London Heathrow Driverless Pods - Ride from Parking A to Terminal 5
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- Опубліковано 7 лис 2023
- A ride from Pod Parking A to Terminal 5 experiencing the fantastic Heathrow Pods, the personal, electric, rapid transit system.
It is incredible to think that this driverless transit system has been in place at London's Heathrow airport for more than 12 years now. The autonomous Pods connect Terminal 5 with the airport's Pod Parking area.
Each pod is designed to carry up to four people and their luggage (including pushchairs and bulky items). The pods do not require a ticket and are free to use. They operate on an 'on demand' basis, so there is no waiting around and no stops along the way. Just hop aboard and go!
The futuristically-styled pods are driverless and self-steering, and run automatically along designated guideways. They are electrically powered and travel on rubber wheels, giving a smooth quiet ride. A central computer monitors demand and ensures that pods are available at the right places at the right time. The Heathrow guideways are approximately 2.4 miles (3.8 km) long, and the journey time from the Car Park area to Terminal 5 is about five minutes.
The vehicles charge themselves by topping up their batteries at the stations and at designated parking areas around the system. The system works entirely automatically with a controller keeping a watchful eye over everything with the ability to manage any breakdowns or passenger issues. This POD transport system is an example of 'green transport' in action - it is energy efficient and low emission, and replaces an estimated 50,000 bus journeys per year. In addition it has considerably shortened journey times between Terminal 5 and Heathrow's Car Park areas.
#selfdrivingcars #heathrowairport #heathrowpods #selfdriving #autonomousvehicles
i love how airports have the most futuristic and advanced sh*t that you’ll never find anywhere else
Too true!!
Pity they can’t make their planes futuristic and avoid all this cataclysmic pollution
These are available in China as a public transport intercity
@@onaplaneagain I noticed the pod started to speed up a little bit at 4:05 is this supposed to happen? I’m concerned for you
@@lisadefries6718if you’re talking about chemtrails, those are literally water lol
Aside from looking quite futuristic it also seems like a fun little ride. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching!
I saw this from outside so cool
Europe and China are way ahead now. United States it seems we’re going back to the Wild West
😊
There was a university somewhere that has these as well, though those were more retro futuristic from the 70s and have noisy engines.
Good morning & welcome to The Black Mesa Research Facility
Ha ha, yes could be their transit system!
Haha , I was thinking the exact same thing.
Haha I was looking for this comment. Especially with the pods voice
💛💛💛💛💛🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨👈👈👈🍋🍋🍋🍋😑😑😑🍯🍯🍯🍯👇👇👇👇
If you were not going to Terminal 5, you are now going to Terminal 5.
Yeah, they’re only for Terminal 5
@@onaplaneagainshould get expanded or maybe like some tramway in the airport would be nice, eepecially for the elderly
@@eimantas314-rblxYes, that would definitely be a good idea
There are other ways to get to the other terminals once you're in terminal 5. And why would you go to terminal 5 car park if you wanted to go to the other terminals? You could have gone to them directly.
😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢❤@@onaplaneagain
On my trip to London I actually tried these for fun, my flight went from Terminal 2 but I remembered these were there and I took a train to T5 to try them. Was definitely worth it.
Well done on the extra effort there!
Hmmm, think of the carbon costs of people flying to Heathrow to try out the PRT... We really need more transit organizations to consider such options instead of just having it as a novelty. Even Masdar city reduced their PRT plans to two passenger stations and one cargo station though one has to wonder where the cargo units are supposed to travel to. People seem to only want these Part's as showpieces.
Without transit organizations trying out PRT and improving on it should problems are found, we'll just end up with expensive private vehicle automation. A rather inefficient though likely more profitable to the auto manufacturers, variant.
@@johnwang9914 Don‘t worry, I didn’t go to London for three weeks just to try the pod system :D These pods are very rare around the world, maybe that’s why people are interested in it. If the people should see these more as a standard thing, maybe you’ll need to build more of it, just like with trains. In the 1800s, people probably saw trains as something special (yeah I know they were only introduced in the middle of the century), but as systems grew and train usage expanded, people used them more and saw them as a part of their daily life.
Same thing could happen with these Pod-Systems, although the problem is that they are extremely inefficient compared to trains and are probably way more expensive to run than a regular bus service.
@@mijos3 Yeah, I'm just upset that after all these years, these PRT's are still rare around the world. The Morgantown PRT was from the 70's, the cabinentaxi almost came to be in the 70's as well, the idea is often dated to the early 50's and all we have as examples are Morgantown and Heathrow, both of which have proven remarkably effective even though the Morgantown was changed to a GRT variant, impairing point to point operation. The Masdar city PRT was similarly sabotaged down to just two stations. The Heathrow PRR is certainly worth the visit but we do have to remember that one of the advantages of PRT system is an effective transition to low carbon electric transportation and this is probably one of the most important benefits. With public transit organization ignoring PRT, they are only encouraging the transition to PRT style transit to be expensive privately owned autonomous cars which would obviate the concept of public transit. Public transit advocates are basically killing themselves by not at least trying out PRT, I'm not going to say there won't be problems but until we try, we won't know how to address those problems.
@@johnwang9914bro nobody is travelling to london just to try these pods 💀💀
It's worthwhile going to the airport just to ride on these pods all day 😊😊😊😊
It has crossed my mind too!
I used to do this a few times, about a decade ago now! I’m getting old 😅
I'm in 👍🏼
I'm surprised how bumpy the ride looks given they're riding on a specifically built track just for them
Yeah, surprised me too that they didn’t make the route smoother!
@@onaplaneagain it was smoother, but over time soft coating of the road worn out. You can see bumps right in places when wheels going. Certainly underengineering or lack of maintenance.
@@Oxigenium1probably both
That’s what you get with rubber (air) wheels. For less bumpy rides one would use steel wheels. But since you’re then building a tiny tram system the costs would be much much higher
@marekdg Considering just how much had to be built in the first place replacing those "roads"(that also need barriers) with rails would be very insignificant in cost, if mot cheaper
Just goes to show how massive Heathrow is.
Yes, big airport with 5 terminals!
@@onaplaneagain Currently only 4. Terminal 1 is closed since 2015.
Ehh, airports like jeddah international is bigger imo. They have trains to take you to baggage collection the gate of departure for example
takes 3 hours to walk around the perimeter, its a city
Terminal 5 is actually in Amersham.
that was bumpy, that was driverless pod, i love it
Looks very futuristic. Relaxing to ride in small groups.
Yes, feels very futuristic. My son loves travelling on it!
@@onaplaneagain In Munich Airport we do have an underground automated trains. The PTS (Passenger Transport System) that can transport people from Terminal 2 to Terminal 2 Satellite. I used it on my flight to Portugal a few years ago.
A transportation with LHR pod is journey in itself... and i like it !
Yes, it’s a fun journey to start your bigger trip with!
babe, wake up
new gadgetbahn dropped
ha ha
Omg!
They made Johnny cabs!😮
Ha ha, yes they did!!
I’ve got 5 kids to feed 😂
@@IneedyoulouI don’t recall which film this is from
@@DJ-qu6cbTotal Recall
@@Ineedyoulou Five kids to feed and only three breasts...
I would love my own little pod to take me wherever I wanted to go. 😂 I love the idea of them, the design too. When I was a kid and trying to imagine what the year 2000 would be like, I imagined we would all be whizzing around in these pod like capsules, but we would be flying through the air. 😂 I’m going off on a pod tangent here, sorry.😂
I love the idea of that!!
You watched the Jetsons cartoon?
@_Just_Another_Guy - No, I’ve not heard of them.
I'm a person of the wheelchair using variety, that wouldn't stop me driving by itself with hand controls but other affects of my disability do. I've thought since the first time I saw these that they would be good to have privately owned, I live near the Manchester metrolink which is great but I would prefer a much less crowded pod.
I’ve always thought something like this would be good on reclaimed rail as a pedal-power people-mover.
Last year I arrived back from a flight to find this system had broken down and then had to wait over 30mins for buses to be arranged. When I complained, i was told I was lucky one as some were trapped inside the stopped pods during their trip to get to the airport would miss their flights. I never thought of this risk therefore wouldnt book this car park again. Its not like a bus where they can send an alternative. One pod breaks down and it will block the entire system then anyone in a pod is stuck. This has no back up and is therefore not worth the risk in my humble opinion.
That’s so weird. You’d think that the pods would have an emergency mode were the doors would either open automatically or remotely if there was a malfunction. Sounds like a design oversight.
As i am claustrophobic I cannot use these in case they were to break down - They look cool though
Maybe it isn’t safe to let anyone out along the way.
They should have a wide footpath alongside and emergency door release for this reason
@tinmanchapman921, That’s what I was thinking while watching the video. My guess as to why they didn’t: penny pinching.
They’re terrific. I could ride one all day.
Those are nice! That's a hefty distance it takes you. What a great idea.
I’ve tried to use this the last couple of times I’ve flown out of T5 but it’s always been deactivated nice to see it’s working now
Yeah, they’re back fully operational now!
Good stuff
Used these directly from outside my airport hotel where I had one night stay with 15 days parking. Brilliant ! Unfortunately closed due to COVID but I believe operating again now.
We have driverless subway where I live. Was really exciting when it started and is now just normal. We get used to a lot very quickly.
Thanks for uploading! I hope Manchester Airport gets one of these one day to go with the current expansion and renovation work.
They won't.
Yeah, I hope so too but I haven’t seen any proposals in the pipeline… yet!
Pretty cool looking. I went to West Virginia University here in the US and back in the 70s they built a prototype system they called the PRT (Personal Rapid Transit). Was computerized and had cars about the same size. But there was an electric bus system that powered the cars. They eventually built 5 stations along a straight path, with plans to expand to branching tracks, but that never got built. When you entered each station it asked your destination and during busy times once enough people or a time limit was reached a car would open going to that station. Late at night when less ridership, the cars would just stop at all the stations along the way. The system is still in use today.
Nice
The university and the PRT feature in the game Fallout 76 which is based in West Virginia.
The future in London is here! Love these!
It certainly is!!
If you want to see the future, then visit China
Hello friend thank you for sharing your trip in the driverless pod to terminal 5 Heathrow ❤❤❤
This is something I would expect to find in Japan 😮 The only difference is that this is full of concrete instead of beautiful design around it. Flippin awesome though, I'd love to ride one of these 😊
Yeah, I agree- so surprised to see it in operation in the UK - and the fact that it’s been operating for over 12 years!!!
Reminds me of the taxi reminds me of something out of total recall
Very futuristic. Very nice
Never seen those because never been to the parking, so fun to see !
This is cool! ❤
Yup!
I stopped at The Thistle Hotel a few years back for work and we ended up trying this and going for a day out at T5 on a day off. Still baffles me how they actually work lol
They look super cool!
It’s the future, man!!
Wow looks like a themepark ride,so cool and fun
Yeah, it does a bit!
I wish we had this at the large airports in America, but of course, we can't, as we've too many idiots.
Never been to Dallas Fort Worth airport?
This looks quite nice. The new airport near my city (New Delhi) will get this system as well.
That’s great that you’re getting them too!
Nice good stuff
Just amazing. The CM of Maharashtra had announced earlier this year that they would be starting a similar service in the BKC region of Mumbai. It is a financial area. In Mumbai, and in India, public transportation has to be both cheap and easily accessible. Majority of the metros started in the last decade, in many cities of India, and many more under construction. It’s very rare that any such projects complete in the stipulated time period, for example the bullet train. Plus not all indigenous trains are affordable, such as the Vande Bharat trains. I am very excited to travel in these pods. Just hope that they will start it soon.
Wow, I've never seen anything like this! 😮
Fun, isn’t it!
We have these at ATL, we call them trains, they go on a fixed schedule, and carry dozens of people at once.
Ha ha.. but it’s so much fun to have one of these all to yourself!!
That was a great attempt at sarcasm. These are driverless. Atlanta ain't got self driving trains. Almost every country and major city has a train system
@@akeem2752 Lots of airports have automated trains. Onces I can think off just off the top of my head in the US. JFK, Newark, Denver, Dallas, and a bunch more.
@@mrvwbug4423 Also Atlanta and Singapoure. They are often called APMs (Automatic People Movers) or "Skytrains".
@@mrvwbug4423 Difference is those can carry at least about ~32 people. These can't carry more then 8.
I think it is a great transportation system to get closer to T5. I have seen that next to the T5 parking lot there is an urbanization and for the people who live there, that transportation would be great if they could walk along the sidewalk or over a bridge that would give direct access to the parking lot, because looking at photos and in Google maps, there is no sidewalk or so it seems.
Yes, you’re right, that would be great for the locals if it was extended a little
I’m staying at the Thistle hotel in September before flying out of T5. Read about the pods on their website but was unsure whether to try them or take the bus/taxi. So pleased this video popped up on my YT. I’ll definitely be using the pods now.
Excellent - have fun on it!!
This is beyond epic!! Would love to travel to London UK!!
I like 👍 it 😊
Cool, isn’t it
Interesting concept. Out here in California, there’s a proposal moving forward to build one of these, but going underground rather than aerial, between Ontario Airport and the Rancho Cucamonga Metrolink station, where it’ll connect with regional rail service to Los Angeles and in about 5-7 years time a high speed train to Las Vegas.
Interesting going underground - will keep an eye out on their progress.
They seem cool but is it really cheaper than just building a standard airport shuttle with much higher capacity?
What’s great is the fact it’s on demand and there’s no waiting around for a scheduled service
How about just making a metro line
@@ImieNazwiskoOKNo, we want something cool and bespoke with only one single manufacturer and zero interoperability with any other system in the world.
Futuristic, looks like something out of movies
Yeah, they do look pretty cool
Reminds me of the Toyota Pod concept from the early 2000s, really interesting vehicle for its time.
This is a very cool technology. I've seen them from outside but not yet used them.
It seems like quite a distance to terminals. Is there a fee to use them?
Thanks for the job well done 👍👍
It’s only a 6 minute journey. No, there’s no fee to use them. But there is obviously a fee for the car park at the other end of it. Having said that, if you’re at the terminal, you can actually hop on the pod to the car park, get out and then return to the terminal in another pod if you wanted… for free!
They’re like the little pods from Incredibles
Ha ha, yes they are!
They should of added a rollercoaster mode for families on the home page it would make families vacation a “wild start”
Good morning and welcome to the Black Mesa Transit System. This automated train is provided for the security and convenience of employees of the Black Mesa research facility.
Really cool that's some high tech stuff. Is this something new at Heathrow and what does it cost to build a system like that?
It’s been operating since 2011 and I think it cost about £30m to build it.
I didnt know it existed, when i visit London ill ride them just for fun
Yeah, definitely worth doing!
No going to the London Eye or Elizabeth Tower, just go on the pods 24/7
Surprised to see this first time ..btw love from India
They look so cool
I had just landed in Heathrow and had to take the pods for my free pickup ;). When I booked the pod the doors opened but when I got in the pod just wouldn't go and it turned out that it had totally just broken. Some guy came on the loud speaker and told me do NOT open the emergency hatch and that someone would be there ASAP to open it for me. 20 f*cking minutes of waiting there until some fat dude came and got me out of that thing. I still rely on the pods as a great way to get a free pickup and drop off at London Heathrow!
Wow, that’s really unlucky - have never had a problem like that!
Nice language. 😡🤬
You mean it did not move anywhere and still you couldn’t get out?
i mean it looks cool n futuristic but this is like a terrible combination of the low capacity and high rolling resistance of cars and the expensive infrastructure and linearity of trains
Low capacity is why this works well as a concept - on demand and only starts up when someone requests it. But yes, take your point on the infrastructure - if they could run on the road along with the other traffic it would be much more economical.
dedicated tracks would probably be a good solution to, but i dont get why its rubber tires instead of steel on steel. so wasteful@@onaplaneagain
That looks cool! I did not know heathrow had driverless pods. o.o
I haven't travel via air in many-many years, but this is still cool as heck.
Thanks for sharing God bless
Wow can't believe the UK implemented something like this for FREE?? Or perhaps the parking prices compensate for the cost of this
The parking price is pretty much in line with the other parking options - definitely cheaper than the short term parking at the terminal
Also if you’re staying at the thistle T5 hotel it stops just outside have to buzz a gate to get into the hotel to confirm your a guest
That’s true - pretty cool way to arrive at your hotel!
Shame it’s the thistle hotel.. really needs to be updated & renovated…. Definitely convenient for T5 though.
Between parking charges and eating a ULEZ fine both coming and going I don't even understand why anyone would drive to Heathrow to begin with. there's literally 3 trains that service Heathrow that all take you into central London.
Wow I've never seen those before, thats state of the art stuff.
It's good to have your oen pod.
I remember taking a bus at another air port, a box seat for 4 people was occupied by one women and her luggage, while others were standing.
These pods would at least be able to sit in comfort.
Agreed!!
Two things jump out at me about this:
1. Is it me, or are those pods _wayyy_ slower than a system like that ought to be? 🐌
2. But at least - Unlike in the rest of the UK - This drives on the *right* side of the road! ➡👍😇
Ha ha yes, they do trundle along a bit slowly! Which is the correct side of the road is debatable!!!
1. Maybe, but if you think about it, it's an amazing parking system. You leave your car in a car park and get dropped off right at the airport for relatively cheap.
2. As to why they drive on that side, I got no idea...
Edit: The reason the pods drive on the right is since the company that makes them, makes a single model where they're all right hand drive.
No one cares what yanks think.
@@Minecraft-ue7uxI feel like a terminal train like JFKs Air Train or YYZs Terminal Train would be more effective, cost effective, and hold more people at once
@@andrewisvrycool I thought the same, I can't imagine this being a lot cheaper to build.
I am curious why they went this design and not the traditional tams that are used in most airports. I can’t imagine that this design is any much cheaper or more effective. Individual pods seem like it would take longer and cost more.
Maybe it’s to do with the irregularity of customers - customers are parking up their cars and using these pods Ona pretty infrequent basis.
@@onaplaneagain Can't imagine this technology being much cheaper then a regular tram like Las Vegas or the rest of the airports use. Have to check it out when I go to London. Looks like the old people mover at Disneyland was my first thought.
Wouldn't be surprised if it had something to do with getting investments for something "new" and "futuristic"
The trains you mention are for taking checked-in passengers in large numbers between terminals and to the departure gates. Heathrow Terminal 5 also has trains like that to take people to the B and C gates. What you're looking at here is one means of getting to the Terminal from the long-stay car park and there are far fewer people doing that.
Looks nice & soothing that little trip in that pod thing.
Didn't know anything about them down at Heathrow there.
I'm a geordie up here in Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Yeah, it’s a fun little side trip pre-holiday!
that is so cool!
Driverless transit systems on dedicated routes are nothing new.
At least in my neighborhood, they have been in existence for more than 40 years and are still in use.
If it was developed in the 2000s, I would have hoped for a faster and more comfortable ride.
Agreed, could be less bumpy!
1:17 Does it have rails? Or is it a self driving car with the wheels covered?
No rails - it’s a self driving car on 4 wheels
They use the curbs for guidance with optical sensors. There is a central computer that guides the motions of all the vehicles.
Ah ok, thank you.
😮 Groovy
Brilliant. I wish we had these in Canada.
Looks about as smooth as a pre-war wooden rollercoaster.
And not that fast
And PRT has been around for over 60 years. Go visit Morgantown, WV.
Why do we think this is progression again?
Yeah, it’s a bit of a bumpy ride!
Love it it even tells you were to go
Yeah, it’s pretty fool-proof!
That's so cool
India was also planning to make this way before 6 years but due to covid they stopped it's manufacturing but now after 6 years, finally pods are coming to india also 😍. (Also not for airports but for daily transportation in BKC mumbai)
I thought noida gonna have this first
An exciting police 🚔 chase as well.
Ha ha, yeah, would be!
This wot ther need for john lennon Airport to Liverpool South Park
They sure do!
I really like it, it’s a stress free way to get to Terminal 5. I’ve ridden it a couple of times when staying at the Premier Inn nearby - anyone can ride it as isn’t exclusive to Thistle Hotel guests or the car park users. It’s a bit pricy at £5, but after the last time where I ended up waiting 20 minutes for a crowded 423 bus I couldn’t get on, I decided I’d much rather take this option by default. Still works out cheaper than any cab.
That is so cool
not using rail here is a bad design choice.
Fun though!
Rails are not cost efficient. High capital starting costs. High upkeep
@@FastlaneProductions1 How much more expensive is rail compared to isolated dedicated road that this pod use?
Not at all
@@FastlaneProductions1 the thing is, over time, this is way more costly than rails would be. you can already see the groves forming on the small patches the Tires run on.
It’s so cute!
C
Awesome!
Thanks!
Ah
The Ecnalumba, a marvelous piece of kit
Very nice
No Brasil principalmente o Rio de janeiro, já estamos preparados para receber um desses. A população carioca merece um desses, pois são o povo mais educado de todo o país! Assim agradeço a minha oportunidade!
Glad that you are getting one! Will be great to see what you think of them.
@@onaplaneagain Eu fiz uma ironia com meu distrito brasileiro!!! Desculpe!!! kkkkkkkkkkkkkk
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David: " I want to go to terminal 2."
Pod: "I can't do that, Dave."
David: "Open the door, please."
Pod: "I can't do that, Dave."
ha ha, yeah, that would be bad planning!
あー最高―
Thankyou
USA needs to have this!
very cute design
Glad you like it
This is serene, futuristic and very good metro system like for example Tokyo or Seoul !
이것은 뉴욕, 도쿄, 서울과 같은 고요하고 매우 좋은 지하철 시스템입니다!
I'm glad you like it!
Those look fun, if a bit silly. I'll be at Heathrow next week, but won't be using the pods, just getting onto the train into London
Nice 👌
i was wondering this narrow route when I was taking the bus to T5. now i knew , it is for the Pod.
Glad it makes sense now!
Many years ago I worked on the pods, did some wiring inside the panels on the walkways + much more, but I wont say what for security reasons.
Interesting stuff!!
The future!
HOW COOL IS THAT.
PRETTY I’D SAY.
thats actually pretty cool =D
Thanks!!
Incredible invention ❤🎉
sure is!
I love this video! Driverless pods are so strange, aren't they?
I have one in my garden it takes seven minutes to take me to the pub
we have these driverless Metros in Nürnberg :D .... just a common thing here in germany
This isn't a driverless metro
coolest fun ever
My first thought was - and I’m a New Yorker so I’m a bit paranoid about safety - what if someone unsavory got in that pod at the last minute. Is there any emergency alert system to alert someone that there’s a problem?
They're personal pods, so likelihood is you wouldn't be travelling with another stranger in the same pod!
Yes there is a button that calls through to a control room and all the pods have cameras in them that can be viewed by staff.
@@onaplaneagain It looks like it can seat 4 people though.
Thanks for this.
Great stuff.
☮
Glad you enjoyed it!