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After 15 Years, Washington-Dulles Airport Has a Working Aerotrain

February 4, 2010 at 1:20 PM | by | Comments (3)

We’re kind of looking forward to our next layover at Washington-Dulles. It’s a little strange to say that, but we want to check out their shiny new underground trains. The AeroTrain has been a work in progress for almost 15 years, but a couple weeks ago construction finished and passengers hopped aboard.

In the past, the airport has been using those mobile lounges things—which we like solely because of their history. However, in practice the old buses didn’t really do too well or offer too much convenience. We’re thinking that most travelers won’t be shedding any tears over their departure, and will be looking forward to gliding to the next concourse at about 40mph.

There’s 29 of the new electric train cars, but don’t get too comfortable; there’s limited seating as they really want the space to cram in the passengers with their oversized carry-ons. The airport is taking a huge jump forward with this new transit transportation option; however, a few old mobile lounges will be sticking around. Overall airport expansion plans might quickly outgrow the AeroTrain, so you still might be mobile lounging every once in a while for years to come. Our only complaint is that the airport didn't call the new trains the EeroTrain.

Related Stories:
· Passenger Train Goes Into Operation Tuesday at Dulles Airport [Washington Post]
· Eero Saarinen Travel: Leaving on a Jet Plane [Jaunted]
· Airports coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: dionhinchcliffe]

Comments (3)

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Return to » After 15 Years, Washington-Dulles Airport Has a Working Aerotrain


Worst. Airport. Ever.

In the United States anyway. It's clean, but so dated and inconvenient to get to.
zeverson on February 4, 2010 at 8:31 PM #Permalink

IAD - It's A Disaster

What airport in the U.S. isn't teetering on the edge of stupid? Not that they are much better here in Canada - except Vancouver and Terminal 1-Toronto. With so many good examples like Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Munich, Singapore and Helsinki, why are we constructing airports that could easily use the slogan, "Inconvenience built in - so, you don't have to look for it."
LarryDobson on February 5, 2010 at 3:46 AM #Permalink

Even worse than the mobile lounges

Until they get around to building the "permanent" concourse C/D (since the current concourse was only meant to be "temporary"), the AeroTrain makes it even less convenient to get out there. The mobile lounges took you directly to the concourse--the AeroTrain station is several hundred feet away, requiring a several minute walk/moving sidewalk ride through an underground passage to get to the concourse. Why? They build the C station where the "permanent" concourse is going to go, but given that there aren't even final plans for this, let alone the money, it will be years before this changes. Any wagers on whether the "temporary" passageway will last as long as the "temporary" concourse? Once the new concourse is build, perhaps then we could call it the EeroTrain--otherwise, I think it would be disrespecful to Mr. Saarinen.
BlueFreak on February 5, 2010 at 7:52 AM #Permalink

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