Terminal 5 at Heathrow will have a futuristic transport system linking the new terminal to one of the airport car parks.

The Personal Rapid Transit system will initially have 18 driverless, battery-powered vehicles that will travel along a dedicated guideway from Terminal 5 to the business car park. The driverless cars are around 6 feet tall and 4.5 feet wide and will be capable of carrying four passengers and their luggage.

The small size of the cars means that they will be able to get closer to the terminal entrances than conventional train type people movers. The cars are being built by UK based Advanced Transport Systems, and the Personal Rapid Transit system at Heathrow will cover around two miles and cost about £5 to £7.5 million per mile.

Heathrow Terminal 5 will open in March 2008 and the Personal Rapid Transit system at the airport should be completed by late 2008. BAA has said that the new transport system for Heathrow will reduce congestion and waiting times and produce no local emissions.

Further improvements to the transport system at Heathrow can now be expected as construction of the London Crossrail link has been passed by the House of Commons after nearly three years of debate and will now go before the House of Lords on 9 January.

Crossrail is set to be the largest civil engineering project in the UK since the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and will provide a new route across London, linking Heathrow airport with the West End, City, Docklands and the Thames Gateway. During peak periods 24 trains an hour will run in both directions through central London considerably improving transport links in the capital.

Written by: Nick Purdom

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