Pittsburgh International Airport People Movers Explained

Pittsburgh International Airport People Mover System
Other Name:Pittsburgh Airport Tram
Type:Automatic Transit System
System:Pittsburgh International Airport
Status:Active
Locale:(PIT) Pittsburgh International Airport
Start:Landside Terminal
End:Airside (Midfield Terminal)
Stations:2
Routes:2 stops (2 trains run both directions)
Daily Ridership:21,917.8082 (Divided By Passengers Annually)
Ridership2:8 Million Passengers Annually
Trainnumber:2 Trains
Linenumber:2 Lines
Website:https://flypittsburgh.com/
Yearcommenced:1990
Open:October 1, 1992
Close:Most Likely 2025
Owner:Allegheny County Airport Authority
Operator:Alstom
Character:Underground Guideway
Depot:1 (Located at the Landside Terminal)
Stock:3 Cars Per Train (2 Sets Each)
Linelength:2600 Feet
Tracks:2
Minradius:Curves Slightly After Maintenance Shop and Near Airside Terminal [Near Ends of Tunnel]
Electrification:Central Rail
Speed Mph:32
Speed:Peaks At 32 Mph
Signalling:Computerized
Elevation:1,202 Airport Elevation (Below Ground Unknown)
Maxincline:0° (Might Arc a Little)

The Pittsburgh International Airport People Mover is a fully automated people mover system at the Pittsburgh International Airport serving Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Designed and installed at a cost of $14 million by AEG-Westinghouse (now Alstom), it runs in two parallel tunnels to connect the Landside Terminal with the Airside Terminal.

History

The Pittsburgh International Airport People Mover began service upon the opening of the new Midfield Terminal on October 1, 1992, using Westinghouse C-100 vehicles (now known as Alstom Innovia APM 100).

To handle increasing passenger traffic, a $9.5 million improvement project was undertaken by Adtranz in 1999. A total of two cars were added to the people mover system; one was added to each train, turning each two-car train into a three-car train. The stations were then expanded to accommodate the extra cars. The project also included refurbishing of the original cars.

Beginning in 2014 and ending in 2016, the a second, $11 million project to the tram system was done by Bombardier (now Alstom) as the system was beginning to age. Components like underframes, floors, climate control, and lighting were updated during this project.[1]

The proposed remodeling project for the airport, unveiled in 2017, planned to take the trams out of service permanently because the proposed Landside Terminal was slated to be connected to the existing Airside Terminal. Construction began in 2021 and is slated to be finished in 2025, which could result in the tram being decommissioned and removed around this time.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pittsburgh Int'l Rolls Out Renewed Train System Airport Improvement Magazine . 2024-02-29 . airportimprovement.com.