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Innovia APM

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Innovia APM
Company typeProduct line
IndustryAutomated transit systems
PredecessorC-100, CX-100
Founded1963
FounderWestinghouse
Headquarters
West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide (airports and urban transit)
ProductsAutomated people movers (Innovia APM 100, 200, 256, 300)
ParentAlstom

Innovia APM represents a rubber-tired automated people mover system currently produced and sold by Alstom as part of its Innovia range of automated transit technologies. Originally developed in 1963 by Westinghouse, this technology has undergone three distinct generations: starting with the Innovia APM 100 (initially known as C-100 and CX-100), followed by the Innovia APM 200, and most recently the Innovia APM 300. Ownership of this technology transitioned from Westinghouse to AEG in 1988, then to Adtranz in 1996, subsequently to Bombardier Transportation in 2001, and finally to Alstom in 2021.

While predominantly utilized at airports, the Innovia APM system also operates on urban rapid transit networks in metropolitan areas including Singapore, Bangkok, and Miami.

History

The inception of this technology dates back to the 1960s when Westinghouse, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, developed an automated people mover for demonstration purposes at the Allegheny County Fairgrounds. Termed Skybus due to its rubber-tired vehicles running on elevated guideways, it was designed to transport between 5,000 and 14,000 passengers per hour with two-minute intervals between vehicles. Although there were plans for a more extensive deployment known as the Transit Expressway Revenue Line, political doubts and rivalry from conventional light rail systems prevented its adoption. Nevertheless, development efforts persisted.

By 1971, Westinghouse commercialized this concept as the C-100 system, which debuted at Tampa International Airport and subsequently enabled numerous airport people mover installations globally. The original C-100 was upgraded through second-generation vehicles branded as the CX-100; fourteen such systems were delivered throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

In 1988, ownership transferred to AEG, followed by acquisition by Adtranz in 1996. Confronted with competition from the Crystal Mover, Adtranz introduced a more streamlined Innovia variant featuring enhanced speeds, sharper turning capabilities, composite materials, and customizable front-end designs. The inaugural Innovia system launched at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in 2005.

Following Bombardier Transportation’s acquisition of the technology in 2001, both the Innovia APM 200 and legacy CX-100 systems were marketed under the Innovia APM brand. The final Innovia APM 100 system was delivered in 2010.

During development of a third-generation model, Bombardier consolidated its automated transit offerings under the Innovia name. Earlier models became legacy products no longer offered to new clients but continue to receive support. The current Innovia APM 300 model provides enhancements in length, energy efficiency, and accommodates train configurations of up to six cars.

In November 2014, Bombardier formed a joint venture with China's CRRC Nanjing Puzhen to manufacture and promote Innovia APM and Innovia Monorail systems within the Chinese market.

Production

Innovia APM vehicles are assembled at a facility located in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, near where the original prototype was demonstrated. This site specializes in automated people mover technologies and features three dedicated test tracks.

Vehicles produced through the partnership with CRRC Nanjing Puzhen are manufactured in Wuhu, located within China's Anhui Province.

Airport installations

Urban transit applications

  • Miami, Florida’s urban Metromover
  • Singapore’s Bukit Panjang LRT
  • Guangzhou, China’s automated people mover system in Zhujiang New Town

Innovia APM 200 systems

Innovia APM 256 systems

Designed specifically to replace the older VAL 256 technology, the Innovia APM 256 is deployed on:

  • Taiwan’s Taipei Metro on the Wenhu Line
  • The airport transit system servicing Chicago’s O'Hare International Airport in the United States

Airports using Innovia APM 300

  • At Terminal 1 of Dubai International Airport, United Arab Emirates, the automated people mover runs on this system (Terminal 3 uses a Crystal Mover)
  • Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz International Airport employs this technology
  • Munich Airport in Germany utilizes Innovia APM 300 vehicles
  • Los Angeles International Airport in the United States operates the LAX Automated People Mover using this system
  • China’s Chengdu Tianfu International Airport features this automated transit solution
  • New rolling stock for Beijing Capital International Airport uses Innovia APM 300 technology exclusively
  • Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport in China incorporates this system
  • Hong Kong International Airport also uses Innovia APM 300 vehicles
  • Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur International Airport updated its AeroTrain with Innovia APM 300R rolling stock
  • Denver International Airport replaced its previous fleet with Innovia APM 300R vehicles on its Automated Guideway Transit System in the United States

Urban systems

Integrated Systems

Innovia APM units are deployed within fully integrated transit frameworks that merge vehicles, signaling, communication networks, power infrastructure, track components, platform screen doors, and additional elements into comprehensive turnkey solutions. This all-encompassing strategy guarantees smooth operation and optimal system performance.

Route layout and system configuration

Primarily designed for airport settings, Innovia APM networks link terminals with services such as car rental facilities, parking areas, and local transportation options. Additionally, they serve as feeder lines within urban mass transit systems. These networks can run through tunnels, elevated guideways, open trenches, or a combination of these environments.

There are three predominant layout types: shuttle, loop, and pinched loop. The shuttle configuration operates with one train on each lane of a dual-track guideway, reversing direction at terminal stations. The vehicles are fully automated and bidirectional, removing the necessity for driver compartments. Loop configurations consist of continuous circular or closed-loop tracks featuring either single or dual lanes that connect several stations. Pinched loops merge characteristics of shuttle and loop designs by utilizing two parallel tracks where trains switch lanes at terminal points to manage multiple stations with traffic flowing in opposite directions.

See also

Competing technologies:

External links

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