Heathrow airport's personal rapid transit system proves to be a viable transport solution

Abstract

This paper reports on the design, development and highly successful operation of the personal rapid transit system at London's Heathrow airport, UK. Over the past 3 years the 3·9 km ‘pod’ system has carried over a million passengers between Terminal 5 and its business car park. There are provisions in the structure to extend the system and plans have been developed for extension to Terminals 2 and 3. The light weight of the vehicles resulted in transport infrastructure with far lower weight, cost, visual intrusion and embodied energy than usual and required no highway or service diversions. Very high levels of operational effectiveness and reliability, together with an exceptionally positive response of passengers, suggest that personal rapid transit offers a valuable and viable new contribution to transportation.