The Plane Train
| Company type | Automated people mover system |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Founder | Westinghouse Electric Corporation |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia , United States |
Area served | Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport |
Key people | Alstom (operator since 2021) |
| Products | Automated people mover service |
Number of employees | 123 |
| Parent | Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (implied) |
The Plane Train serves as an automated people mover system at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, linking all terminals and concourses seamlessly. Constructed by Westinghouse Electric Corporation, it holds the distinction of being the busiest airport people mover worldwide, carrying more than 250,000 travelers each day. The system’s operation and upkeep are managed by Alstom, which took over from the previous operator, Bombardier Transportation, in 2021.
System operation
Operating entirely within the airport's secure zone, the Plane Train connects the landside terminals with seven airside concourses through the Transportation Mall, which incorporates three subterranean tunnels. Passenger trains utilize the two outer tunnels, while the central tunnel is reserved for pedestrians and includes moving walkways.
There are eight stations in total: one located at each of Concourses A, B, C, D, E, and F (the International Terminal), plus two stations within the Domestic Terminal—Concourse T (serving passengers traveling to Concourses A–F) and Domestic Baggage Claim/Ground Transportation. During peak times, the system deploys 11 trains, each consisting of four cars.
Stations at Domestic Baggage Claim and Concourses T, E, and F feature island platforms shared between tunnels; meanwhile, platforms at Concourses A, B, C, and D are staggered across tunnels. Every platform is equipped with platform screen doors accompanied by red flashing lights indicating door closure.
The trains operate bi-directionally using a pinched-loop layout. At Concourse F on the eastern end, during busy periods trains stop on the eastbound track before switching to westbound for departure; during off-peak hours only the westbound platform is used. On the western end, trains switch tunnels between Domestic Terminal and Concourse T. Maintenance yards are situated at Concourses E and F, connected by a third track designated for testing purposes.
Because the train runs exclusively inside the secure zone, international arriving passengers cannot access car rental services or MARTA stations via this system and must instead use ground transportation around the airport perimeter. However, departing international travelers can use the train to reach Concourse E or other concourses.
Color video monitors on both platforms and trains display system updates in eight languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Korean), along with information on dining and retail options. Platform announcements provide details about upcoming train arrivals and destinations.
Audible station announcements employ the NATO phonetic alphabet for clarity (for example, "B as in Bravo"), except at Concourse D where APCO radiotelephony ("David" rather than "Delta") is used to prevent confusion with Delta Air Lines.
Between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., service is reduced to two trains operating on a single track with passing sidings near Concourse B while other trains undergo scheduled maintenance. The system undergoes a complete shutdown only once weekly on Wednesday at 1 a.m. for track upkeep. Overnight service was introduced in 2018; prior to that time, operations ceased nightly. The current overnight shuttle arrangement is planned to conclude by July 2025 when full continuous 24/7 service will be reinstated.
Continuous round-the-clock operation requires three shifts comprising 123 employees. Although fully automated, there are always two control operators present during service hours.
1970s: Initial Planning
The planning phase for the existing terminal facility commenced in the late 1960s, with a crucial component being a people mover system designed to transport passengers efficiently across the large complex, which housed hubs for Delta Air Lines and the now-defunct Eastern Air Lines.
An initial concept proposed an east–west roadway running through the center, bordered by 16 terminals featuring perpendicular linear concourses and an elevated people mover loop. This plan was abandoned because it primarily served passengers beginning or ending their journeys in Atlanta, while nearly 70% of travelers were connecting flights.
By 1973, the design evolved into a landside/airside configuration modeled after Tampa International Airport, linking a landside concourse to parallel airside concourses via a people mover with stops at each concourse. Originally intended as an open trench system similar to AirTrans at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), the concept changed following a 1975 winter storm that incapacitated DFW's system. To ensure dependable operation and avoid taxiway bridges, Atlanta’s system was relocated entirely underground.
1980–1994: Construction and Early Operation
Construction kicked off in 1977, culminating in the terminal's opening on September 21, 1980, alongside the launch of the Plane Train (initially unnamed). The system featured six stations extending from the terminal (now known as Domestic Terminal) to Concourse D, with a maintenance facility situated beyond Concourse D. Developed by Westinghouse Electric Corporation, it debuted with C-100 vehicles operating six trains arranged in two- and three-car formations; by 1983, all trains operated with three cars.
The efficient terminal layout served as a model for Denver International Airport’s comparable design in 1995, where Westinghouse installed a nearly identical people mover system.
In 1991, Concourse C was temporarily closed following the shutdown of Eastern Air Lines, leading trains to bypass this station until it reopened in 1992.
1994–2000s: Expansion to Concourse E and Vehicle Upgrades
In preparation for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, the airport expanded in 1994 by adding Concourse E for international flights, which extended the people mover line with a new station and required relocating the maintenance facility to support this growth.
By 1996, train lengths increased from three to four cars, and large LED displays capable of presenting eastern Asian CJK characters were installed inside vehicles to accommodate growing international passenger demand.
Between 1997 and 2001, following Bombardier Transportation’s acquisition of Westinghouse's transportation division through Adtranz, some original C-100 vehicles were replaced with newer CX-100 models. Two original cars (#1 and #53) were preserved and donated to the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, Georgia for exhibition.
2010s–Present: Official Naming and Extension to Concourse F
In 2009, the airport introduced the ATL Skytrain, a separate people mover connecting the Domestic Terminal with the rental car center and the Georgia International Convention Center. Subsequently, a "Name the Train" contest took place in 2010 to assign an official name to the airside people mover. The winning name was announced on April 30 and officially designated as the Plane Train.
The opening of the Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr. International Terminal and Concourse F in 2012 included another extension of the Plane Train line. This expansion came with ten additional Innovia APM 100 vehicles, increasing the fleet size to 59. Several original C-100 cars were also brought back into service to meet rising capacity needs.
Audio announcements
The audio messages on the Plane Train have undergone several changes in voice talent over time. Initially, Kelly McCoy, a well-known local radio figure, recorded the announcements rapidly prior to the terminal’s inauguration during President Jimmy Carter’s visit. However, officials considered his tone overly warm and soon replaced it with a synthesized monotone voice dubbed "HAL," evoking the iconic computer from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
With the 1994 launch of Concourse E, a recorded human voice briefly took over from the synthesized one, but public dissatisfaction led to reverting back. Ahead of the 1996 Summer Olympics, the airport adopted a pre-recorded male voice performed by Bill Murray (a local announcer, not the actor), incorporating chimes into announcements to assist international passengers.
In 2002, a fresh male pre-recorded voice was introduced alongside new train vehicles, eliminating most chimes except for the door closing alert, which remained on platforms until the mid-2010s. The first female narrator appeared in 2006 with Susan Bennett—recognized for her Delta Air Lines boarding announcements and as Apple’s original Siri voice. This iteration added the use of the radiotelegraph alphabet to clarify concourse designations.
Since March 2012, Sharon Feingold has been the voice behind the announcements; she also voices the ATL SkyTrain since 2009. Her updates replaced "Concourse" terminology with "Gates" (e.g., "A Gates"), brought back chimes, and included new messages for both the International Terminal and Concourse F. By December 2024, Feingold’s voice will be succeeded by Ryan Cameron, an Emmy-award-winning Atlanta radio personality.
Until the mid-2010s, door-closing alerts at stations continued using the 1996 male voice:
This announcement was refreshed between 2013 and 2015 with a new male voice that preserved the original chime sound.
Future
Plans are underway to extend the Plane Train system by adding a 700-foot turnaround track beyond the Domestic Terminal station. Expected to be completed in 2024, this expansion will allow up to 15 trains to run at intervals as short as one minute. Furthermore, in 2024, the airport procured 29 new Innovia APM 300R railcars to replace aging units, aiming to boost capacity and operational efficiency.