ATLANTA — Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has placed the first of its next-generation Plane Train vehicles into passenger service as part of a broader effort to expand capacity before international soccer crowds arrive this summer.
Alstom and the airport announced that four new automated people mover vehicles entered service on Friday. They are the first of 63 Innovia APM R cars that Alstom is manufacturing for the airport as part of a fleet renewal and expansion program.
The Plane Train is the underground automated people mover that connects Hartsfield-Jackson’s seven concourses and two terminals across a 2.8-mile system. Alstom built and installed the system 45 years ago and has operated and maintained it since. The system runs around the clock and carried a record 95 million passengers in 2025, according to the company.
The new vehicles are intended to replace older cars while expanding the airport’s total fleet to 73 cars. Alstom said the new cars are quieter, more energy efficient and easier to maintain than earlier models. Passenger-facing upgrades include improved lighting, updated video information screens and advanced door safety systems with obstacle detection.
The rollout comes as Atlanta prepares to host soccer matches this summer, increasing pressure on the airport and its internal transit system. Alstom said the expanded fleet and related infrastructure work are designed to reduce crowding and shorten wait times.
The company also completed guideway improvements, including a new turnback that allows trains to change direction without blocking the train behind them. That change is expected to allow trains to operate every 90 seconds during peak periods, compared with 107 seconds previously.
Once the full fleet is delivered, the airport will be able to operate up to 15 trains at a time, up from the 10 or 11 currently in operation. Alstom also refurbished 13 guideway switches to improve reliability.
The project is intended to support both short-term travel demand tied to this summer’s soccer events and the airport’s long-term passenger growth.
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