Originally Posted by
saunders111
But it should also be remembered that the TrAAm was _awful_. Very slow, very long waits. It was nothing at all like an equivalent to the Skylink outside security.
Yeah, it was good that the TrAAin was replaced in the 2000s, and by a very good system too. However I want to give some credit to the TrAAin / DFW Airtrans system...it was probably the first large-scale airport automated people mover built at a time when airport design had not matured, not to mention the state of aviation / airports / AA changed substantially from the 1970s to 2000s. There is a great
wikipedia article about it. Perhaps it's failure was DFW's overloaded requirements, which added significant complexity for things that were never even used in operation. I'm glad though it was so bad by its retirement date; if it were better and DFW wanted to refurbish vs replace it, no doubt DFW would be really limping along.
Originally Posted by
saunders111
Unfortunately, there is no incentive for AA and DFW to invest in good transit outside security: that would mostly benefit O/D travelers (barring I-D connections), and they are completely captive to the monopoly hub anyway.
What would be REALLY cool, innovative, and fix the majority of O/D issues cost efficiently, is if AA could deliver checked baggage at DFW to an alternate terminal/carousel. I have to imagine the baggage network can support that..AA just needs a way to collect your desired delivery terminal at the kiosk or on the app.
Originally Posted by
jayer
It has been decades since I flew into Houston regularly, but I remember a walkway alongside at least part of the people mover. Which at times was faster, but the point being both were slow but very useful shortcut (even if so lightly used they were almost creepy).
Yes the walkway is available the full route. The people mover circles in a loop around the center walkway. I've been using it more recently when arriving on UA, for coordinating pickup at IAH to avoid the construction congestion. I was surprised to see it well used, by a mix of passengers and airport workers. Gave me hope it'll survive a while longer. The entire feeling in that basement is very sterile/industrial and a bit creepy. It's just missing a random newsstand selling stale pastries and old magazines to complete the vibe