Presbyterian College > Academic Web Server > Jon Bell > Transit > (Cities | Types) > Chicago > O'Hare ATS

Chicago, Illinois:
O'Hare Airport Transit System (ATS)

Description

Chicago's O'Hare International Airport opened an automated peoplemover system, the Airport Transit System (ATS), in 1991. It connects terminals 1, 2, 3 and 5 with economy parking lot E. It uses the Matra (now Siemens) VAL technology, which is also used at Paris's Orly airport and in the light metro system in Lille, France. Jacksonville, Florida's downtown "Skyway" peoplemover also used VAL technology from 1989 to 1996. I understand that when Jacksonville converted the Skyway to a Bombardier monorail, they sold their VAL cars and equipment to O'Hare.

There has been some talk of extending the ATS to economy lot F and the adjacent commuter rail station on Metra's North Central line. Presently a shuttle bus makes this connection.

The system is completely above ground, and most of the guideway is elevated. All stations have automatic doors along the platform edges, which prevent people from falling onto the tracks and make it easier to control the climate inside the stations.

Pictures

These pictures were taken in August 2001.

[picture] Exterior of the Terminal 3 station, seen from the other side of the terminal loop road.

[picture] Interior of the Terminal 3 station.

[picture] A train stops at the Terminal 5 station, in a view from above the tracks.

[picture] En route between Terminal 5 and Economy Lot E, we pass another train at the turnouts to the shops and yard.

[picture] A view from ground level of the elevated structure passing over Economy Lot E.

[picture] Exterior view from ground level of the terminal station at Economy Lot E.

[picture] On the platform at the Economy Lot E terminal.

This page was last updated on 21 December 2002, and reviewed on 4 December 2007.

Presbyterian College > Academic Web Server > Jon Bell > Transit > (Cities | Types) > Chicago > O'Hare ATS

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