As reported by Alstom, Tampa International Airport APM upgrade has moved forward. Four new Alstom vehicles have entered passenger service. The move is part of the airport’s broader modernisation of its automated people mover systems.

Tampa International Airport APM upgrade update
Photo: Alstom

Under the project, Alstom is to supply 16 Innovia R cars. They will replace APM vehicles that have been in service for around 30 years. In addition, the new model is intended to improve the passenger experience. It is also intended to cut energy use. It is also intended to lower maintenance costs.

On 13 March 2025, Alstom said the first four Innovia R automated people mover vehicles entered passenger service at Tampa International Airport on Friday. The company said this was part of the airport’s broader upgrade plans. Those plans are meant to serve a growing metropolitan area.

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“Today we’re proud to celebrate a new milestone in this decades-long partnership, introducing our latest and most advanced APM vehicles into service, designed and manufactured in the United States.”

Tampa International Airport APM upgrade and new vehicles

TPA has ordered 16 new Innovia R cars. They will replace older Alstom-built APM vehicles. Those vehicles have each travelled more than 1 million miles. According to the company, the third-generation model is quieter. It is also easier to maintain. It is also more energy efficient. In addition, the interiors include upgraded lighting, new video information displays and doors equipped with obstacle-detection systems.

Also, Alstom is installing its Urbalis Flo automatic train control system. It is designed to allow more frequent train operations. At the same time, the system is designed to increase capacity. It is also designed to shorten passenger waiting times. “Since 1971 Alstom has worked with the Tampa airport to keep passengers moving swiftly and reliably; some of the cars we’ve provided have logged over 1 million miles. Today we’re proud to celebrate a new milestone in this decades-long partnership, introducing our latest and most advanced APM vehicles into service, designed and manufactured in the United States,” Alstom America’s President Michael Keroullé said. “This is an important part of our broader commitment to support the improvement of the airport’s shuttle system.”

Meanwhile, Tampa International Airport CEO Michael Stephens also commented on the new vehicles. “TPA’s signature shuttles go back to our opening in 1971, and were the first of their kind at any airport in the world when they debuted,” Tampa International Airport CEO Michael Stephens said. “Now we are proud to offer another first, with TPA being the first airport in the world to offer these brand-new shuttles coupled with the new technology and operating system that will be guiding them.”

A long-standing partnership at Tampa International Airport

The latest development extends a 55-year partnership between Alstom and Tampa International Airport. When the airport opened in April 1971, it launched an Alstom-built APM system. That system linked the main terminal with four airside concourses. For example, that was the first use of a driverless transport system at any airport worldwide. The concept later became a standard element of airport design. Alstom has also maintained Tampa’s APM system since the start of operations.

Separately, the first four Innovia R vehicles are now operating as the Blue shuttles serving the A and C airsides, as Tampa International Airport notes. By year-end, three of the airport’s four airside APM links are expected to be using both the new vehicles and the new signalling system. Still, Alstom is also supplying the guideways, signalling and vehicles for the future Airside D. It is expected to open in 2028.

In addition, all of the new APM vehicles are being produced at Alstom’s West Mifflin plant in Pennsylvania. The plant is close to the site where the first APM systems were developed and tested during the 1960s.

Innovia automated people mover and Urbalis signalling

According to Alstom’s Innovia APM overview, its driverless Innovia automated people mover platform has been on the market for more than 50 years. The system is designed to provide fast and convenient transport between airport terminals, to and from airports, or within urban environments. Also, the trains consist of single cars that can be coupled for flexible operation. They run on dedicated guideways that may be underground, at ground level or elevated. At the same time, this avoids interference from road traffic or airport runways. More than 30 Alstom APM systems have been delivered globally. They operate at 13 of the world’s busiest airports.

Meanwhile, the company also said its Urbalis signalling system is in use on more than 190 metro lines across 32 countries. At the same time, 74 of those lines operate on a fully automatic, driverless basis.

Still, in the United States, Alstom said it has delivered more than 12,000 new or refurbished vehicles for rail agencies and airport APM networks. The company also stated that it is the country’s leading rolling stock and rail service company. It is also the number one private operator.

In addition, it said it operates and/or maintains APM systems at airports in Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, New York City, Orlando, San Francisco, Phoenix and Tampa. Those systems transport millions of travellers each day.

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