Stansted Airport Transit System

The Stansted Airport Track Transit System (TTS) is a fully automated people mover system which operates within London Stansted Airport in England, United Kingdom.

The transit system conveys air travellers between the main airport terminal and the departure/arrival gates, which are located some distance from the main terminal in satellite buildings 1 and 2. The system operates exclusively " airside", meaning that it can only be accessed by passengers who have first passed through airport security. The transit is provided free of charge, with easy access for disabled passengers and is fully electric, much less polluting than the diesel buses that serve the car parks and remote aircraft stands.

It is planned to decommission and partially demolish the Stansted TTS in the August of 2026 as part of a redevelopment project, and replace the transit system with pedestrian bridges which will increase the passenger walking journey by 1 kilometre.

History

The Stansted Airport Transit System was opened in 1991. It was constructed as a result of the decision by the British Airports Authority (BAA) to redevelop the airport with an arrangement of satellite buildings detached from the main terminal. The BAA considered several options for conveying passengers safely and rapidly to the airport gates, including moving walkways, tunnels, bridges and bus links, before opting for an automated tracked transit system. After opening in 1991 the system was extended in 1998 with an additional underground station to serve a second satellite building.

Route

Guideway

The Stansted Airport TTS vehicles run along a double-track guideway totalling in length which connects the main terminal building with two satellite buildings. The route begins on an elevated section alongside the departure lounge, before entering a tunnel which passes beneath the airport apron. There is an elevated maintenance depot at one end.

Stations

The Transit System has three stations: Terminal (arrivals and departures at separate points), Gates 1–19 (Satellite 1 arrivals and departures) and Gates 20–39 (Satellite 2 arrivals and departures). Satellite 3 (Gates 40–59) is not served by the Transit System; instead a pedestrian footway links the gates with the main terminal.

Each station has segregated boarding and alighting platforms, allowing a more efficient passenger flow. All boarding points are equipped with platform screen doors.

Vehicles

5 Adtranz C-100 cars built by Westinghouse for the system, with car bodies built in Scotland by Walter Alexander before being shipped to Pittsburgh for assembly and testing, are still in service today. This was increased to 9 when 4 new Adtranz CX-100 cars were delivered during the 1998 expansion. During normal operation, eight out of the nine cars will be in service to maintain a 99.98% availability record. The cars can operate as single-, double-, or triple-unit trains that can be easily accessed by disabled passengers. The trains are fully automated and driverless, classed as a Grade of Automation level 4 (unattended) system and regulated by the Office of Rail Regulation. The Stansted TTS is currently the world's last remaining APM system to use the Adtranz C-100 rolling stock.

Planned closure

In April 2023, Manchester Airport Group, the owner of Stansted Airport, announced the Airport Route 43 project to expand the airport. As part of this scheme, the Stansted Track Transit System (TTS) will be decommissioned in the August of 2026.

The decision to decommission the TTS was based on various issues related to its age and operational limitations. Originally designed in the 1980s with an intended lifespan of 20-25 years, the system was already exceeding its expected operational period. Components such as the carriages, track, power systems, software, communication systems, fire systems, door sets within stations, and other safety features were becoming obsolete, with manufacturer support no longer available, replacing the entire system was deemed cost-prohibitive. The TTS had also become a cause of bottlenecks, as it delivered large groups of passengers simultaneously to the border control area, this is because of lack of suitable investment by MAG.

After closing the system, the TTS track will undergo partial demolition, with the track underneath the existing canopy being removed. The remaining track, supporting structure, and TTS maintenance facility will remain intact but not operational. The plan is to replace the TTS system with pedestrian Sky Link bridges, so both outbound and inbound passengers would walk to and from their gates. During the development passengers will be transported on buses which will increase the journey time to the boarding gates and will increase the passenger walking journey by 1 kilometre. On 31 October 2023 London Stansted Airport was granted planning permission to extend its terminal building and decommission the Stansted TTS.

Pictures

File:Stansted Airport People Mover.JPG, An Adtranz C-100 vehicle approaching the Main Terminal
File:Stansted Airport - monorail station (geograph 4693192).jpg, Platform doors at a Transit station
File:Stansted Airport Transit System switch.JPG, Set of points for a crossover connecting the two tracks
File:London Stansted people mover underground.JPG, A Transit vehicle in the tunnel section
File:Stansted Transit System map.png, Map of the Stansted Transit System
File:Stansted Airport Transit route diagram.jpg, In-car route information signage
File:London Stansted Airport.JPG, Aerial view of the airport, with the Transit line visible in front of the main terminal
File:London Stansted Airport transit vehicle.jpg, C-100 vehicle on elevated guideway section

See also

* Gatwick Airport Shuttle Transit
* Heathrow Terminal 5 Transit
* Luton DART

References

{{UK light rail

Airport people mover systems in the United Kingdom
Innovia people movers
Transit System
Rail transport in Essex
Railway lines opened in 1991
1991 establishments in England