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What are the transport things at Birmingham/Gatwick/Heathrow/Luton/Stansted airports called?

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What are the things that go between the terminals at the Birmingham/Gatwick/Heathrow/Luton/Stansted airports called?

We currently have them at:

• Birmingham Airport (Terminal - Railway Station)
• Gatwick Airport (South Terminal - North Terminal)
• Heathrow Airport (Terminal 5A - Terminal 5B - Terminal 5C)
• Luton Airport (Terminal - Railway Station) ***not yet open***
• Stansted Airport (Terminal A - Terminal B - Terminal C)

Are they trains? Are they monorails? Are they something else?

Many people call them monorails but i am not sure if that is correct either. There are two types of monorails (one that has a track above the monorail and one that has a track below the monorail) but looking further in to it the airport ones do not seem to fit the definition of a monorail either. They are not trains though as they do not have ordinary train wheels or run on a normal train track.

Does anyone have any idea what exactly these things are and the correct name for them?
 
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stuu

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People movers is the general name, the technology varies. Stansted, Gatwick and Heathrow all use rubber tired carriages with electric motors like a train or a tram. Birmingham and Luton are both cable driven like a funicular, but use steel wheels and rails for guidance
 
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Various terms are used.
People Mover, Passenger Transit System, Airport Rapid Transit System, Shuttle System.


.
 
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Luton is labelled as an LRV light rail vehicle.

so I'd call them an automated light rail
That is interesting that it is referred to as light rail when it does not even run on ordinary rails or have ordinary wheels. I thought light rail was just another name for a tram. So i am not sure it meets the definition of light rail.

People movers is the general name, the technology varies. Stansted, Gatwick and Heathrow all use rubber tired carriages with electric motors like a train or a tram. Birmingham and Luton are both cable driven like a funicular, but use steel wheels and rails for guidance
Many thanks for the information.

Various terms are used.
People Mover, Passenger Transit System, Airport Rapid Transit System, Shuttle System.


.
Many thanks for the information.

The Brum Maglev was good. Sadly replaced.
They should open up a heritage railway using the Maglev system. I am sure it would not be too difficult to set up a short line for passengers to ride on and experience the Maglev trains. All three of these Birmingham Airport Maglev trains all still exist so it would be nice to see them put to use again.
 

P Binnersley

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I was very disappointed with the ride quality when I tried it soon after installation - was it improved?
It was fine when travelling. But the "take-off" and "landing" left a bit to be desired.
The replacement system is a Dopplemayr Cable Liner(TM).
 
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