Rachael Holdsworth takes a look at the Ultra PRT (Personal Rapid Transport) system in place at Heathrow Terminal 5 that takes passengers between the car park and the terminal building.
The best comment I heard at Heathrow in February 2011 was from an English lady who said, "It looks like a loo!" They do look like rolling portapotties.
West Virginia University had the PRT system since the 1980's and connected the downtown campus to the engineering and medical campus that is miles away. It was a government project sponsored by the Department of Transportation. Overall it was a great system that most students used every single day to get to class from their dorms. I believe that system is still being used in 2021.
Riding an escalator "stand on the right" seems backwards. Passing on the left with slower/standing people on the right is like highways in other parts of the world.
+The Lost Valley of London I want to put my bike away after i get back from school after i get keys, without being beat up by my chicken, i might get one then
I hope your journey down south will not take more than 1 month. Last year it took me 2 months via a horse drawn carriage to reach the southern lands : D
They never say anything about a 15-minutes journey. And when looking at the graphic of 0:33, nothing should take 15-minutes on those roads. Not even walking.
The distance between the car park and Terminal 5 driving on the perimeter roads, it's about a mile. Add to that heavy traffic at peak time, then it's going to take some time to get between the two.
I think they mean rapid as in 'rapid transit.' Wikipedia; "rapid transit systems are electric railways that operate on an exclusive right-of-way, which cannot be accessed by pedestrians or other vehicles of any sort"
With only two stops there's not much advantage of this system over, say, a dedicated bus lane but if they expand the system to other terminals and/or lots then it will have many advantages, such as going straight to your stop, bypassing the other stops. A bus would have to stop at each terminal and lot while the pods, being more personal, would be able to go straight to your stop.
I think they are "testing " the pods by only starting at T5. I'm sure they'll expand (to other terminals and car parks) when they can and with the money, they have to somehow get funded.
@TheRenaissanceman65 No, because the other services like customer services and monitoring are now tasks that others are employed to do. I doubt much of the cost of drivers has been saved here. I would suggest costs have been increased especially given the capital expenditure that would have gone into this. It's all about providing a better service to business customers by transporting them between the car park and terminal quicker.
@TheRenaissanceman65 they have to run an entire control room, its likely more expensive than a single bus lane or a small train. Its a stupid idea but people like dumb gadgetbahns like these.
I had no idea this system even existed, until You Tube showed it to me, thank you for the interesting video. Seems to me a monorail system like Changi or KLIA have would be better for moving passengers about, they're faster and have more capacity.
What is wrong with a bus or train? busses and trains have significantly higher capacity, they are cheaper and faster. This is not even close to convinient.
Ive been interested in modes of public transport for a few years now, and i dont think ive seen better than these things, even future concept ideas. As a person with a disability and wheelchair user i face a few problems on public transport, used a bus last week, absolute nightmare, im lucky to have a tram system where i live, theyre great but i dont like when they get crowded, it can feel claustrophobic with me sitting in my chair and others standing around me, these pods would be ideal, private, A to B, no stopping and they look good!!, i wouldnt mind one for my own personal transport!!.
Under Waterloo when the Eurostar used the station all works traffic underneath the station ran on the right. The French insisted on it The roads were still there with their markings just a couple of years back. The whole lot is being rebuilt right now {June 2017}.
hope they extend this just so there is another full fledged PRT system in the world. could imagine it would cheaper too now thanks to improvements in battery technology and self driving tech like lidar.
I tried to ride these in January 2020 but that Saturday they were down for maintenance... the next date I had planned got cancelled due to Covid... still waiting!
Wtf the fucking shuttle service is free because it's part of the budget of the fucking car park. If this were outside Europe, the government would have immediately charge $5 per pod. Fucking hell
@Lucas DIEP The antonov 225 is the largest aircraft in the world, but it is a cargo plane. While the A380 is the largest Passenger Aircraft in the world.
PRT is coming of age and it is in just this type of situaions it will remain. Bascially, all the dreams of having PRTs ziipping by on tracks above streets are already out-paced by the development of selfdriving cars which gets us all the positive aspects of PRT without the negative ones. But when it comes to e.g. airports and other similar places PRT has a real use. PRT connecting all the terminals, all the car parks (which can then be relocated further from the terminals) and maybe some stations only available for staff (like control towers)... that all sounds like it could work very well.
...that way each pod can just go directly to/from terminals, parking facilities, hotel/cargo shuttles, rental cars, and the NJ Transit/Amtrak station, without having to stop between stations and moving so slow!
Oh, to live in a country with the resources for such amenities! I live in the US, and all of our resources go to the military, and to lining the pockets of politicians and their donors.
I wonder if those pods have been upgraded so they don't require someone to press the close door button and then leave button and the system does it automatically as soon as the passengers get onboard and sit down.
@@yusurkassem4174 But that wouldn't happen as what I described the system uses cameras and maybe even scales to detect when passengers sit down which means they have already brought their stuff into the pod. To me the system in the video isn't complicated however after seeing what I've seen in the past year I can see a lot of people finding it too complicated.
@@yusurkassem4174 Like I said before some people will find it too complicated and also some people might have their hands full or don't want to touch a button thousands or millions of other people have touched especially with the current virus. Since this video was released there has been so many advances in technology so upgrading the system to a fully automated system without requiring any user input is possible and definitely something that should be done.
@TheRenaissanceman65 that's a general train to take you to concorse b or c like many other airports. I mean a Personal transit system like this to the actual gate number.
Thank god they brought an expert on board, I would have never understood those controls.
I know right! Even with the professional i am still baffled
From what I gathered, I think you press the start button, and once it starts moving you press the open doors button.
Why does something so simple have to be so complex?! Silly engineers...
Read the top.
If you done this if you done this I don’t know how to do it
The best comment I heard at Heathrow in February 2011 was from an English lady who said, "It looks like a loo!"
They do look like rolling portapotties.
@germani gameing i never expected to see you here
Hi Geoff, you are so smooth with your videos. I have lots to learn and much to learn from your work. cheers, Rob
West Virginia University had the PRT system since the 1980's and connected the downtown campus to the engineering and medical campus that is miles away. It was a government project sponsored by the Department of Transportation. Overall it was a great system that most students used every single day to get to class from their dorms. I believe that system is still being used in 2021.
0 up
@@МоментыДня whatever that means???
@@toddtonis he said he likes men 👨🏼
Yeah it is. Tom Scott has a video on it.
"We noticed it was on the right-hand side rather than the left." Oh the horror!
#BritishProblems
So i guess that's the reason Ultrapods decided to make one in India.
Riding an escalator "stand on the right" seems backwards. Passing on the left with slower/standing people on the right is like highways in other parts of the world.
It said about that in the video
I always thought of it as the people who are moving go on the left side, like on a roadway.
The future is here! I'm getting one for my flat...
"You're going from your bed to your fridge. Is that ok?"
"You are going from your bathroom to the bedroom. Is that ok?"
Jesus John, got the Lols so hard! Great video again Geoff.
+The Lost Valley of London I want to put my bike away after i get back from school after i get keys, without being beat up by my chicken, i might get one then
John Dennis ok.
I have to say this is one of the coolest things I think I have ever seen :)
I have been on these, I loved it , great fun :-). I have to also say your videos are utterly fantastic and very professional.
lolol so cool! I want to park there just so I can use these things!!!
Cheers. Will add it to my bucket list! :D
Get a train to terminal 5 from Paddington
You don't have to park there to use them
I might come all the way down to London (I live in Manchester) just to see that. It looks fantastic!
I hope your journey down south will not take more than 1 month. Last year it took me 2 months via a horse drawn carriage to reach the southern lands : D
i live all the way in blackpool
Hope your a business executive because that’s only who’s allowed to use them
@@jonzeebollok2266 No it's in the business car park you dunce 🤣
How cute. I wish I could travel in such a thing thru the city :))
You can, go to Morgantown, West Virginia and they have a citywide pod transportation system.
I was wondering when you were going to cover this! It's been here for aaaages!
I think their definition of rapid differs from mine.
They never say anything about a 15-minutes journey.
And when looking at the graphic of 0:33, nothing should take 15-minutes on those roads. Not even walking.
The distance between the car park and Terminal 5 driving on the perimeter roads, it's about a mile. Add to that heavy traffic at peak time, then it's going to take some time to get between the two.
I think they mean rapid as in 'rapid transit.'
Wikipedia; "rapid transit systems are electric railways that operate on an exclusive right-of-way, which cannot be accessed by pedestrians or other vehicles of any sort"
Rob Fraser maybe unhindered by other traffic would have been more precisely.
@@XDRosenheim it's longer than you think
I watched this a long time ago, and now when I'm a fan of Geoff Marshall, I see that it's him who is talking in the video! :D
For some reason the description says "Rachael Holdsworth" is doing the video.
The pod on the end doesn't really seem to be in the mood
Fantastic great Video! Thumbs Up! 😀🤩😎💥💯💢👍
I just love the phrase “We do that using lasers”
That de-icing unit was the most adorable thing
Stayed at a hotel nearby and rode the pods to the terminal in the morning, they're cool.
With only two stops there's not much advantage of this system over, say, a dedicated bus lane but if they expand the system to other terminals and/or lots then it will have many advantages, such as going straight to your stop, bypassing the other stops. A bus would have to stop at each terminal and lot while the pods, being more personal, would be able to go straight to your stop.
their also the advantage that you are much more likely to leave immidiatly rather than wait for a bus.
I think they are "testing " the pods by only starting at T5. I'm sure they'll expand (to other terminals and car parks) when they can and with the money, they have to somehow get funded.
The pods don't need drivers and they start as soon as the passengers got in, not just every 20 minutes.
@TheRenaissanceman65 No, because the other services like customer services and monitoring are now tasks that others are employed to do.
I doubt much of the cost of drivers has been saved here. I would suggest costs have been increased especially given the capital expenditure that would have gone into this.
It's all about providing a better service to business customers by transporting them between the car park and terminal quicker.
@TheRenaissanceman65 they have to run an entire control room, its likely more expensive than a single bus lane or a small train.
Its a stupid idea but people like dumb gadgetbahns like these.
"It runs on wheels, not rails."
What the heck do trains and trams use if they're not running on wheels?
Flinstones legs
Small metal wheels hard to notice
Specifically wheels with pneumatic tyres.
wings and engines, just like planes
I had no idea this system even existed, until You Tube showed it to me, thank you for the interesting video. Seems to me a monorail system like Changi or KLIA have would be better for moving passengers about, they're faster and have more capacity.
The Changi system is quite a long wait by comparison, it's kind of annoying.
So glad I could be featured in a video
i went on it a few days ago, it's so cool!
A guided busway with tiny buses. Cutting edge 1980s technology right there
I love that it is "ultra personal" rather than public. That seems so convenient.
But you're being watched the whole time, so do behave!
Daniel So no Fake Pod porn? Damnit.
In other words its dumb, trains and busses are a much better solution than these moronic pods.
What is wrong with a bus or train? busses and trains have significantly higher capacity, they are cheaper and faster. This is not even close to convinient.
Ive been interested in modes of public transport for a few years now, and i dont think ive seen better than these things, even future concept ideas. As a person with a disability and wheelchair user i face a few problems on public transport, used a bus last week, absolute nightmare, im lucky to have a tram system where i live, theyre great but i dont like when they get crowded, it can feel claustrophobic with me sitting in my chair and others standing around me, these pods would be ideal, private, A to B, no stopping and they look good!!, i wouldnt mind one for my own personal transport!!.
There is also the brand new Luton Airport dart you should check it out its ready cool!
@@TransportForLuka I'll have a look :)
@@markorollo. Thanks :)
the button expert was under appreciated
Definition of the future. Awesome
It's so adorable. Hope Montreal would have it in the future.
I want one for the garden. Such a long walk from the front door to the garage.
They look like a 1960s era Doctor Who villain.
I love the reference
But only the Doctor knows the hidden weakness that will save the peace loving Remainian's from brutal conquest!
Yeah. Curvy war machines.
Spencer O'Dowd it’s the tardis
Thanks for upload ❤️amazing experience
We demand a secrets of the Heathrow pods video!
Heathrow airport loves them. They save in driver, fuel costs, and probably in insurance costs.
I love a ride on an Ultra Pod!
Nice to see the UK finally driving on the right hand side of the road!
its just for them you muppet
flickr4jazz why are you bothered it doesn't effect you
I think you didn't detect the joke there.
Under Waterloo when the Eurostar used the station all works traffic underneath the station ran on the right. The French insisted on it The roads were still there with their markings just a couple of years back. The whole lot is being rebuilt right now {June 2017}.
Fudge you it was an issue with that
Im going to fly from Heathrow next time just to go on one of these😂👍👍👍
You’ve gotta admit, this was in all of our recommended
The
pod is the Star!
hope they extend this just so there is another full fledged PRT system in the world. could imagine it would cheaper too now thanks to improvements in battery technology and self driving tech like lidar.
plankton50 there is. Research Skyway. Thank me later.
Morgantown, West Virginia
wow...this is so cool!!! i want this in Japan too...this is just really cute little cool thing
T'other half went through Heathrow recently and mentioned Pods - I had no idea what he was talking about but I do now. Thanks Londonist.
Great for families and groups of friends. A nice private environment.
Looks like you missed the CCTV looking at you :D
いつかこれに乗るためにロンドンに行きたい
Ohhh so looking forward to ride this... when we stay in Thistle Hotel in Aug!! 😊😊
E Kay And? How was it?
I love the pods
Really amazing innovation
hope the pod can extend to terminal 4
Thank for the flim, will do more transport flims thanks.
heathrow pod Looks cool
What would be great is if they had this system connecting the terminals.
@Green Tealaan Have you ever heard the expression "good enough is the enemy of great"?
@Green Tealaan Yes, I'm sure it's an expensive system, plus they'd need to build tunnels or overpasses. It would be cool, though.
It's too slow, the pods
The free rail transfer does that fine.
heathrow express, picadilly line and purple train all perform this better than these stupid "pods" ever could
reminds me of the trains in The Man Who Fell to Earth.
I like this !!
Reminds me a bit of Thunderbirds
Oooooohhh! ❤️ I like it!
What if you didn’t park at the car park? Could you still ride the pods from the terminal and back?
Yes
You were told that in the video.
Bet you didn't know that they were developed in Cardiff. Here is the test track. www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4652444,-3.1396418,404m/data=!3m1!1e3
Tom Dyer we knew they were a Cardiff based company, yes - never seen the test track on google maps before though - brlliant!
It looks a lot like the original DFW people mover too, but obviously way more intelligent. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vought_Airtrans
Tom Dyer no
well done lads
this would have been a great april fools' video
I tried to ride these in January 2020 but that Saturday they were down for maintenance... the next date I had planned got cancelled due to Covid... still waiting!
Old and new - pod and MGB (in the car park) at the beginning
nice pod Free
WAIT! Did i see a Malaysian Airlines plane land at 0:04
Yes, you did
+TheTrainGame yup! MH4 from Kuala Lumpur! :)
+MineSimulated hello
I thought they always crashed, not land
CrazyShark Gaming yes I did
Wtf the fucking shuttle service is free because it's part of the budget of the fucking car park. If this were outside Europe, the government would have immediately charge $5 per pod. Fucking hell
Nice cinematography from 1:40.
nice❤
Something like this could be useful as a replacement for city loop buses in some cities.
Busses are more efficient than the pods
Absolutely terrible idea. Unless you want more traffic in the cities.
We always fly private so I have never tried these. Are they clean?
Ngl you sound very privileged like you haven’t been on a train in your life
They're probably as clean as your private limo
Yes.
0:06 that's a Malaysia Airbus A380 coming in to land. The A380 is the BIGGEST passenger plane on earth
cool to know. thank you
@Lucas DIEP The antonov 225 is the largest aircraft in the world, but it is a cargo plane. While the A380 is the largest Passenger Aircraft in the world.
These little beauty's only go to and fro from parking station B and Terminal 5 why haven't they expanded the system yet?
Wish they had that in Tullamarine....!!
How & when does it charge up? It uses lead acid batteries? That sucks...
No they didn't...
Looks like a tiny version of the C751A trains in Singapore.
So cute!!!!
Didn't they have something
like this in one of the earlier
James Bond films ?
Not sure which one though.
thanks Geoff
PRT is coming of age and it is in just this type of situaions it will remain. Bascially, all the dreams of having PRTs ziipping by on tracks above streets are already out-paced by the development of selfdriving cars which gets us all the positive aspects of PRT without the negative ones.
But when it comes to e.g. airports and other similar places PRT has a real use. PRT connecting all the terminals, all the car parks (which can then be relocated further from the terminals) and maybe some stations only available for staff (like control towers)... that all sounds like it could work very well.
How cool are they??
Lovely Johnny cabs.
So are they autonomous electric cars?
Yes.
LAX needs these.
Wow !!! Even got lasers !
Lovely MGBGT.
That's awesome
Thats feckin awesome
just great
I want this!
If ever an airport actually needed this on a large scale, its Manchester
Newark Airport could use one of those things to replace the old crappy Air Train monorail.
...that way each pod can just go directly to/from terminals, parking facilities, hotel/cargo shuttles, rental cars, and the NJ Transit/Amtrak station, without having to stop between stations and moving so slow!
This needs to replace cars.
Oh, to live in a country with the resources for such amenities! I live in the US, and all of our resources go to the military, and to lining the pockets of politicians and their donors.
Are these air conditioned?
No they are not, and can get warm on hot days.
I wonder if those pods have been upgraded so they don't require someone to press the close door button and then leave button and the system does it automatically as soon as the passengers get onboard and sit down.
Would probably prefer the close door button instead of you trying to get in bags and stuff and the door starts closing accidentally
@@yusurkassem4174 But that wouldn't happen as what I described the system uses cameras and maybe even scales to detect when passengers sit down which means they have already brought their stuff into the pod. To me the system in the video isn't complicated however after seeing what I've seen in the past year I can see a lot of people finding it too complicated.
@@FC360D what's the point of it though when you can just press on a button
@@yusurkassem4174 Like I said before some people will find it too complicated and also some people might have their hands full or don't want to touch a button thousands or millions of other people have touched especially with the current virus. Since this video was released there has been so many advances in technology so upgrading the system to a fully automated system without requiring any user input is possible and definitely something that should be done.
@@FC360D i'd prefer if they used to the money to spread this pod system over a larger area instead of making automated doors and sensors
What will happen to the pods because of the LHR expansion? Please reply if you know.
What is the steam locomotive that the person is standing next to in the museum
Are you allowed to ride it if you aren't parked at the lot?
Don't think so
as they told there, yes you can. it just doesn't make as much sense...
Yeah, I rode it to the car park and back. It's an automated system, there's nobody there to check who rides.
They should have these inside the terminal to transport you to your specific gate.
@TheRenaissanceman65 that's a general train to take you to concorse b or c like many other airports. I mean a Personal transit system like this to the actual gate number.
Very cool. Let's get them in Shoreditch.
One day all cars will look this...hopefully