APM Fleet Upgrade at Denver International Airport

Alstom has completed delivery of the initial batch of Innovia APM R vehicles to Denver International Airport, supporting capacity expansion and operational upgrades of the airport’s Automated Guideway Transit System.

Completion of the base vehicle order
Alstom has delivered the final vehicle of an initial order of 26 Innovia APM R cars for Denver International Airport’s Automated Guideway Transit System (AGTS). The first vehicles entered passenger service in 2024, and 24 of the new cars are currently in operation. The completed base order marks a key phase in the ongoing modernisation of the airport’s airside passenger transport system.

In 2025, Denver International Airport placed a follow-on order for 19 additional vehicles. Once delivered, these units will replace the remaining original fleet and expand the total AGTS fleet to 45 vehicles, compared with 31 legacy cars previously in operation.

Operational impact on system capacity
The AGTS connects the airport’s main terminal with its concourses and carries more than 150,000 passengers per day. The introduction of the Innovia APM R vehicles has increased system capacity by approximately 1,700 passengers per hour. This capacity gain allows shorter intervals between trains, improving passenger flow during peak demand periods and reducing platform dwell and wait times.

From a system engineering perspective, higher vehicle capacity and reduced headways improve overall line throughput without requiring major changes to guideway infrastructure, signalling, or station layouts.

Vehicle design and energy performance
The Innovia APM R vehicles feature lightweight aluminium car bodies assembled using recyclable materials. Reduced vehicle mass lowers traction energy demand and mechanical wear, contributing to improved operational efficiency over the vehicle lifecycle.

According to the airport operator, the new vehicles use a more efficient power supply system that improves overall energy consumption by more than 30% compared with the legacy fleet. These gains are particularly relevant for continuous-operation airport systems, where energy use and availability are critical performance parameters.

Manufacturing and validation
The vehicles were manufactured and tested at Alstom’s facility in West Mifflin. The site specialises in the production of Innovia automated people mover vehicles for airport and urban transit applications and includes integrated quality control and dynamic testing capabilities.

Factory testing is used to validate reliability, performance, and system integration prior to delivery, reducing commissioning risk and supporting consistent fleet performance once vehicles enter service.

Long-term fleet modernisation
The phased delivery and expansion strategy allows Denver International Airport to modernise its AGTS fleet while maintaining daily operations. By combining incremental vehicle replacement with capacity expansion, the programme addresses near-term passenger growth while extending the operational life and performance envelope of the airport’s internal transit system.