Aerotrain (KLIA)

Last updated
Aerotrain
Klia aerotrain dated 060615.jpg
Overview
StatusSuspended (under replacement)
OwnerMalaysia Airports Holdings Berhad
Locale Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia
Stations2
Service
Type People mover
Services1
Operator(s)Engineering Transportation, Malaysia Airport (Sepang) Sdn. Bhd.
Rolling stock9 × Adtranz/Bombardier CX-100
History
Opened1998;26 years ago (1998)
Closed2023 (under replacement)
Technical
Track length1.2 km (0.75 mi)
CharacterServes sterile parts of the airport
Electrification 600 V 50 Hz 3-phase AC third rail
Operating speedMaximum speed 56 km/h (35 mph), Minimum speed 47 km/h (29 mph)
Route map

Contents

BSicon uhKBHFa.svg
Terminal A
BSicon uhSTR.svg
BSicon uhKINTaq.svg
BSicon uhtSTRaeq.svg
BSicon uhABZgr.svg
Main Terminal Aiga railtransportation 25.svg 6 7
BSicon uxhABZgl.svg
BSicon uhKDSTeq.svg
Operations, Maintenance
and Storage Facility
BSicon uexhKBHFe.svg
Terminal B
under
construction

The Aerotrain is an automated people mover system located within the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia. [1]

Opened in 1998 along with the airport, the Aerotrain system consists of two stations, one in the Main Terminal Building and the other in Satellite Building A. The system is the only means of transport for passengers between the two terminals.

Upgrading works on the Aerotrain had caused the service to be suspended between 1 November 2010 and 15 March 2011. Passengers were transferred between the Main Terminal Building and the Satellite Building by bus shuttles during the upgrading period. [2] The Aerotrain in KLIA has been plagued by operational and maintenance issues. [3]

General information

The Aerotrain is fully automated and driverless. Usually, two trains ply between the two stations. In accordance with the Spanish solution, when the train reaches the platform, the exit doors will open first for passengers to disembark, after which the entrance door on the other side will open.

Part of the train track goes underground to cross the taxiway. [4] The ride between the Main Terminal Building and Satellite Terminal A takes about 2.5 minutes. [5]

The Aerotrain supported various operating modes such as Synchronized Double Shuttle Mode, Offset synchronized Double Shuttle Mode, Unsynchronized Double Shuttle Mode, Single Shuttle Mode, On-Call Mode, Test Train Mode and Out Of Service Mode. The Aerotrain has 4 major sub-systems, namely the Central Control System, Vehicle System, Station Automatic Train Operation (ATO) System and Power Distribution System (PDS).

The maintenance of the Aerotrain is scheduled at 10am-12pm and 12am-5am everyday, when only one of the trains will be running for operation and the other one will undergo maintenance works and safety checks. The frequency of the train decreases from every 212 minutes to every 5 minutes during the maintenance periods.

The Aerotrain heading towards the Main Terminal Building. One can see that the tracks go under the taxiway. KLIA Aerotrain towards Main Terminal.jpg
The Aerotrain heading towards the Main Terminal Building. One can see that the tracks go under the taxiway.

Rolling stock

The rolling stock is manufactured by Adtranz (merged with Bombardier Transportation in 2001) and comprises 3 CX-100 trains with 3 cars per train (originally 2 cars), of which each car has a capacity of 249. [6] The trains have an operating speed of 56 km/h (35 mph) with a 600 V 3-phase AC power supply at 50 Hz. A 75 kW (101 hp) DC electric motor (model number: 1460-P4, controlled by a thyristor drive) constitutes the propulsion system of the trains.

On 15 March 2011, a new train was added to the fleet which is known as Train 3. The addition is made to cover the shortfall of the Aerotrain system when either Train 1 or Train 2 is scheduled for an overhaul programme. The overhaul programme is necessary as both Train 1 and Train 2 has been in use for 13 years.

On 28 December 2021, a local engineering firm, Pestech International Bhd has secured the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Aerotrain project for RM742.95 million, which involves the upgrade of the 1.2 km automated people mover system at the airport, together with the Aerotrain's operations and maintenance, for a 10-year period from 2025 to 2034. The package includes a replacement of the existing CX-100 rolling stock with the Innovia APM 300. [7]

Incidents

On 25 December 2017, one of the trains broke down in between the two terminals and a detrainment was carried out. [8] This left the aerotrain running on a single train and free shuttle buses were provided.

On 1 March 2023, the service was suspended until further notice following an incident where the Aerotrain service broke down due to mechanical and electronic failures, resulting in 114 passengers being stranded mid-way on the tracks. [9] To take advantage of the suspension, the Aerotrain service would be replaced with new ones in 3 years time [10] , as the contract for the Aerotrain service has been handed down to a new company (refer section Rolling stock).

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuala Lumpur International Airport</span> Airport in Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is Malaysia's main international airport. It is located in the Sepang District of Selangor, approximately 45 kilometres (28 mi) south of Kuala Lumpur and serves the city's greater conurbation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KLIA Ekspres</span> Airport rail link in Malaysia

The ERL KLIA Ekspres is an express airport rail link servicing the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Malaysia. It runs from KL Sentral, the main railway station of Kuala Lumpur to KLIA as well as its low-cost terminal, klia2. The line is one of the two services on the Express Rail Link (ERL) system, sharing the same tracks as the KLIA Transit. The KLIA Transit stops at all stations along the line, whereas the KLIA Ekspres runs as a direct non-stop express service between KL Sentral and KLIA/klia2. It is operated by Express Rail Link Sdn. Bhd. (ERL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport</span> Airport in Subang, Selangor, Malaysia

Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, , often called Subang Airport or Subang Skypark, is an airport located in Subang, Petaling District, Selangor, Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KLIA Transit</span> Railway line in Malaysia

The ERL KLIA Transit is a commuter rail service which serves as an airport rail link to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Malaysia. It runs from KL Sentral, the main railway station of Kuala Lumpur to KLIA Terminal 1 and KLIA Terminal 2. The line is one of the two services on the Express Rail Link (ERL) system, sharing the same tracks as the KLIA Ekspres. KLIA Transit stops at all stations along the line, whereas KLIA Ekspres runs an express, non-stop service between KL Sentral and the airport. The ERL is operated by Express Rail Link Sdn. Bhd. (ERL).

Aerotrain may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in Singapore</span> Overview of rail transport in Singapore

Rail transport in Singapore mainly consists of a passenger urban rail transit system spanning the entire city-state: a rapid transit system collectively known as the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system operated by the two biggest public transport operators SMRT Trains and SBS Transit, as well as several Light Rail Transit (LRT) rubber-tyred automated guideway transit lines also operated by both companies. In addition, local specialised light rail lines are in operation in places such as the Singapore Changi Airport and Sentosa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Innovia APM 100</span> Automated people mover manufactured by Bombardier

The Innovia APM 100 is an automated people mover (APM) rolling stock first developed by Westinghouse, intended mainly for airport connections and light rail in towns. They are operated by Automatic Train Control (ATC), making it fully automatic and driverless.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Express Rail Link</span>

The Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd is a company that owns and operates the airport rail link of the same name that connects the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) with the Kuala Lumpur Sentral transportation hub, 57 kilometres apart. The company operates two different train services:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in Malaysia</span>

Rail transport in Malaysia consists of heavy rail, light rapid transit (LRT), mass rapid transit (MRT), monorails, airport rail links and a funicular railway line. Heavy rail is mostly used for intercity services and freight transport as well as some urban public transport, while rapid transit rails are used for intracity urban public transport in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur and the surrounding Klang Valley region. There are two airport rail link systems linking Kuala Lumpur with the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport. The longest monorail line in the country is also used for public transport in Kuala Lumpur, while the only funicular railway line is available in Penang.

Transport in Greater Kuala Lumpur includes a road network, a railway network, airports, and other modes of public transport. Greater Kuala Lumpur is conterminous with the Klang Valley, an urban conglomeration consisting of the city of Kuala Lumpur, as well as surrounding towns and cities in the state of Selangor. The Klang Valley has the country's largest airport, the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), as well as the country's largest intermodal transport hub and railway station, Kuala Lumpur Sentral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KLIA Terminal 1 ERL station</span>

The KLIA Terminal 1 ERL station is a station on the Express Rail Link (ERL) which serves the Terminal 1 building of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia. The station is located on the first floor of the building. It is served by both lines of the ERL, the KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Changi Airport Skytrain</span> Automated people mover system in Singapore Changi Airport

The Changi Airport Skytrain is an automated people mover (APM) that connects Terminals 1, 2 and 3 at Singapore Changi Airport. Opened in 1990, it was the first driverless and automated system of its kind in South East Asia. The Changi Airport Skytrain operates from 05:00 to 02:30 daily. Traveling on the Skytrain is free and an inter-terminal journey takes approximately four minutes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysia Airports</span> Government owned company

Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad is a Malaysian airport management company that manages most of the airports in Malaysia. The firm was recently awarded the duty to manage airports in international destinations. It has its head office in the Malaysia Airports Corporate Office in the Persiaran Korporat KLIA in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Sepang, Selangor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SEA Underground</span> People mover system at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport

The SEA Underground, formerly called the Satellite Transit System (STS), is an automated people mover (APM) system operating in the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport in SeaTac, Washington, United States. Originally opening in 1973, the SEA Underground is one of the oldest airport people mover systems in the world. The APM was designed to quickly transport passengers to and from the North and South Satellites, and around the airport's Main Terminal.

The operations and infrastructure of Kuala Lumpur International Airport reflect its design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stansted Airport Transit System</span> Automated people mover at London Stansted Airport

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Innovia APM</span> Automated people mover system

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, Innovia APM 200, 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, and most recently to Alstom in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orlando International Airport People Movers</span> Automated transit system

The Orlando International Airport People Movers are a set of automated people mover (APM) systems operating within Orlando International Airport. The four original people mover systems connect the airport's main terminal to four satellite airside concourses. A fifth AGT people mover system was installed in 2017 to connect the main terminal with the airport's new Intermodal Terminal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tampa International Airport People Movers</span>

The Tampa International Airport People Movers are a set of automated people mover systems operating within Tampa International Airport. The primary set of people movers are automated guideway transit (AGT) systems that connect the airport's main terminal to four satellite airside concourses. Opened in 1971, the landside/airside shuttles were the first people movers used to transport passengers within an airport terminal and it is today Bombardier Transportation's longest running people mover system. A fifth people mover line known as SkyConnect, which began operating in 2018, connects the main terminal with the airport's economy parking garage and rental car center. In addition, a monorail once connected the main terminal and the long-term parking garage from 1991 until its closure in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gatwick Airport Shuttle Transit</span> Automated people mover linking terminals at Gatwick Airport

The Gatwick Airport Shuttle Transit is a 0.75-mile (1.21 km) long elevated automated people mover that links the North and South Terminals at London's Gatwick Airport. The line is ground-side, and besides linking the two terminals also serves to link the North terminal to the airport railway station. Although sometimes colloquially, but erroneously, known as a "monorail", the transit vehicles are carried on rubber tyres running on a concrete track with twin running surfaces and are steered by separate guide rails.

References

  1. "Appendices" (PDF). United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  2. Temporary Closure of Aerotrain Service at KLIA to allow upgrading of Facility
  3. "KLIA aerotrain breakdown video goes viral" . Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  4. "Fracture Toughness of Railway Track Material Using Finite Element Analysis" (PDF). 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 June 2020.
  5. "KLIA layout plan, guide on getting around the Kuala Lumpur International Airport". KLIA2. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  6. "KLIA Aerotrain Upgrade". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
  7. "Pestech to finance, upgrade and operate KLIA Aerotrain project for RM743m". 28 December 2021.
  8. Shahar, Fairuz Mohd (25 December 2017). "One KLIA aerotrain resumes service, the other still undergoing maintenance". NST Online. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  9. Vasu, Priyatharisiny (2023-03-02). "MAHB suspends KLIA Aerotrain services until further notice". The Edge Markets. Retrieved 2023-03-02.