A REVIEW OF PEOPLE-MOVER SYSTEMS AND THEIR POTENTIAL ROLE IN CITIES

People mover systems have been described as 'Guided transit systems specifically designed to carry large numbers of people short distances at frequent regular intervals'. Passenger conveyors, moving pavements, travelators, people mover systems all meet the above definition and have been the dreams of inventors since 1859. Britain's first moving pavement was successfully used at the 1924 Wembley Exhibition. These systems have often been developed specifically for exhibitions. Since then dozens of systems have been designed but very few have been used other than at their initial sites. Even the innovative Maglev system at Birmingham Airport has never been developed, nor used elsewhere. Nevertheless some systems have become well established and new ones developed. There are currently over twenty different systems in operation worldwide, mainly at airports. New systems are being developed all the time and they are becoming more versatile. This Paper reviews the state of the art of these systems including their individual features, capabilities and capacities, followed by an assessment of developments and of their future role.