This document provides an overview of Ultra Global PRT, including its history, current project at Heathrow Airport, and future plans. Some key points: - Ultra Global was founded in 1995 and built the first PRT prototype in 2002. In 2011, it opened a passenger service at Heathrow Airport connecting Terminal 5 to a business parking area. - The Heathrow project has exceeded expectations by proving the technology's reliability, generating revenue, and receiving positive passenger feedback. It has carried over 900,000 passengers with 99.5% system availability. - Ultra Global is exploring expanding PRT systems to cities to enhance public transit connectivity and reduce issues like congestion and pollution. It is studying projects in Florian

1. February 2014
Ultra Global PRT: Past, Present & Future
David Marron, Head of Engineering

2. Personal Rapid Transit (PRT)
Automated transport by small electric vehicles on a
dedicated guideway network with off line stations
B
• Available on demand
• Travel to any station on the network
• No stops
• Environmentally friendly
A
• Safe and secure
• Low cost
Stations
• Integrates with other modes
Ultra Global PRT
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2

3. Ultra Global History
1995: Founded, University of Bristol
1999:UK Dept of Trade: Grant to Build Prototype
2000: Winner of DoT Innovation Competition
2002: Test Track Launch in Cardiff
2003:First Safety Clearance UK Rail Inspectorate
2003: BAA Transport study: PRT beats APM & Bus
2004: Ultra Wins BAA PRT Competition
2005: BAA Invests in Ultra
2009: Heathrow Infrastructure ‘Topping Out’ ceremony
2010: Heathrow Commissioning Trials with Passengers
2011: Heathrow Pod opens full passenger service
2012: Celebrates Carrying 500,000 Passengers
2013: Feasibility studies in Florianopolis & Taiwan
Ultra Global PRT
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4. Overview of the Heathrow POD
Built to demonstrate the benefits & viability
of a PRT system for Heathrow Airport,
connecting T5 to Business Parking
•
•
•
One-way trip length: 1.7km
Trip Time: 5 minutes (vs 10-15 minute
bus)
21 Passenger Vehicles, 3 POD stations
First phase system with three primary aims:
 prove the technology
 show ability to generate revenue
 confirm positive passenger reaction
Heathrow POD has exceeded expectations
for all three objectives
Ultra Global PRT
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5. How Has the POD Performed?
Proven Reliability & Capacity




>900k passengers carried so far
99.5% service availability
Average waiting time for a vehicle is 10.2 seconds
82% of passengers have no wait at all
Revenue generation
 Car park tariff is 23.4% higher than other Business Parking
 Car park occupancy 10% higher due to PRT limited by capacity
 Brand sponsor of PODs in 2013
Non-financial Benefits




Ultra Global PRT
50,000 bus journeys saved per annum
200 tonnes of carbon saved per annum
Passenger survey scores of 4.7/5 – best service on the airport
Multiple awards
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6. Heathrow accessibility issues
•
•
•
•
•
Congestion
Space restrictions
Pollution problems
Capacity restrictions
Passenger Service Issues
are the same as the accessibility issues
faced by Cities
Ultra Global PRT
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7. PRT connectivity enhances public transport
•
Independent studies by Arup and ITS Leeds show significant benefits to existing
bus & rail services when they are supported by an on-demand PRT network.
•Cardiff (UK): A PRT system covering the last 2km to the Bay area would increase
patronage by >100% on existing bus & rail services.
•Gateshead (UK): a 21km PRT network serving the inner city would increase the
use of rail travel by 168% in the peak and 232% in the off-peak.
Ultra Global PRT
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8. Florianopolis
24 W
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 4 – only to ST24
Phase 5
Phase 6 – East System
1
Dual guideway unless
direction indicated.
2
24 E
25
26
27
28
20
19
18
21
29
17
32
9
3
10
11
33
12
15
13
4
BRIDGE
8
30
16
5
6
TU
N
NE
35
L
36
37 W
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 4
Phase 5
Phase 6W
Phase 6E
Phase 6 Both
Track Length
11.0km
19.6km
25.4km
32.1km
37.0km
33.2km
26.2km
59.4km
Average Trip
2.4km
3.1km
3.2km
3.9km
4.0km
3.6km
4.0km
3.8km
Longest Trip
5.2km
6.8km
6.9km
10.2km
10.2km
8.5km
6.9km
8.5km
37 E
Peak Demand Stations Fleet Size
1048 pax/hr
7
120
2601 pax/hr
14
380
3110 pax/hr
19
480
3494 pax/hr
23
650
3526 pax/hr
24
700
4541 pax/hr
21
700
4024 pax/hr
13
600
6555 pax/hr
34
1300
34

9. Linkou
Year
Track length Average trip Longest trip
upto 2023
16.2km
2.1km
4.7km
upto 2031
upto 2041
Peak demand Operational vehicles
2160 pax/hr
240
2700 pax/hr
280
3600 pax/hr
340
pax / hr = passengers travelling per hour (peak is PM)

10. Bristol TQEZ
•
•
PRT offers a unique, cost effective,
rapidly deployed solution.
•
PRT provides a significant opportunity
to make the use of existing public
transport more attractive.
•
Ultra Global PRT
The Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone
presents a significant transport
connection challenge because of the
network of rail lines and waterways
The system can be extended in the
future to offer benefits to a much wider
area of central Bristol.
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