Airport People Movers
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,829
Airport People Movers
There's a thread going on about those people who like to hang out in airports. One of the things that I often do when I do have longer layovers is to explore the different people movers some airports have installed. Airports like Denver, Atlanta, and Orlando have the bombardier rubber tired trams. Minneapolis has the cable drawn tram. Are there any other transit system junkies out there?
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
i'm not a transit junkie, but miami has a tram. dfw and fra have some form of tram. a number of the airports have moving sidewalks that are seriously long. more interesting to me are the italian articulated busses. some hold maybe 100-150 standing passengers. iad and cdg have people movers that are bus like devices that are able to raise 20 or 30 feet to dispense passengers.
#3
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: MCO
Programs: Super-Titanium member of the Gate Roach program. :P
Posts: 193
I'm not really a transit junkie either, but if I have a long layover at an airport, I'll hop on whatever transit there is to explore the airport. Last time I did this was in SEA. I rode all their trains for nearly an hour (and even ended up giving directions to other folks, even though it was only my second time at that airport).
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
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Way back when, I worked for Westinghouse Transportation Systems, that became AEG, Adtranz, and now Bombarder, building the C-100 cars that run in many of the airports - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardier_CX-100
I worked on the Automatic Train Control (ATC) systems that managed the propulsion and safety systems (Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta, Las Vegas and others). I still enjoy hopping on them and feeling/watching the various sensors, propulsion system settings, etc. operating. Every once in a while someone in PIT has the control panel open (the "seat" at the end of the car - the electronics are under there) and I look in and have discussions on what has evolved over the 15 years since I was involved.
I worked on the Automatic Train Control (ATC) systems that managed the propulsion and safety systems (Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta, Las Vegas and others). I still enjoy hopping on them and feeling/watching the various sensors, propulsion system settings, etc. operating. Every once in a while someone in PIT has the control panel open (the "seat" at the end of the car - the electronics are under there) and I look in and have discussions on what has evolved over the 15 years since I was involved.
#7
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, Hertz Plat
Posts: 1,224
I remember having to take the DFW mover years ago. It seemed like the longest trip I have taken at an airport without getting on a plane.
#8
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
Posts: 4,647
Another to add to the list: ORD.
Of course, ORD's is landside, but it is the only way to make an int'l to domestic connection (aside from hailing a cab, obviously).
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
While the terminals at DFW seem like miles apart, IMHO it is one of the best domestic airport train systems.
#10
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Central Texas
Programs: Many, slipping beneath the horizon
Posts: 9,859
The "nearly new" people mover at DFW offers a clear, quick shot to every gate at the airport along with outstanding views of the terminals and the a/c (and access to the two "on campus" hotels, a major move forward over the old tram (and inside security to boot).
#11
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,974
Fake = Shuttle service vs. real=continuous operation metro-type service.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,829
The DTW and MSP people movers are cable drawn. Kind of like a aerial tramway that rides on tracks. It you look out the front you see the cable which pulls the car along. The cars are always spaced that same distance apart. The people movers in many other airports are driven by electric motors in the vehicles themselves. They ride on rubber wheels that run along concrete beams. They are automated to stop and go at precise points, but other than that the computer control system can control when they depart. I am sure CPRich could give a better explanation than me.
I did forget about the IAD shuttles, however. Been a while since I flew through there. DTW used to have a people mover system that was based on the PeopleMover at Disneyland.
I did forget about the IAD shuttles, however. Been a while since I flew through there. DTW used to have a people mover system that was based on the PeopleMover at Disneyland.
#13
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
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I'm going to have to take a look at DTW next time I stop there. The trams I worked on were all internal propulsion, DC electric motors driving the rubber wheels over concrete. DTW looks to be from Otis, air cushion suspended with an undefined propulsion system (I didn't see cables in the videos, but it didn't really provide a good look).
We had kicked around maglev when I was looking at next generation designs, but this looks like something new since I left. Interesting.
http://utc.com/press/releases/2002-02-27.htm
We had kicked around maglev when I was looking at next generation designs, but this looks like something new since I left. Interesting.
http://utc.com/press/releases/2002-02-27.htm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Dallas, TX, AA 3MM EXP, WN
Posts: 1,808
And the original people mover my be the former Jetrail at Dallas Love Field
http://www.braniffpages.com/1965/1965.html
http://www.braniffpages.com/1965/1965.html