 1988. Click here to view the entry.