ULTra (Urban Light Transport), developed by Advanced Transport Systems Ltd, cost about $41 million to install at Heathrow. A network of driverless, four-passenger Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) vehicles to shuttle passengers between Terminal 5 and the business car park. It is the same concept as the Hanging Railway.
The cars travel at around 25 MPH on special mini-roads. Because they don’t have to stop at every corner, they’re faster than buses. If the initial trial is successful, the airport hopes to spend another $334 million to replace all of the buses currently in use there. Currently, there is no charge to ride the ULTra for people holding a flight ticket. In the future, the expanded system may require a fee similar to a bus fare.
In addition to being quick and eliminating the overcrowding of traditional urban transport, ULTra is an ecologically wise choice. It is powered by rechargeable batteries rather than gas, and because it runs on a fixed course there’s no risk of traffic jams or accidents.
