Plans for a tram style People Mover at HS2 Interchange Station and Birmingham Airport

DavidGrain · 19 Jul 2019

Press release

HS2 reveals designs for Automated People Mover
New driver-less transport system will connect the Interchange Station with new stops at Birmingham Airport, Birmingham International Station, and the National Exhibition Centre (NEC).

Published 16 July 2019
From:
High Speed Two (HS2) Limited

Designs show the driver-less people mover arriving into Interchange station.

Automated People Mover (APM): at a glance

Services every 3 minutes

Interchange to Birmingham airport in 6 minutes

2.3 kilometre long route from Interchange to Birmingham Airport

Approximately 20 metre long vehicles

Capable of carrying 2,100 passengers per hour in each direction

Travel on a viaduct for entire route – 12 metres off the ground at its highest point

Plans have been announced for a tram style people mover to connect Birmingham Interchange (HS2) with Birmingham Airport, Birmingham International Station and the National Exhibition Centre.

It is planned that the service will run every 3 minutes connecting the two railway stations with the airport, the NEC and other places of interest in the area.

The system is designed to carry up to 2,100 passengers per hour in each direction. It will be wholly on a viaduct for 2.3km. At its highest point the viaduct will be 12 metres off the ground. The vehicles will be approx 20 metres long

The above is taken from a press release from HS2 Ltd
https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...n-and-birmingham-airport.186484/#post-4113659

It is not clear from the information given whether this will replace the existing people mover that currently runs between the Airport and Birmingham International Station. There are plans to build houses and other property in the area so it is not clear if the plans will allow extensions in the future

RailUK Forums

gordonthemoron · 19 Jul 2019

It should go via FICO on Starley Way so I don't have to walk from the station, but I'll be retired by then so what do I care

xc170 · 19 Jul 2019

And do we think this will happen? :lol:

MarkyT · 19 Jul 2019

They should consider making the guideway compatible with the West Midlands tram system which has aspirations to reach the airport and HS2 hub eventually. There's no reason a fully segregated elevated light rail segment could not inter-run automated airport shuttles with city centre trams. A similar issue is relevant to Glasgow airport which wants a local APM shuttle to Paisley Gilmour Street station, yet the city also sees trams eventually reaching the airport as well. Similarly, the Luton airport station shuttle could have been more useful with guided bus technology, and shuttles extended to the town centre station.

WelshBluebird · 19 Jul 2019

Worth noting there is already the people mover system in use between Birmingham International and Birmingham Airport.
Is this going to be an extension to it, or a partial replacement, or a total replacement?

MarkyT · 19 Jul 2019

WelshBluebird said:
Worth noting there is already the people mover system in use between Birmingham International and Birmingham Airport.
Is this going to be an extension to it, or a partial replacement, or a total replacement?

A simple rope-hauled 'Cable Liner' shuttle by Doppelmayr. Probably difficult to extend with the same tech.

Geezertronic · 19 Jul 2019

I must admit I have to get a bit NIMBYish about the route it takes particularly since the drawn designs from other sources look like the mover goes over Pendigo Lake, but I'll wait for the proper route before getting all NIMBY about it

edwin_m · 19 Jul 2019

MarkyT said:
A simple rope-hauled 'Cable Liner' shuttle by Doppelmayr. Probably difficult to extend with the same tech.

I think cable-hauled peoplemovers can have intermediate stops, but they can only have one car on each track so capacity drops with increasing length. And the way it terminates up against International station would make it difficult to extend anyway.

DavidGrain · 19 Jul 2019

It is not possible to extend the existing people mover as it is a cable operated system although some people think of it as a monorail which it never was. Originally it was a MagLev but probably ahead of its time. That was fun when it lifted off at the start and settled down at the end of its run.

I have been wondering for some time what the work was on the outside of platform 5. I don't know if this has anything to do with the plans.

edwin_m · 19 Jul 2019

MarkyT said:
Similarly, the Luton airport station shuttle could have been more useful with guided bus technology, and shuttles extended to the town centre station.

Maybe in a few years if and when when autonomous vehicles have become workable in a semi-public environment. Looks like Luton will be another cable shuttle, judging by the Doppelmayr logos on the construction hoardings.

The Planner · 19 Jul 2019

DavidGrain said:
I have been wondering for some time what the work was on the outside of platform 5. I don't know if this has anything to do with the plans.

No, that is just used to hold materials, it was used in earnest for New St resignalling phase 6.

mark-h · 19 Jul 2019

edwin_m said:
I think cable-hauled peoplemovers can have intermediate stops, but they can only have one car on each track so capacity drops with increasing length.

They can have two trains sharing a track with a passing loop or a more complex Pinched Loop system where multiple trains swap between haul ropes.

edwin_m said:
Looks like Luton will be another cable shuttle, judging by the Doppelmayr logos on the construction hoardings.

Doppelmayr Press release for Luton

edwin_m · 19 Jul 2019

mark-h said:
They can have two trains sharing a track with a passing loop or a more complex Pinched Loop system where multiple trains swap between haul ropes.

The passing loop arrangement the two trains would have to be on the same cable to avoid collisions, which means any intermediate stops not in the middle (hence at the passing loop and needing more platforms) would a corresponding non-station stop as well. The pinched loop sounds similar to the San Francisco style cable trams, but must need some sort of signalling to keep the trains separated.

Plans for a tram style People Mover at HS2 Interchange Station and Birmingham Airport

DavidGrain

Established Member

RailUK Forums

gordonthemoron

Established Member

xc170

Member

MarkyT

Established Member

WelshBluebird

Established Member

MarkyT

Established Member

Geezertronic

Established Member

edwin_m

Veteran Member

DavidGrain

Established Member

edwin_m

Veteran Member

The Planner

Veteran Member

mark-h

Member

edwin_m

Veteran Member