First production ULTra PRT was delivered to Cardiff, Wales for testing in late 2007. It is self-guided by lasers and can easily accommodate four passengers and their luggage, including strollers and bicycles. 18 will operate between Heathrow's Business car park and the newly completed Terminal 5.
Under Construction: World's First Personal Rapid Transit
Advanced Transport System's ULTra PRT moves from virtual to real at London's Hearthrow Airport
Open Access Article Originally Published: July 12, 2008
The long-labored dream of personal rapid transit or PRT is about to be born at London's Hearthrow Airport, considered the busiest airport in the world. Advanced Transport Systems Ltd. and its allied contractors are constructing the system, which will be operated by BAA and is scheduled for completion the spring of 2009.
Phase one of the £25m project will consist of 18 battery-powered, driverless shuttles vehicles operating on a 3.8km guide way linking the Business car park to Terminal 5, as depicted this BBC television report.
But the concept has much wider potential application beyond airport shuttle services. Proponents of PRT systems see them operating on business campuses and in urban settings, relieving street level congestion and air pollution, as well offering improved convenience and reduced dependence on fossil fuels.
As with any transit system, cost is always the issue and its impact on business during construction and after have to be weighed, but the idea of door-to-door convenience and not having to find a place to park a car has a lot of appeal.
More videos and photos of the program are available on the company web site.
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6 comments so far...
21-Jul-2008
62883
The First??? I think not, there have been many PRT systems since 1953:
http://faculty.washington.edu/jbs/itrans/history.htm
Posted by: Michael Crumpton
16-Jul-2008
62774
Bravo Bravo, Damn I wish I was an English man right Now, Damn. Stinking Americans would not think of it exempt to debate it to death for a hundred years.
Posted by: Mr. Bruce Arkwright, Jr.
16-Jul-2008
62778
Sounds great would like to see this here in Australia! Good on you, im sure the americans will have it next! Tony
Posted by: Tony R
04-Sep-2008
63653
World's First? No. My wife is a professor at West Virginia University in Morgantown. the city and university are served by an experimental PRT system constructed in the 1970's.
More info at the WVU website, (http://admissions.wvu.edu/undergraduate/discover/prt.asp) or at the wikipedia page for the PRT (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgantown_Personal_Rapid_Transit).
Posted by: Michael Wendell
06-Nov-2008
64789
there are some situations where it just might be the best solution for transpo traffice, though it wont work in some places so they still prefer car repair tips..
Posted by: kurt daniel
12-Jul-2008
62698
Great to see this going to happen and I hope that take off in the US.
Posted by: ken S
