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AeroTrain (Washington Dulles International Airport)

AeroTrain
Overview
LocaleWashington Dulles International Airport serving Washington, D.C.
Termini
  • Concourse B
  • Concourse C
Stations4
Service
TypePeople mover
Services1
Operator(s)Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Rolling stock29 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Crystal Mover vehicles
History
Opened
  • January 20, 2010; 14 years ago (2010-01-20) (employees)
  • January 26, 2010; 14 years ago (2010-01-26) (passengers)
Technical
Line length3.78[1] mi (6.08 km)
CharacterFully underground; serves sterile parts of the airport
Operating speed42 mph (68 km/h)
Route map

Legend
Concourse C
Concourse A
Concourse B
Main Terminal

AeroTrain is a 3.78-mile (6.08 km) underground automated people mover system at Washington Dulles International Airport, in Dulles, Virginia, United States.

Description

The AeroTrain transports passengers between the Main Terminal Building and Concourses A, B, and C. From the Main Terminal Station, trains travel to Concourse A and Concourse C in one direction, and to Concourse B in the other direction. The track map for AeroTrain is shaped like a fishhook, with the Main Terminal Station at the bottom. The AeroTrain runs four trains consisting of three cars from 5:00 AM to around 3:00 PM, after which seven three-car trains run from 3:00 PM until 11:00 PM. From midnight to 5 AM, there are usually two three-car trains – although there is only a single three-car train.[clarification needed]

There is supposed to be a maximum headway of two minutes between trains. The trains transport passengers to the concourses in about two minutes, at 40–42 miles per hour (64–68 km/h); the mobile lounges travel about 15 miles per hour (24 km/h).[2]

The AeroTrain is equipped with Thales SelTrac Communications-based train control (CBTC) moving block signaling system.[3] The AeroTrain utilizes 29 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Crystal Mover vehicles as its rolling stock.

History

The AeroTrain system was scheduled to open in fall 2009, but was delayed until 2010 in order to complete reliability tests.[4][5] It opened to Dulles employees on January 20, 2010, and to passengers on January 26, 2010.[6] The system mostly replaced the mobile lounges which transport passengers from the concourses to the Main Terminal.[4] The system cost about $1.4 billion, and the project also included the construction of a new security screening mezzanine.

Since the existing Concourse C/D (built in 1985 and renovated in 2006 to extend its life for 8-10 more years) is a temporary concourse, the Concourse C station has been built at the site of the future permanent Concourse C/D, and is connected to the existing concourse by an underground walkway.[7]

Future

There are plans for future expansion of the system. The AeroTrain can be expanded to include stations for the future Concourse D, two stations for an additional midfield Concourse (Concourses E and F), and a South Terminal.

Once fully built out, the trains will run in a two-way loop around the airside of the airport.[8]

Gallery

  • Main Terminal Station
    Main Terminal Station
  • Concourse B station during construction
    Concourse B station during construction

References

  1. ^ Freeman, Sholnn (December 3, 2009). "In tests, flying colors for Dulles gate-to-terminal train". The Washington Post. p. B4. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
  2. ^ Miroff, Nick (September 14, 2006). "Airport's Future is on Rails". Washington Post. pp. B01.
  3. ^ "Washington Dulles International Airport|" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-03-27.
  4. ^ a b Weiss, Eric M. (August 19, 2008). "Dulles Updates Its People Movers". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 1, 2009.
  5. ^ Freeman, Sholnn (October 23, 2009). "New ride to the gate likely to arrive late". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 23, 2009.
  6. ^ Rein, Lisa (January 26, 2010). "Passenger train goes into operation Tuesday at Dulles airport". Washington Post. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  7. ^ "D2 Projects: AeroTrain System". Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Archived from the original on November 13, 2007. Retrieved January 10, 2008.
  8. ^ Miroff, Nick; Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (source) (September 14, 2006). "Aerotrain Staying on Schedule". Washington Post. pp. B01.

External links

Transit in Metropolitan Washington, D.C.
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AeroTrain (Washington Dulles International Airport)
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