Heathrow Pod

[WestCoast]

The long awaited Personal Rapid Transit system has become fully operational this summer at Heathrow Airport.

The full service has now commenced between Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 and Business Parking T5. It runs 22 hours a day with three 'stations' and 4 kilometres of guideway.

Has anyone used it? It looks really interesting!

www.ultraprt.com/heathrow/ - Info about the project from the manufacturer, with photos.

Videos, credit to the appropriate users on YouTube.

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[Royston Vasey]

The long awaited Personal Rapid Transit system has become fully operational this summer at Heathrow Airport.

The full service has now commenced between Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 and Business Parking T5. It runs 22 hours a day with three 'stations' and 4 kilometres of guideway.

Has anyone used it? It looks really interesting!

www.ultraprt.com/heathrow/ - Info about the project from the manufacturer, with photos.

Videos, credit to the appropriate users on YouTube.

Clip 1
Clip 2

Yes several times now. When they first operated on trial they had no signs to it yet had stopped the buses to that car park. So I got a bus on my outward journey and pod on the way back. It was pretty much the first day of operation. Confused the hell out of me!

Its good, very easy to use. I've never had to share or queue for a pod so far having done it several times. Works great, nice view of the airport from the elevated track and quicker than the bus. Mostly it was very smooth although one car felt like it had a flat tyre, very bumpy and noisy! But great otherwise.

But I couldn't help wondering if it was really worth the investment though... I mean, I never thought the shuttles were bad; the bus was never all that slow and must have cost very little to run...

 

[WestCoast]

Ah, very interesting. I believe BAA are using it as a trial to decide whether they wish to further extend the scheme.

Is it accessible to anyone (i.e. non-car park users), or does a car park ticket need to be presented to the 'ordering screen'?

 

[Royston Vasey]

Ah, very interesting. I believe BAA are using it as a trial to decide whether they wish to further extend the scheme.

Is it accessible to anyone (i.e. non-car park users), or does a car park ticket need to be presented to the 'ordering screen'?

Good question, I'm never paying attention after a flight! I don't think you do actually, just choose your language and choose what bus stop you need, a or b.

Going bashing?? Now there's a niche part of what is already a niche hobby!!

PS they're totally unmanned now so I'm sure you wouldn't be stopped manually. I'd need to check about putting the ticket in, I don't recall 100%.

Looking at the youtube vids reminded me how swift it is... Slows down up the slopes though.

 

[WestCoast]

Going bashing?? Now there's a niche part of what is already a niche hobby!!

It's very tempting indeed, it looks like something really different! I do wonder if any "enthusiasts" have used it!

If not, I need an excuse to use the Business Parking T5..... I never fly out of Heathrow though, it's too far. Hmm.

 

[Royston Vasey]

It's very tempting indeed, it looks like something really different! I do wonder if any "enthusiasts" have used it!

If not, I need an excuse to use the Business Parking T5..... I never fly out of Heathrow though, it's too far. Hmm.

You could buy a parking ticket for, say, one day I guess! Wouldn't cost that much!

 

[WestCoast]

You could buy a parking ticket for, say, one day I guess! Wouldn't cost that much!

£26.00 for a day:roll: It is a premium service though, and is marketed as such. I can park for 5 days for that price at Manchester, although you get a bus!

Judging from what I've read and seen, I don't think a short sneaky trip will be noticed, especially if it is unmanned!

 

[bb21]

Wouldn't cost that much!

That is a pretty expensive day pass.

 

[Royston Vasey]

Is that what it costs to walk up?? I've always booked in advance and taken the cheapest option of car park; as it happened long stay business has been cheaper than long stay the last few times. Usually they have much better non-flexible rates in advance.
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This has jogged my memory - no need to swipe a ticket!

Occasionally there's a member of staff at the car park end, just walk past confidently (they don't check your ticket unless you need directing) and go to the other station in teh car park to get back again!

 

[jopsuk]

it does look (from the Google maps aerial view) very much like they've built the layout in such a way to make it easy to extend- there are after all a load more carparks, plus hotels, along the Northern Perimeter road.

 

[umontu]

Listening to some videos you seem to get a constant barrage of automated messages. Can these be turned off?

 

[Mojo]

How easy is it to find? What signs do you need to follow upon your arrival at Terminal 5?

 

[Royston Vasey]

How easy is it to find? What signs do you need to follow upon your arrival at Terminal 5?

Its at the north end of level two of the car park. There are now signs to Business Parking/Heathrow Pod when you come out of arrivals.

 

[Mojo]

Cool. I'll go and check it out tomorrow. If anyone is in the London area (and also fancies a Tram trip), PM me.

 

[AlterEgo]

I am going to "bash" this at some point. I'm fascinated. So - if I have this right - you can effectively take it from the terminal to the car park, and back again for free?

 

[Mojo]

Glad it's finally opened, I've been keeping an eye on this project for quite a while now.

I went on it this afternoon. You can travel between any of the three stops; Terminal 5, Zone A and Zone B, so you can go from Terminal 5 to Zone B, from Zone B to Zone A, etc. There is no need to have a parking ticket or anything.

 

[WestCoast]

Glad it's finally opened, I've been keeping an eye on this project for quite a while now.

I went on it this afternoon. You can travel between any of the three stops; Terminal 5, Zone A and Zone B, so you can go from Terminal 5 to Zone B, from Zone B to Zone A, etc. There is no need to have a parking ticket or anything.

That is good news, will have to take a trip at some point.

 

[starrymarkb]

Some people will bash anything.

Out of interest are these things the driverless cars that some posters rave about?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I'd say it's a cross between driverless cars, a guided busway and a VAL metro.