AeroTrain (Washington Dulles International Airport)

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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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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

References[edit]

  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[edit]

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