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Innovia APM 100

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Innovia APM 100
Company typeAutomated people mover system
IndustryTransportation
PredecessorWestinghouse C-100
FounderWestinghouse
FateSuccessor: Innovia APM 200
SuccessorInnovia APM 200
Area served
Worldwide (primarily airports and urban light rail transit)
ProductsAutomated people mover system
OwnerAlstom (current, after Bombardier Transportation)

The Innovia APM 100—initially known as the CX-100—is a driverless, fully automated people mover (APM) system created by Westinghouse (which later became part of Adtranz, then Bombardier Transportation, and currently Alstom). This system is primarily designed to facilitate airport transfers and urban light rail transit. Its operation relies on Automatic Train Control (ATC), ensuring completely autonomous functionality without human operators.

Building upon Westinghouse’s earlier C-100 model, the Innovia APM 100 was succeeded by the Innovia APM 200, which debuted on the DFW Skylink. Nevertheless, Bombardier still markets the APM 100, which continues to serve numerous airports worldwide. Beyond airport environments, it also powers the Miami Metromover system that operates in Downtown Miami, Florida.

History

The origins of the Innovia APM 100 can be traced back to Westinghouse’s development of the C-100 people mover during the early 1960s. Westinghouse showcased this technology through the Transit Expressway Revenue Line prototype in Pittsburgh in 1965; however, widespread urban adoption was hindered by political resistance against rubber-tired transit solutions.

Success came primarily within airport settings, with Westinghouse delivering the first automated people mover at Tampa International Airport’s new terminal in 1971, deploying eight C-100 vehicles. This project represented the inaugural automated transit system integrated into an airport terminal. Two years later, in 1973, a similar installation was completed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

By 1980, Westinghouse had installed second-generation C-100 systems at Miami International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport—the latter’s "Plane Train" remains among the world’s busiest people movers. The C-100 platform laid the groundwork for future iterations. Additionally, Miami’s Metromover marked the first urban deployment of the C-100 in 1986.

In 1988, Westinghouse divested its transportation unit to German company AEG, which eventually merged into Adtranz in 1996. Adtranz continued manufacturing the vehicle under the names Adtranz C-100 and later Adtranz CX-100. Following Bombardier's acquisition of Adtranz in 2001, the system was rebranded as Bombardier CX-100, and subsequently renamed Innovia APM 100 to consolidate Bombardier’s people mover offerings.

Although most original C-100 units have been superseded by Innovia APM 100 models, London Stansted Airport still operates five C-100 vehicles on its Track Transit System. Four C-100 cars are preserved in museums: two from Miami’s Metromover reside at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum, while two from Atlanta’s system are displayed at the Southeastern Railway Museum.

Airport connections

This rolling stock is extensively utilized for intra-terminal transit within major airports globally, including:

Airport System Opened Notes
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport Airport People Mover 2006
Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 3 People Mover 2008
Changi Airport (Singapore) Changi Airport Skytrain 1990 Original second-generation C-100s were replaced by Mitsubishi Crystal Mover vehicles in 2006.
Denver International Airport Automated Guideway Transit System 1993/95 Fourteen second-generation C-100s remain operational alongside CX-100 units.
Frankfurt Airport (Frankfurt, Germany) SkyLine 1994
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (Houston, Texas) Skyway 1999
Harry Reid International Airport (Las Vegas, Nevada) Harry Reid International Airport Automated People Movers 1985/1998/2012 Original C-100s were replaced with Innovia APM 100s in 2009.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport The Plane Train 1980 Second-generation C-100s were replaced with CX-100s from 1997 to 2001; a few remain active.
Kuala Lumpur International Airport AeroTrain 1998 Second-generation C-100s have been replaced by Innovia APM 300 models.
Leonardo da Vinci Airport (Rome, Italy) SkyBridge 1999
London Gatwick Airport Tracked Shuttle System 1987 Second-generation C-100 units were replaced by Innovia APM 100s in 2009.
London Stansted Airport Track Transit System 1991 Operates with five second-generation C-100 vehicles alongside four Innovia APM 100 cars.
Miami International Airport Concourse E People Mover 1980 Decommissioned in 2016 and succeeded by a MiniMetro system supplied by Leitner-Poma.
Orlando International Airport Orlando International Airport People Movers 1981 'Airsides' 2 and 4 retain original systems; Airsides 1 and 3 had their Westinghouse C-100 units replaced by Mitsubishi Crystal Mover vehicles in 2017.
Pittsburgh International Airport Pittsburgh International Airport People Movers 1992
Sacramento International Airport SMF Automated People Mover 2011
San Francisco International Airport AirTrain 2003
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport SEA Underground 1973 First-generation C-100 vehicles were replaced with Innovia APM 100 units in 2003.
Tampa International Airport Tampa International Airport People Movers 1971 Original first-generation C-100 cars were substituted with Innovia APM 100 models in 1995.


Miami Metromover

The Metromover in Miami, Florida is powered by the Bombardier Innovia APM 100, representing the initial deployment of Westinghouse's people mover technology beyond airport environments. In 2008, the original Westinghouse C-100 units were succeeded by the Innovia APM 100 models. The Metromover stands out as one of the rare non-airport transit systems utilizing the Innovia APM 100 technology.

Bukit Panjang LRT

Since 1999, the Bukit Panjang LRT Line has been served by the Innovia APM 100 (C801) vehicles. These units share design similarities with the early 1990s Westinghouse and Adtranz (later Bombardier) C-100 trains previously deployed on Singapore Changi Airport’s Skytrain. They also integrate numerous elements found in more recent MRT rolling stock.

This system distinguishes itself from conventional rail by employing rubber tires running on concrete guideways, which helps minimize operational noise. The windows are equipped with smart glass technology that automatically fogs when passing close to HDB residential blocks to safeguard occupant privacy. The fleet comprises 19 cars, commonly operated in pairs during rush hours.

Although initial technical challenges arose, prompting subsequent Singapore LRT lines to adopt the Crystal Mover, SMRT took responsibility for modernizing the Bukit Panjang system at its own cost. Starting in late 2014, an additional 13 trainsets (C801A) were introduced to ease peak-time crowding, with full integration completed by September 2015.

Guangzhou APM Line

The Zhujiang New Town Automated People Mover System in Guangzhou’s Central Business District is operated using 14 Innovia APM 100 vehicles. Launched in November 2010 and fully subterranean, this line is the shortest and least frequented within the Guangzhou Metro network. Despite this, it holds the distinction of being the most expensive APM system constructed per kilometre worldwide.

Technical specifications

See also

External links

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