Hubbry Logo
search
logo
1340609

SEA Underground

logo
Community Hub0 Subscribers
Write something...
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
See all
SEA Underground

The SEA Underground, formerly called the Satellite Transit System (STS), is an automated people mover (APM) system operating in the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport in SeaTac, Washington, United States. Originally opening in 1973, the SEA Underground is one of the oldest airport people mover systems in the world. It was designed to quickly transport passengers to and from the North and South Satellites, and around the airport's Main Terminal.

The system was approved for construction in 1969, to be built alongside the new satellite terminals as the first inter-terminal train system in the United States. It was completed in 1972 at a cost of $5 million and opened to the public in July 1973. That makes it the second oldest airport people mover system in the United States (after Tampa International Airport). The opening was delayed due to a dispute between the Port of Seattle and Westinghouse, the manufacturer of the system, over contracted costs.

The system opened in 1973 at a total cost of $14 million. The original system consisted of nine vehicles; an additional three were added in the mid-1970s. The system was designed to have a capacity of 14,400 passengers per hour and travel at a maximum speed of 27 miles per hour (43 km/h).

The original C-100 vehicles were built by Westinghouse and had a maximum capacity of 102 passengers. The average travel time for the two loops was 3.3 minutes, and 1.8 minutes on the shuttle, and each vehicle was estimated to amass 47,000 miles (76,000 km) annually.

In 1999, the Port of Seattle authorized $142 million to completely overhaul the entire SEA Underground system. The overhaul included all aspects of the system including trains, controls, power supplies, stations, emergency ventilation systems and maintenance shops. The upgrade and modernization was completed in 2003. The line now uses Innovia APM 100 vehicles (a modernized version of the original C-100 vehicles) with the Cityflo 650 CBTC (communications-based train control) system for its automated operation.

The Port of Seattle renamed the system to SEA Underground in March 2022 and assigned new names to the lines using colors: Green Line, Blue Line, and Yellow Line. Those colors were also added on the walls next to and behind the station doors.

SEA Underground is located within secure areas of the airport. The system consists of six stations serving each of the four gate concourses extending from the main terminal (Concourses A, B, C and D), and the North and South Satellite terminals. Each station is equipped with platform edge doors. The system consists of two loops serving the satellite terminals and a third line connecting the two loops in the main terminal.

The system has 21 APM vehicles, with about 13 in service at any given time: two 3-car trains on the Green and Blue Lines and a single car on the Yellow Line. Approximately 40 percent of Sea-Tac Airport passengers use the SEA Underground system. Maintenance is generally conducted on weekends after cars are moved into one of two shops via a lateral transfer table.

See all
User Avatar
No comments yet.