AeroTrain (Washington Dulles International Airport)

AeroTrain is a 3.78-mile (6.08 km) underground people mover system at Washington Dulles International Airport. It was scheduled to open in fall 2009,[2] but was delayed until 2010 in order to complete reliability tests.[3] It opened to Dulles employees on January 20, 2010, and to passengers January 26, 2010.[4] The system mostly[2] replaced the mobile lounges that transport passengers from the concourses to the Main Terminal. The system cost about $1.4 billion and also includes a new security screening mezzanine. The system utilizes 29 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Crystal Mover vehicles as its rolling stock.

For other uses, see Aerotrain (disambiguation).
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 (2010-01-20) (employees)
  • January 26, 2010 (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

Concourse C
Concourse A
Concourse B
Main Terminal

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 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 4 three-car trains from 5:00 AM to around 3:00 PM from 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 but sometimes only one three-car train. There are supposed to be no more than two minutes between trains, and trains transport passengers to the concourses in about two minutes, at 40–42 miles per hour (the mobile lounges travel about fifteen miles per hour).[5]

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.[6]

There are also 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 airport.[7]

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