The Toronto Zoo Domain Ride was an automated guideway transit service used to carry visitors between sections, or "domains", of the Toronto Zoo. Though technologically closer to a simple rubber-tired metro, it was almost universally referred to as a monorail. The train began running in 1976, and closed in 1994, after a train lost power and rolled backwards down the track into a second train, injuring about 30 people. Parts of the line were subsequently taken over by the Zoomobile, an open-air tractor-drawn vehicle with five stations which had been operating since 1980.
Ride details
The vehicle was a rubber-wheeled AGT prototype developed by American firm Bendix-Dashaveyor. The train operated on a concrete guideway with electricity supplied by rails located above one side of the guideway. Passengers entered and left via doors located at each double row of facing seats. A secondary set of controls was available in the last car of the train to allow it to be reversed into the storage/service area located towards the north end of the zoo property. In addition to being a quick way to travel between sections of the zoo, the ride provided the only way to view several animals, in remote areas of the zoo. Moose, white-tailed deer and several other exhibits were not accessible from walking paths. The ride operator would provide commentary on the animals visible from the train during the ride. Plans to scrap the vehicle and tracks dragged well past 1999. Portions of the guideway have now been removed, while others remain in place, but the electrical supply rails have been removed from the remaining portions of the guideway. Three stations remain in place: the Americas station stands behind closed gates, and the Weston station is still accessible for washrooms—the crumbling station platform can be seen from behind the chain barriers The Main Station still remains to this day and is now used for several purposes: the Peacock Cafe, and the Main Zoomobile station.
Zoomobile
The current Zoomobile is a Chance Coach Sunliner tram with four cars set that replaced the Domain Ride and vehicles have rubber tires running on along paved paths in the zoo. Unlike the Domain Ride, the Zoomobile uses open air cars.
Accidents
During March break of 1991, nine people were injured when a train crashed into the rear of a second train that was stopped between stations. In December of that year, the Metro Zooboard of directors was warned that the monorail needed repair to its braking and propulsion systems in order to prevent future accidents. On July 11, 1994, 37 people suffered injuries when one train crashed into a second that was in the process of loading. Upon leaving the Weston station, a train would have to climb a hill; however, at the top of the hill, the train lost power and rolled back into the station at an estimated 40 km/h, slamming into the front of a second train that was loading. In general, trains would be spaced out by 15–20 minutes; however, due to a larger-than-usual attendance, trains were operating more frequently, and were more crowded too – the first train was carrying 60 passengers. As a result, the Zoo was fined C$43,000, and trial evidence indicated that the ride operator was "inadequately trained to handle the 'unusual situation'".
Successor
There have been plans for the Toronto Zoo to have a maglev train operation replacing the Toronto Zoo Domain Ride. The Edmonton-based maglev consortium Magnovate, which includes Magna and Lockheed Martin, would pay for the construction, as well as the first five years of operation, while the zoo would pay for the operation afterwards. In November 2018, the deal is modified to the first 15 years of operation. The plan was approved by the Toronto Zoo board in December 2018. Construction can begin after Magnovate raises sufficient funding to cover the estimated cost of construction. The firm hopes to complete construction by 2021.
