Heathrow unveils new transit system details

Work has begun to develop a new personal rapid transit system (PRT) at the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport.

The £25 million scheme, when complete, will see passengers able to make use of 18 battery-powered driverless vehicles that will be able to carry in the region of four people, as well as their baggage.

These vehicles will follow a fixed route around the terminal, ferrying passengers between the airport and the business car park. The first phase of the PRT is expected to open in 2009.

Heathrow managing director Mark Bullock commented: "[The PRT] offers a completely new form of public transport - one that will deliver a fast, efficient service to passengers and bring considerable environmental benefits."

Terminal 5, which will be the new British Airways base, will open on March 27th 2008 and is expected to serve about 30 million passengers a year.

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