Evolution of AIRTRANS - A successful AGT system

The AIRTRANS Automated Guideway Transit (AGT) in operation at Dallas/Fort Worth (D/FW) Airport is the largest and most sophisticated AGT system in revenue service today. The system was placed in revenue operation in January 1974, 30 months after contract award. The development test program continued in parallel with revenue operations for the first twelve months of operation, at which time the operational performance tests were completed and operation of the system turned over to the customer (D/FW Airport) with the contractor (Vought) accomplishing the maintenance. In December 1975, D/FW Airport formally accepted the system and assumed complete operational and maintenance responsibility for the system. To date the system has accumulated over 16 million vehicle miles and 22 million passenger trips with a system availability above 99%. In the 1974-1976 time period several independent assessments indicated improvements which would be required to successfully deploy AIRTRANS in an urban environment. Utilizing these data, a program designated "AIRTRANS Urban Technology Program" was defined and initiated by UMTA in December 1976. This program, conducted in two phases, will result in the demonstration of an improved, higher performance, urban deployable vehicle at D/FW Airport in October 1979.