On 2017\03\24 21:40, Richard J. wrote:
Recliner wrote on 24 Mar 2017 at 13:11 ...
For anyone who's interested, I've uploaded a set of photos I took
recently of the underground railway that links Heathrow T5 and its two
satellite terminals. The rubber-tyred railway isn't visible to anyone
not using the satellites.

The two satellites are mainly used by long-haul, wide-body flights
(most European flights use the main terminal):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/reclin...57679819076761

Thanks for the photos.

I recall that when the transit first opened, Heathrow Airport claimed
that the "very long" escalators from the main termainal were the longest
in London, longer than the longest LU escalators at Angel.

It's slightly frustrating not to have an external view of these
rubber-tyred trains (trams?), but I guess that's not possible for the
public. Apparently they look like this:
http://www.bombardier.com/content/da...b.750.750.jpeg

Thanks. I wonder why they have head and tail lights?

Basil Jet wrote:
On 2017\03\24 21:40, Richard J. wrote:
Recliner wrote on 24 Mar 2017 at 13:11 ...
For anyone who's interested, I've uploaded a set of photos I took
recently of the underground railway that links Heathrow T5 and its two
satellite terminals. The rubber-tyred railway isn't visible to anyone
not using the satellites.

The two satellites are mainly used by long-haul, wide-body flights
(most European flights use the main terminal):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/reclin...57679819076761

Thanks for the photos.

I recall that when the transit first opened, Heathrow Airport claimed
that the "very long" escalators from the main termainal were the longest
in London, longer than the longest LU escalators at Angel.

It's slightly frustrating not to have an external view of these
rubber-tyred trains (trams?), but I guess that's not possible for the
public. Apparently they look like this:
http://www.bombardier.com/content/da...b.750.750.jpeg

Thanks. I wonder why they have head and tail lights?

Yes, I wondered that. Perhaps for the benefit of (rare) track workers?

In article ,
Recliner wrote:
Thanks. I wonder why they have head and tail lights?

Yes, I wondered that. Perhaps for the benefit of (rare) track workers?

Probably because the same equipment runs outside in other places. The
Dallas-Fort Worth system is elevated, and the one in Phoenix is mostly
elevated other than an underpass under a freight railway.

Here's the DFW one: https://www.dfwairport.com/skylink/

Video of a ride on the PHX one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVLIe0VWouQ

In message , at 02:10:19 on Sat, 25 Mar
2017, John Levine remarked:

Thanks. I wonder why they have head and tail lights?

Yes, I wondered that. Perhaps for the benefit of (rare) track workers?

Probably because the same equipment runs outside in other places. The
Dallas-Fort Worth system is elevated,

I'm pretty sure the original one was like a roller-coaster, at or below
ground level (see below) and diving under the roads. Only four terminals
then.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...t_guide_map200
2.jpg
--
Roland Perry

Probably because the same equipment runs outside in other places. The
Dallas-Fort Worth system is elevated,

I'm pretty sure the original one was like a roller-coaster, at or below
ground level (see below) and diving under the roads. Only four terminals
then.

The old DFW system built by LTV used lots of small vehicles and tried
too hard to do too many things, e.g., goods trains to move baggage
between terminals, and was hard to adapt when they divided terminals
into landside and post-screening airside areas. Bits of the track are
still visible. It didn't help that LTV left the business so there was
nobody willing to maintain or upgrade it.

The new system is a train with a single circular route with all stops
airside. If you want to change terminals landside, there is an
ordinary rather slow bus.