On 21 - 23 April, delegates from 16 countries converged at Heathrow Airport, to learn about Personal Rapid Transit, and get an advanced preview of the ULTra system in action.
Sponsored by the Advanced Transit Association, the PRT@LHR conference was a milestone event in the history of the Personal Rapid Transit industry, with representatives from Advanced Transport Systems and several other PRT vendors joined by delegates from transport consultancy’s, major developers, and civil transport authorities. For the first time, PRT was not just an interesting concept, but something that delegates could see in operation for themselves.
The ULTra site was opened for delegates, to get an up-close and personal view of the system. Whilst touring the elegant ground-level stations, they were able to observe an ULTra vehicle automatically arrive and depart from stations, and manoeuvre around the guideway in virtual silence. Delegates were able to board vehicles to familiarise themselves with the spacious and comfortable interiors, ergonomic controls, and emergency egress systems.
Touring the control room, delegates were given a detailed description of how ULTra will provide its users with a first-class service from the moment they enter the station. The ULTra control room will be comprehensively networked to other key operating system at Heathrow — including flight information and local traffic conditions — allowing operators to anticipate the passenger demand that the ULTra will experience, and pre-position vehicles accordingly.
ULTra engineers and controllers were available to answer the delegates' questions, detailing the contingency plans for everything from adverse weather to anti-social behaviour. Delegates were impressed with the facilities and the operational knowledge of the Airport. "We thought you were just testing an idea which might be realisable sometime in the future," said one representative from a major transport agency. "This is amazing — a well engineered, ready-to-go public transit system that can solve many urban transport problems […] I am going back to tell my colleagues that they must come and see ULTra.”
David Holdcroft of BAA discussed the ULTra systems as forming an innovative part of BAA’s plan to transform Heathrow, improve the passenger experience and reduce the environmental impact of the airport’s operation through the introduction of green transport schemes.
Back at the conference, speakers detailed the development of the ULTra PRT system, and BAA's business case for building it at Heathrow. The conference maintained its spirited focus on the economic, social, and political details of implementing PRT at other locations.
Some presentations expounded the business case beyond airports, and the global commercial opportunities for PRT industry. Others looked at design issues and business cases for specific PRT applications in the USA, UK, Italy, and Sweden. Speakers also addressed the complex issues surrounding the integration of PRT systems in urban areas, and the unique PRT design processes with those of the planning and architectural professions at large.
Delegates left the PRT@LHR conference with the knowledge that PRT — “The transportation system of the future” — has arrived at Heathrow airport. Through the vision of BAA and ATS, all agreed that the PRT industry has a very bright future.
