Two Way Hard Three | Las Vegas Casino & Design Blog

It's still going to be a flop. The last thing people want to do after a long flight is wait for a monorail, pack themselves and their luggage in there like sardines, constantly stop for changeovers, fall over each other, etc. For that very reason some limo companies do brisk business charging around $35 for a 10 minute ride to your hotel in a Lincoln sedan (not even a limo). Furthermore, I don't think the monorail will get return ridership when riders realize they got dropped off at the back of a hotel, lugged their luggage to the front to check-in, and then back to the elevators.

I tend to agree that the setup of the LV monorail isn't real good (where the stations are in regard to check-in, for example) but at Washington National Airport (DCA) the metro is extrememly popular with those just arriving as the station is nearly attached to the terminal.

Posted by mike_ch

It's a whole new second line. It's possible it could have longer trains and room for storing suitcases. Especially since the properties that line visits so heavily favors MGM-Mirage, they probably want their customers to get used to it immediately so that they can run around spending their money in the various west-side casinos.

Speaking of which, the current Monorail has been considered quite good in terms of what-you-pay-for-what-you-get and timelyness compared to most other monorail systems, the problem has been how blatantly obvious every participating casino is in making you need to wander their whole property to get a transport out of there. Perhaps with one company owning most that side of the strip, this will change.

Oh well, as long as it will wrest some power away from the cabs. They're incredibly greedy in every avenue they make money from. Their strip club extortion just happens to be the most visible recent example.

Posted by detroit1051

I was very satisfied with the monorail last fall when I attended G2E. I chose MGM Grand as my hotel because of the convenience of taking the monorail to the convention center. I bought a ten-ride ticket and had no regrets. Even with so many G2E attendees in town, ridership was quite low. I can't envision the monorail ever operating at breakeven.

The Sun's article makes me think the new line will cannibalize a lot of riders from the existing line. The plan to include Luxor, Excalibur, NYNY, Monte Carlo, before getting to CityCenter is key to any hope of success, in my opinion. I don't necessarily agree with Mike E. There are a lot of budget-minded tourists who would take the monorail rather than waiting for cabs, shuttle buses or limos IF access at both the airport and the hotels is convenient.

An additional $1.3 billion would require a lot more riders.

"There's a lot of interest out there from private investors, Myles said." I doubt it.

Hmm. Why would people have to haul their luggage to the front of the hotel? Can't they check in at the Airport?

If the airport extension had been included in phase one, I think the monorail would have been a hit from Day One. For the large number of us who fly in from CA for the weekend, I think this would be a welcome change from the standing in the taxi queue. It will also make getting around the west end of the Strip much easier.