Berlin-based Bombardier Transportation has picked up a $58 million, five-year option order from the Las Vegas Monorail Company to continue its operation and maintenance of the monorail.

The company built the monorail, and has operated and maintained the monorail since it opened in 2004. The monorail runs on a 3.9-mile elevated track east of the Las Vegas Strip, and connects several Las Vegas resorts together, as well as linking to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“Essential to reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions, this driverless transit system has carried more than 33 million passengers, and in 2008 operated at an on-time average performance of over 99 percent,” said Michael Shaman, vice president of operations and maintenance for Bombardier Transportation’s Systems Division.

Monorail operators eventually hope to extend the monorail to McCarran International Airport in order to draw more traffic to the transportation system.

Hopefully with the new money the Monorail can afford to once again staff the stations along the line. Currently, there are only two manned stations, one at MGM Grand and the other at Sahara. Of interest to locals is that these are the only two places where the discounted $1 tickets for locals can be purchased.

By Casino Connection Staff