Summary:
- Tampa International Airport introduces next-generation Blue Shuttle trains at Airsides A and C, modernising its long-standing automated people mover system.
- New Innovia APM R vehicles built by Alstom feature upgraded lighting, passenger information screens and enhanced safety technology.
- The rollout is part of a wider shuttle replacement programme across multiple airsides, supporting operational efficiency and passenger experience improvements.
Tampa International Airport (TPA) – a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – has unveiled new Blue Shuttles for travellers to use at Airsides A and C. Passengers heading to and from the Airsides will notice the same familiar and smooth shuttle rides as always, but with a thoroughly modernised experience.
“TPA’s signature shuttles go back to our opening in 1971, and were the first of their kind at any airport in the world when they debuted,” said Tampa International Airport CEO Michael Stephens. “Now we are proud to offer another first, with TPA being the first airport in the world to offer these brand-new shuttles coupled with the new technology and operating system that will be guiding them.”
The next-generation Innovia APM R shuttle cars – a pair of mated Blue cars at both Airsides – are manufactured by Alstom. These new shuttles not only use Alstom’s new proprietary software, but also have entirely new electrical running systems and concrete guideways to make their journey back and forth. The cars feature improved lighting, video information screens and doors with obstacle-detection systems.
“Today we’re proud to celebrate a new milestone in this decades-long partnership, introducing our latest and most advanced APM vehicles into service, designed and manufactured in the United States,” said Alstom Americas President and CEO Michael Keroullé. “This is an important part of our broader commitment to support the improvement of airport’s shuttle system.”
The shuttle systems have been thoroughly tested for operational reliability and safety and now are ready for use. The prior cars were installed in the 1990s and ran for well over one million miles each.
The old Red Shuttles at Airsides A and C will continue to operate alongside the Blue Shuttles until early April to help with the extra traffic during the busy spring break travel period, the busiest time of year at TPA. Then the Red Shuttles will be shut down and replaced just like the Blue Side.
A similar update is also taking place at Airside E on a slightly different timeline. All the shuttles at the three Airsides are scheduled to be replaced by later this year.
The guideway rehabilitation and shuttle car replacement for Airsides A and C, which includes design and running surfaces, plus eight cars with their controls and signalling systems, is budgeted to cost $61 million. The Airside E replacement project requires four more cars – the Red Shuttle cars were delivered earlier this year and are currently being installed – plus guideways and switchgear and costs an additional $30 million.
New cars also have been ordered for the forthcoming Airside D. Airside F, which has the newest cars of all the Airsides, is due to get new shuttles in the future.
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