Minneapolis–St. Paul Airport Trams

The Minneapolis–St. Paul Airport Trams consist of a pair of cable-drawn automated people movers that serve travelers of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. Both were constructed by the Poma-Otis Transit Company of Farmington, Connecticut[1] and are operated under the direction of the Metropolitan Airports Commission.

Hub Tram
Overview
TerminiLindbergh Terminal
Hub Building
Stations2
Service
TypePeople mover
Services1
Rolling stockPoma-Otis Hovair
History
OpenedApril 3, 2001[1]
Technical
Line length1,100 feet (340 m)[1]
'C' Concourse People Mover
Overview
Stations4
Service
TypePeople mover
Services2
Rolling stockPoma-Otis steel-on-steel cable cars
History
OpenedMay 5, 2004[2]
Technical
Line length2,700 feet (820 m)[2]

Hub Tram

The older of the two systems, the Hub Tram, opened on April 3, 2001.[1] Covering a distance of 1,100 feet (340 m), the Hub Tram is designed to quickly transport passengers between the Lindbergh Terminal and the Hub Building where travelers can find rental car service counters, a transit center and the Airport-Lindbergh Terminal light rail station, from which passengers can transfer to the Humphrey Terminal at no extra charge.[3] Costing $25 million to complete, the Hub Tram was originally scheduled to open in Fall 2000, but a computer glitch resulted in postponing its opening.[1] Trams on this system, which is fully underground, operate on a cushion of air and there are no physical guide rails. The technology is identical to that of the ExpressTram at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and the people mover at Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport.

'C' Concourse People Mover

The newer of the two systems, the 'C' Concourse People Mover, opened on May 5, 2004.[2] Covering a distance of 2,700 feet (820 m), this tram is designed to quickly transport passengers between the concourses of the Lindbergh Terminal.[4] Costing $36 million to complete, the 'C' Concourse tram was originally scheduled to open on June 1, 2002, but computer software problems and a collision with the vehicles resulted in postponing its opening to 2004.[5] The four cars utilized in this system have an average top speed of 26 miles per hour (42 km/h)[5] and, although the appearance of the vehicles is similar to the Hub Tram, they use steel wheels on steel tracks as the 'C' Concourse line is above ground and open to the elements, where ice and snow could interfere with the operation of the air cushions had it been built with Hovair technology.

References
  1. Wascoe Jr., Dan (April 3, 2001). "Airport tram begins running today". Star Tribune. pp. 2B.
  2. Wascoe Jr., Dan (May 5, 2004). "Airport tram gets people moving today". Star Tribune. pp. 3B.
  3. "MSP International Airport: Hub Tram". Archived from the original on 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  4. "MSP International Airport: Concourse C". Archived from the original on 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  5. Wascoe Jr., Dan (October 9, 2003). "Airport tram has that empty feeling". Star Tribune. pp. 2B.
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