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Innovia APM

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Innovia APM
An Innovia APM 300 on the Gold Line in Bangkok
In service1963–present
Manufacturer
DesignerWestinghouse
Built at
Family nameInnovia

Innovia APM is a rubber-tired automated people mover system (APM) currently manufactured and marketed by Alstom as part of its Innovia series of fully automated transportation systems. The technology was introduced in 1963 by Westinghouse and has been improved over three generations: the Innovia APM 100 (known originally as C-100 and CX-100), Innovia APM 200 (originally known as just Innovia people mover), and the latest model, the Innovia APM 300. The license to use the technology has also passed hands several times, from Westinghouse to AEG in 1988, to Adtranz in 1996, to Bombardier Transportation in 2001,[1] and most recently to Alstom in 2021.

History

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A refurbished Skybus on display at Alstom's factory in West Mifflin, PA

Development began in the 1960s when Westinghouse, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania company, first engineered an automated people mover (APM) for use on a demonstration project at the Allegheny County Fairgrounds in Pittsburgh.[2] The technology came to be known as the Skybus, because it was a rubber-tired vehicle, similar to a bus that operated on a designated elevated roadway.[3] Engineers believed that it would be able to move 5,000 to 14,000 per hour per direction, and could offer around-the-clock service every two minutes. After the tests, Westinghouse and the Port Authority of Allegheny County attempted to build a larger system, the Transit Expressway Revenue Line, which proved controversial.[4] Political leaders were skeptical of the rubber-tired mass transit technology, and accused the Port Authority of improperly choosing Westinghouse's APM over a competing proposal for a more traditional light rail system. Eventually plans to implement a Skybus system in Pennsylvania were rejected.[5] Despite this, work continued on the technology.

First-generation C-100 vehicles operating at Tampa International Airport in 1982

In 1971, Westinghouse was finally able to commercialize its APM technology, selling what it called the C-100 system to Tampa International Airport, ushering in dozens similar people mover systems at airports around the world.[6] The C-100 was improved with a updated second-generation of vehicles, and the more heavily updated CX-100 system. All together, 14 systems were delivered in the 1980s and 1990s.

The APM technology was purchased by AEG in 1988 and later transferred to Adtranz in 1996.

Innovia vehicles (later renamed Innovia 200 APM) operating on DFW Skylink

As the competing Crystal Mover system grew in popularity, Adtranz began developing a new, more aerodynamic model known as Innovia, which started testing in 1999. In addition to its sleeker appearance, the new Innovia people mover also offered greater speeds, tighter turns, full composite construction and a choice in end caps. The first Innovia people mover system delivered opened in 2005 at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.[7]

The technology transferred to Bombardier Transportation in 2001, which continued to sell both the newer Innovia APM 200 and the older CX-100 technology under the name Innovia APM 100.[8] The last Innovia APM 100 system delivered was delivered in 2010[9]).

Amid the development of a third generation model, Bombardier decided to rebrand its entire automated transit system portfolio as Innovia. The two previous models became legacy systems and are no longer marketed to new customers, although existing customers can and do still order more vehicles as needed. The third and latest model is called the Innovia APM 300 system. It looks very similar to the original Innovia people mover (now called the Innovia APM 200 system), but is longer, more energy efficient and capable of 6-car train configurations.[10]

In November 2014, Bombardier signed a joint venture agreement with China's CRRC Nanjing Puzhen to manufacture and market Innovia APM and Innovia Monorail systems in the Chinese market.[11]

Production

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Innovia APM vehicles are assembled in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, part of the Greater Pittsburgh Area and not far from where the first demonstration trains ran. The multi-building facility specializes in automated people mover technology and has three test tracks.[12][13]

Vehicles manufactured by the joint venture with CRRC Nanjing Puzhen are manufactured in Wuhu, Anhui Province in China.[14]

Implementations

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Innovia APM 100 systems

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Innovia APM 100 in Singapore
Main article: Innovia APM 100

At airports

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Urban systems

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Innovia APM 200 systems

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Innovia APM 200 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Main article: Innovia APM 200

Innovia APM 256 systems

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Main article: Innovia APM 256

The Innovia APM 256 was designed as a direct replacement for the VAL 256 system

Innovia APM 300 systems

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At airports

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Urban systems

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Integrated Systems

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Innovia APM vehicles operate as part of a fully integrated transit system[36] with all elements (vehicles, signaling, communications, power supply and distribution, trackwork, platform screen doors, etc.[37]) designed to function together as a complete package. Typically, these integrated systems are delivered as a turnkey transit system contract.[38]

Route layout and system configuration

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Innovia APM systems are most often used in airport settings as inter-terminal connections or links to local amenities in and around the airport such as car rentals, parking garages and local public transit. Currently there are three urban systems used as feeder systems as part of a larger mass transit network. Innovia APM systems operate in tunnels, on elevated guideways, and sometimes in an open cut (pit) or a combination of tunnels and elevated guideways.

They can assume three different system configurations – shuttle,[39] loop,[40] and pinched loop.[41] The shuttle system is the least complex. One train operates on each lane of a dual lane guideway. After the train dwells in one of the end stations for passengers for entry and exit, it reverses direction and returns to the opposite end station. Because Innovia APM vehicles are fully automated, they do not require a driver's cab, which allows them to be bidirectional. A loop is an enclosed system that connects multiple stations along a track or guideway that is a continuous circle or closed curve. Loop systems can be designed as either a single lane or a dual lane configuration. A pinched-loop system shares common characteristics with both the shuttle and the loop systems. Pinched loops look like a dual-lane shuttle (with two parallel guideways), but trains can go from one track to the other changing direction via switches at each end. As a result, traffic on a pinched loop flows in opposite directions on two parallel tracks, but can accommodate many stations.[42]

See also

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Competing systems:

References

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  1. ^ "Bombardier gets Adtranz for a "bargain".(Brief Article)". highbeam.com. Archived from the original on 2015-03-29.
  2. ^ "Skybus in Pittsburgh". Brookline Connection. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
  3. ^ "The Milwaukee Journal – Google News Archive Search". google.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-10. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
  4. ^ "The Pittsburgh Press – Google News Archive Search". google.com.
  5. ^ "The Pittsburgh Press – Google News Archive Search". google.com.
  6. ^ Leder, William H.; Sproule, William J. (2013). "Airport APMs—History and Future". Automated People Movers and Transit Systems 2013. pp. 14–37. doi:10.1061/9780784412862.002. ISBN 978-0-7844-1286-2.
  7. ^ "Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Skylink | Lea+Elliott". Leaelliott.com. Archived from the original on 2015-03-23. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  8. ^ "Bombardier and London Gatwick Airport Celebrate the Completion of the New INNOVIA APM 100 System". Eurotransport Magazine. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  9. ^ a b DVV Media Group GmbH. "Guangzhou peoplemover enters service". Railway Gazette. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  10. ^ "Bombardier INNOVIA APM 300". Railway Technology. 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  11. ^ "Thunder Bay News; NetNewsLedger.com – Bombardier Announces Joint Venture for China". Thunder Bay News; NetNewsLedger.com. 6 November 2014.
  12. ^ "Pa. technology fund links universities, industry to solve innovation problems". TribLIVE.com.
  13. ^ Grata, Joe (June 6, 1999). "Adtranz is world leader in people moving". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
  14. ^ "CRRC-Bombardier JV Sign Contract for 19 APMs for Singapore". Railway-News. 2019-05-22. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  15. ^ "Crashkit International Corporation – Canadian Aviation Survival Gear".
  16. ^ "Bombardier Signs New People Mover Contract at San Francisco Airport". Railway Technology. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  17. ^ "Bombardier, Denver sign APM contract – Rail". Metro Magazine. 2010-12-22. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  18. ^ "Bombardier Completes Automated People Mover System in Beijing, China". Marketwired.com. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  19. ^ "People-Movers find their niche [Archive] - Dallas Fort Worth Urban Forum". Forum.dallasmetropolis.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  20. ^ "Bombardier people mover cars enter service in Singapore". Global Rail News. 2014-11-19. Archived from the original on 2015-03-09. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  21. ^ HighBeam
  22. ^ "metrotram.it". metrotram.it. 2011-01-29. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  23. ^ "PHX Sky Train, Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix". Railway Technology. 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  24. ^ DVV Media Group GmbH. "Taipei Neihu Line inaugurated". Railway Gazette. Archived from the original on 2015-04-04. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  25. ^ Freishtat, Sarah (November 2, 2021). "After years of delays, O'Hare's 'people mover' to reopen Wednesday on a limited schedule". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2021-11-02. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
  26. ^ "Bombardier to build automated people mover system at Dubai Airport". Railway Technology. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  27. ^ Stephen White. "Bombardier wins Jeddah airport people mover deal". ConstructionWeekOnline.com. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  28. ^ "New automated people mover system for Munich Airport". Passengerterminaltoday.com. 2011-11-23. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  29. ^ "Bombardier-s-INNOVIA-APM-300-Automated-People-Mover-System-Enters-Service-at-Munich-Airport". Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  30. ^ Tom Wadlow (2018-06-11). "Los Angeles International Airport awards contracts for $4.9bn monorail installation". Construction Global. Archived from the original on 2018-06-14. Retrieved 2018-06-13.
  31. ^ "Alstom's first airport APM 300 system at New Chengdu Tianfu International Airport enters service". Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  32. ^ "First automatic people mover (APM) delivered to Beijing Capital International Airport". Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  33. ^ a b "庞巴迪中国合资企业斩获深圳机场全自动旅客捷运系统合同". Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  34. ^ "Pestech to finance, upgrade and operate KLIA Aerotrain project for RM743m". 28 December 2021.
  35. ^ "Denver International Airport begins putting Alstom's new Innovia automated people mover trains into service". Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  36. ^ Leder, William H.; Sproule, William J. (April 2013). APM and Other Driverless Systems for Integrated Urban Planning and Sustainability. American Society of Civil Engineers. ISBN 978-0-7844-1286-2.
  37. ^ "Bombardier to design, build, supply, operate and maintain an INNOVIA APM system for Munich Airport".
  38. ^ "Globe Investor".
  39. ^ "Bombardier Celebrates the Opening of the INNOVIA APM 100 System at the Sacramento International Airport in the USA - Yahoo Finance Canada". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  40. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-07-03. Retrieved 2015-03-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  41. ^ Morris, Jane L.; Decostro, Robert L.; Incorvati, Mark V. (2011). "PHX Sky Train: APM Adaptation for Phoenix". Automated People Movers and Transit Systems 2011. pp. 114–125. doi:10.1061/41193(424)11. ISBN 978-0-7844-1193-3.
  42. ^ "Chapter 24". ntl.bts.gov. Archived from the original on 2004-06-01.
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