An Assessment of Trip Times in Automated Guideway Transit Systems

Automated Guideway Transit (AGT) is any type of transit that is computer-operated on its own exclusive right of way. The two primary types are automated people movers (APM’s) and personal rapid transit (PRT). APM’s can be found at several US airports and other activity centers. Their capacities and speeds match light rail and heavy rail, but unlike the others, the APM operations are completely automated. PRT, which is not well established in the US, is also automated and operates on its own right of way. PRT features smaller vehicles, lower maximum speeds, and the ability to bypass intermediate stations. The different capacities, speeds, and path selection of PRT and APM determine which type is preferable in particular areas. This paper analyzes which APM systems could be implemented as PRT. System shape, number of stations, distance between stations, and demand per station are varied to create unique scenarios. Lastly, the effects of simulation inputs on the results are examined.