Special Projects

Automated People Mover

This guided mode of transport, with passenger carrier vehicles moving on their own tracks, is generally preferred for short connections of a few kilometres, with high demands regarding capacity and availability.

The guided mode of transport

Fully Automatic System

An APM, Automated People Mover, is a fully automatic system without drivers and usually moves along on a flat plane, which differentiates it from funicular railways. Unlike with automotive vehicles, the machinery and motor equipment are located remotely thanks to the rope. Thus, the APM is often described as “light metro” technology, in the sense that the infrastructure (viaduct, track structure, etc.) and installation are lighter and faster.

POMA supports you

For your Automated People Mover Projects

FEASIBILITY STUDIES

Whether it is for an urban context, an airport or a large private complex, our automated people movers are tailored to your needs to offer you the best possible performance.

From the feasibility study to construction and operation/maintenance, POMA supports you through every stage of the project.

Airport Applications

APMs are mainly installed at airports to provide connections between terminals, or to allow for interconnection with another mode of transport or car park. This is one of the most demanding environments, as passengers need to travel quickly to catch their flight and avoid delays. With its high availability, an APM guarantees complete safety and peace of mind for its passengers.

Urban Applications

In rapidly expanding towns and cities, getting to the centre is becoming increasingly complicated and the traffic more congested, so APMs are used provide a connection to the park-and-ride facilities outside the city.

They can also connect different levels or areas of the town, as is the case in Serfaus, where the APM serves 4 stations, going from a car park, passing through the centre, to a gondola lift.

Private and Industrial Applications

An APM can be installed on campuses, industrial complexes, at hotels, medical complexes, etc. to provide a fast connection between different buildings. This has notably been the case at the San Raffaele Hospital in Italy and the Huntsville Hospital in the United States.

The Advantages
des Automated People Mover POMA

Availability

The trains are fully automated to ensure safe operation and high availability. The trains, stations and driving equipment are all managed from a central control centre.

Safety

FIRE SAFETY

Automated trains have low-heat energy onboard; APMs use a medium-voltage system that therefore improves the level of safety. The fire risk on the trains is much lower.

CABIN SAFETY
• Extinguishers under the chairs in each passenger compartment,
• Emergency exits unlock manually,
• Emergency ventilation system,
• Emergency lighting,
• Smoke detector,
• Emergency communication system for passengers,
• Video surveillance camera,
• Automatic reopening of doors if an obstacle is detected by torque control

EVACUATION

• It is always possible to recover a broken-down carrier at the next station, even in the event of a power failure thanks to redundant drives and the emergency drive.
• It is possible to evacuate to another train.
• The options and evacuation procedures are faster.

MAINTENANCE

Automated trains only require a single, simplified maintenance programme focused on preventive maintenance
Predictive maintenance allows for high availability and ensures connections without traffic interruptions or the need for a replacement service.
• The APM in Cairo has posted an average availability of 99.75% since 2013.
• The APM in Miami has posted an average availability of 99.8% since 2016.

CARRIERS

APMs may be equipped with individual carrier vehicles or interconnected carriers. The standard door size offers a 2000 mm clearance, and generally, each train has two sets of doors to ensure maximum passenger comfort and quick boarding.
There are 3 main types of passenger carrier:
• The M1 carrier: lightweight trains
• The W1 carrier: High-capacity trains with 1 access door on each side.
• The W2 carrier: High-capacity and longer trains with 2 access doors on each side.
Depending on the capacities of the whole system, the waiting time between two stations (headway), the length of the route and the route envisaged, the number of stations, etc., we will tailor the solution that is best suited to your needs.

CUSTOMISATION

If we take the W1 and M1 carrier standards, we are able to create unique APM designs, such as asymmetric carriers to optimise the use of a section of tunnel, or outdoor LED lighting.

ACCESSIBILITY

Each train is designed to be accessible to passengers with reduced mobility:
• The horizontal and vertical gaps between the step and the boarding platform are reduced as far as possible.
• Large 2000 mm opening of the cabin door to allow access for passengers in wheelchairs or with prams
• Priority areas indicated in each compartment for passengers with reduced mobility

REGULATIONS

Automated People Movers are designed in accordance with European Funicular Railway standards or ASCE standards (US APM standards).

SUSPENSION TECHNOLOGY

Composed of one or more carriages, APM trains operate on installations that vary depending on the project environment:
• On air cushions (Air Levitation). This Group innovation is at the cutting edge of technology: it causes hardly any vibrations and running noise, thus ensuring optimal passenger comfort,
• On metal wheels and rails (ideal solution for frosty and icy environments),
• On tyres on concrete or metallic beams

Over 30 years

of expertise

Numerous references

An expert team

dedicated to building your APM

Guaranteed availability

of over 99,5%

Up to

8 Km

Hourly transport capacity

of up to 8,000 people

Speeds of up to

14 metres/second

APM, FUNICULAR RAILWAY OR INCLINED ELEVATOR, WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?

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Automated Peolple Mover

More information

All our references
Of APM

Miami Airport

United States – Miami – 2016

Miami International Airport inaugurated its two APMs in 2016 and 2017. The two APM trains travel 375 m and carry up to 12,000 passengers per hour between the main terminal and terminal E.

Read

Cairo Airport

Egypt – Cairo – 2012

The expanding Cairo International Airport, one of the largest in the Middle East, wanted a high-performance link to connect its three airport terminals and to provide access to the car parks and shopping centre. The specifications for the construction of the MiniMetro® were speed, silence, comfort, availability and also environmental considerations.

Read

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