Alstom and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) have unveiled the next-generation of vehicles and strategic infrastructure upgrades to the airport’s existing Plane Train system.
The announcement marks a key milestone in the journey to increase the system’s capacity for both long-term growth and short-term accommodation of football-related traffic this Summer.
A set of four automated people mover (APM) vehicles entered passenger service on Friday 5 June, representing the first of 63 Innovia APM R cars that Alstom will deliver to the airport in order to modernise and expand its fleet.
The larger fleet, combined with guideway improvements, will enable the airport to run trains more frequently, reduce wait times and lessen crowding onboard.
Michael Keroullé, President of Alstom Americas, said:We committed to increasing the capacity of the Plane Train before Atlanta began hosting soccer matches this month, and we are proud to deliver on that commitment.
Today’s news is another important milestone in our decades-long partnership with the City of Atlanta, and part of the transportation legacy of this tournament. This project will help passengers and employees move around the airport more quickly and comfortably for years to come.
First built and installed 45 years ago; the Plane Train has been in operation ever since, and in 2025 it transported a record 95 million passengers.
Earlier this year, Alstom secured a new contract to continue to serve the system for at least the next five years.
The company’s third-generation Innovia APM R vehicles aim to provide modern performance to existing APM systems without the need for extensive retrofits –with each new car proving to be quieter, easier to maintain and providing more energy efficiency than earlier models. They offer passengers improved lighting, updated video information screens and advanced door safety sytems.
All units were manufactured in West Mifflin, PA, and will replace older vehicles and expand ATL’s total fleet to 73 cars.
Additionally, Alstom has also completed a slew of infrastructure upgrades to improve the system’s overall performance. A new turnback along the guideways allows trains to switch direction without affecting the train behind it, and, as a result, trains are able to run safely every 90 seconds during peak periods – compared to every 107 seconds as in the past – allowing ATL to operate as many as 15 trains at any one time.
Alstom also refurbished 13 guideway switches to increase reliability.
