Airports and cable cars

Airports are thriving hubs – not only bringing together hundreds of thousands of international travellers, but also the final stop for multiple transport routes. 

Combining rail stations, bus interchanges, taxi ranks, car parks – these are places where infrastructure has to work together to facilitate the onward flow of people. 

Dysfunction, disconnect and delays at any stage can lead to wider impacts along the journey and can often spark wider discussions around accessibility and capacity. 

Modernising key transport hubs at airports 

If an airport fails to function as a multimodal interchange, it can cause far reaching impacts to wider transport networks. 

Getting it right means all assets working together.  

SYSTRA has worked globally on airport projects that deliver a better, more connected experience. 

From station design to highway modelling and enhancing passenger movement, SYSTRA specialists have been at the forefront of enhancing airports in the UK and overseas. 

Our work at Gatwick Airport Station focused on reliving overcrowding and improving the circulation of passengers around the concourse. 

We’ve looked at Human Factors elements that ensure a welcoming airport experience and optimize   

And at the centre of those projects has been innovation. We want to deliver solutions that not only improve what is there – they are developed to be futureproofed for growing and changing demand. 

A new approach to airport connectivity 

Traditionally, access to airports has focused on ground mobility. Arriving at a terminal by road or rail is considered the most accessible and practical approach. 

It utilises existing infrastructure and provides an efficient route into the heart of the interchange. 

Finding an alternative on a scale that accommodates large numbers of passengers and luggage requires out of the box thinking. 

And that is where SYSTRA has excelled. How would you feel about arriving for your flights via cable car? 

Our specialists have been involved in the project management assistance for a new urban cable car linking Marseille-Provence Airport to Vitrolles railway station. 

The project will deliver a six minute journey from station to terminal – massively cutting the current half hour walk and avoiding already congested roads. 

The new modal solution complements the existing network and provide a direct link from rail-to-air transport. 

SYSTRA’s strong position in cable transport engineering. 

SYSTRA was recently awarded the Zel La Montagne cable car project in Saint-Denis, Réunion, and having acted as project manager for the Téléo cable car in Toulouse. 

As local authorities look find enhanced and sustainable modes of transport, the cable car market offers an innovative solution. 

Cable cars can be used to overcome problems of relief and natural or man-made barriers (road infrastructure, railway lines, etc.). They link up neighbourhoods and help connect residential areas or industrial hubs that would otherwise have been more isolated. 

SYSTRA teams are able to provide project and technical coordination, preliminary and regulatory studies, and prior consultation for new cable car projects. We also support preparation of tenders, in particular the award of performance contracts, interface management, and works and studies supervision up to commissioning. 

It’s crucial we work in partnership to align expertise with client, stakeholder and passenger demand. Improving connectivity to airports opens up national and international gateways – offering enhanced opportunities for people and businesses.