Stansted Airport Transit System

After careful consideration of these objectives, the layout we see today was derived.

If we examine the layout, we can see the maximum use of the available space in which the aircraft can manoeuvre and park. There is also minimal aircraft taxiing to the runway from the satellite areas, which is important to the airline operators.

So having a concept of terminal building, satellite buildings and runway, we are now left with the consideration:

The following modes of passenger transport were considered:

• moving walkways;
• coaches;
• link bridges;
• tunnels;
• transit trains;

For each of the choices we have to consider other criteria - running costs, maintenance, breakdowns, initial purchase cost and passenger comfort and safety.

At London Stansted the preferred choice was to use a Transit system. Although initially expensive to buy and install the costs are minimal as we move further away from the initial outlay.

The Transit also benefits from being air conditioned, reliable, safe and comfortable, causes no local pollution and has a longer life expectancy than any of its rivals. It is also easy for disabled as well as able bodied passengers to use.

Bombardier Transportation's automated people mover system at Stansted International Airport entered service in 1991. The original 5-car C-100 system was expanded in 1998 with the addition of four new CX-100 cars.

Nine cars now operated in 1- to 3-car trains on 3.2 kilometres (2 miles) of elevated and tunnelled guideway, transporting passengers between the Main Terminal and two satellite buildings. The satellite buildings provide passengers with convenient, climate-controlled access to their waiting flights.

The Main Terminal is an important transportation interchange, since it provides direct rail and road access to central London. As London's third international gateway, Stansted is one of Europe's fastest growing airports and currently serves about 14 million passengers a year.