Atlanta airport extends Bombardier APM system

Bombardier Transportation Wednesday said it is celebrating the start of passenger services on the newly extended INNOVIA APM 100 automated people mover (APM) system at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The transit system extension will serve the brand new Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal, which officially opened Wednesday. Bombardier won the turnkey system contract to extend the transit system to the new international terminal in December 2007.

The contract included the supply of 10 INNOVIA APM 100 vehicles and all electrical and mechanical equipment associated with the 0.42-mile dual-lane extension. The APM system at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport first opened in September 1980.

Bombardier has operated and maintained the APM system since the start of service in 1980, and claims an on-time performance over 99.5%.

Said David Barry, vice president Americas, Systems, Bombardier Transportation, “We congratulate our customer, City of Atlanta Department of Aviation, on the opening of the impressive Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal today. We place great value on our long-term relationship with Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. As both the supplier and operator of the airport’s people mover system for more than 30 years, we are confident that our INNOVIA technology, together with the service delivery support of our highly skilled operation and maintenance team, will continue to provide exceptional service for passengers and satisfy the demanding requirements of the world’s busiest airport.”

Bombardier’s plant in Pittsburgh designed and supplied the electrically powered, rubber tired, driverless INNOVIA APM 100 vehicles with CITYFLO 550 automatic train control. Bombardier also supplied communications and power distribution systems, station platform doors and outfitting the new maintenance and storage facility, as well as providing project management, systems engineering and integration, and test and commissioning.

With the extension in place, the system is now 2.8 miles long and operates with 59 vehicles.

Bombardier Transportation has marked a busy week for its INNOVIA APM technology. INNOVIA APM 200 rolling stock testing began in Phoenix last Monday on the Sky Train at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.