Automated People Mover (APM) System Begins Operations at Miami International Airport

NEW YORK, Sept. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 7, 2011, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc. (MHIA), in cooperation with its local partners, completed construction of an Automated People Mover (APM) system capable of fully automated, driverless operation.  The APM system connects Miami Airport Station with the Miami Intermodal Center over an approximately 2 kilometer (1.25 miles) track, smoothly and efficiently transporting passengers on a one-way journey of roughly four minutes from one end of the system to the other.  

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On September 8, 2011, the Miami-Dade County Aviation Department held a ceremony at the Miami Intermodal Center to commemorate the start of APM operations.  Attending the ceremony were Mr. Carlos Gimenez, Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Mr. Eiichi Kawahara, Consul General of the Consulate-General of Japan in Miami, Mr. Yoichi Kujirai, Director, Senior Vice President, and General Manager of the Machinery & Steel Infrastructure Systems at MHI, as well as other distinguished guests.  

The APM project began in September 2008 when MHIA and Sumitomo Corporation of America, as a subcontractor to the Parsons-Odebrecht Joint Venture, won the competitive bid process.  MHIA was responsible for supplying the operating system, which includes the vehicles, train control, power distribution, and communication systems. The APM project was successfully completed in just 36 months, an aggressive schedule for a project of this magnitude.  

APMs are advanced transportation systems characterized by fully-automated driverless operation.  APMs are environmentally friendly, emitting no exhaust emissions and, by running on rubber tires, ensure a smooth and quiet riding experience.  Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has already successfully implemented APM systems at Miami International Airport's North Terminal, Washington Dulles International Airport, and Atlanta International Airport, for a total of four airport APM systems in the United States.

Outside of the United States, MHI has implemented APM systems for several airports, including Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea, as well as urban applications such as the Sengkang and Punggol LRT in Singapore.  In addition, MHI is implementing additional APMs for the Dubai International Airport, Macau Light Rail Transit system, and Tokyo's Yurikamome Line.  

With these successes, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will continue its firmly established reputation as a global leader in the development and implementation of advanced APM systems for airport and urban applications, worldwide.

SOURCE Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc.