A Ride on the Heathrow Pods

Rachael Holdsworth takes a look at the Ultra PRT (Personal Rapid Transport) system in place at Heathrow Terminal 5 that takes passengers between the car park and the terminal building.

[@ar9n]

Thank god they brought an expert on board, I would have never understood those controls.

[@williamthomas7031]

I know right! Even with the professional i am still baffled

[@jacobsaxby9468]

From what I gathered, I think you press the start button, and once it starts moving you press the open doors button.

[@MikesBakes]

Why does something so simple have to be so complex?! Silly engineers...

[@luther8453]

Read the top.

[@EveryYT_tuber]

If you done this if you done this I don’t know how to do it

[@DILLIGAF2101]

The best comment I heard at Heathrow in February 2011 was from an English lady who said, "It looks like a loo!" They do look like rolling portapotties.

[@germani69]

*loo toilets flushes*

[@Baloongis2]

@@germani69 i never expected to see you here

[@LostValleyofLondon]

The future is here! I'm getting one for my flat...

[@captain_john_d]

"You're going from your bed to your fridge. Is that ok?"

[@themaconeau]

"You are going from your bathroom to the bedroom. Is that ok?"

[@railphoto1]

Jesus John, got the Lols so hard! Great video again Geoff.

[@crazysharkgaming8947]

+The Lost Valley of London I want to put my bike away after i get back from school after i get keys, without being beat up by my chicken, i might get one then

[@unknown-im2bh]

John Dennis ok.

[@BKPrice]

"We noticed it was on the right-hand side rather than the left." Oh the horror!

[@PatrickPlayingPiano]

#BritishProblems

[@chaitanyak.n.4768]

So i guess that's the reason Ultrapods decided to make one in India.

[@thebuzzah]

Riding an escalator "stand on the right" seems backwards. Passing on the left with slower/standing people on the right is like highways in other parts of the world.

[@amypage3321]

It said about that in the video

[@crazyoncoffee]

I always thought of it as the people who are moving go on the left side, like on a roadway.

[@krashd]

I think their definition of rapid differs from mine.

[@XDRosenheim]

They never say anything about a 15-minutes journey. And when looking at the graphic of 0:33, nothing should take 15-minutes on those roads. Not even walking.

[@deejaydragon8909]

The distance between the car park and Terminal 5 driving on the perimeter roads, it's about a mile. Add to that heavy traffic at peak time, then it's going to take some time to get between the two.

[@glennzone12]

I think they mean rapid as in 'rapid transit.' Wikipedia; "rapid transit systems are electric railways that operate on an exclusive right-of-way, which cannot be accessed by pedestrians or other vehicles of any sort"

[@thomaswilkinson3241]

Rob Fraser maybe unhindered by other traffic would have been more precisely.

[@martinmunerati]

@@XDRosenheim it's longer than you think

[@theurbangentry]

lolol so cool! I want to park there just so I can use these things!!!

[@theurbangentry]

Cheers. Will add it to my bucket list! :D

[@MaxsTrainspotting]

Get a train to terminal 5 from Paddington

[@luisstransport]

You don't have to park there to use them

[@toddtonis]

West Virginia University had the PRT system since the 1980's and connected the downtown campus to the engineering and medical campus that is miles away. It was a government project sponsored by the Department of Transportation. Overall it was a great system that most students used every single day to get to class from their dorms. I believe that system is still being used in 2021.

[@MaGaDaGMeN]

0 up

[@toddtonis]

@@MaGaDaGMeN whatever that means???

[@itsnotawarcrimeifyouhadfun4709]

@@toddtonis he said he likes men 👨🏼

[@Sel__27__27]

Yeah it is. Tom Scott has a video on it.

[@Engineer9736]

The pod on the end doesn't really seem to be in the mood

[@LaWendeltreppe]

How cute. I wish I could travel in such a thing thru the city :))

[@insertchannelnamehere8685]

You can, go to Morgantown, West Virginia and they have a citywide pod transportation system.

[@FarlandHowe]

Hi Geoff, you are so smooth with your videos. I have lots to learn and much to learn from your work. cheers, Rob

[@damian-795]

I have been on these, I loved it , great fun :-). I have to also say your videos are utterly fantastic and very professional.

[@DavidFrankal]

I might come all the way down to London (I live in Manchester) just to see that. It looks fantastic!

[@alanjeff505]

I hope your journey down south will not take more than 1 month. Last year it took me 2 months via a horse drawn carriage to reach the southern lands : D

[@jasonh-ek8el]

i live all the way in blackpool

[@jonzeebollok2266]

Hope your a business executive because that’s only who’s allowed to use them

[@JoshNunnyt]

@@jonzeebollok2266 No it's in the business car park you dunce 🤣

[@fishylogic222]

I just love the phrase “We do that using lasers”

[@Persephone_]

I was wondering when you were going to cover this! It's been here for aaaages!

[@ClarinoI]

"It runs on wheels, not rails." What the heck do trains and trams use if they're not running on wheels?

[@jordan-sh927]

Flinstones legs

[@tashmay]

Small metal wheels hard to notice

[@EightThreeEight]

Specifically wheels with pneumatic tyres.

[@cbawitlife]

wings and engines, just like planes

[@tallman11282]

With only two stops there's not much advantage of this system over, say, a dedicated bus lane but if they expand the system to other terminals and/or lots then it will have many advantages, such as going straight to your stop, bypassing the other stops. A bus would have to stop at each terminal and lot while the pods, being more personal, would be able to go straight to your stop.

[@gavinkemp7920]

their also the advantage that you are much more likely to leave immidiatly rather than wait for a bus.

[@hunterhendrick5793]

I think they are "testing " the pods by only starting at T5. I'm sure they'll expand (to other terminals and car parks) when they can and with the money, they have to somehow get funded.

[@15Redstones]

The pods don't need drivers and they start as soon as the passengers got in, not just every 20 minutes.

[@RVNmax]

@TheRenaissanceman65 No, because the other services like customer services and monitoring are now tasks that others are employed to do. I doubt much of the cost of drivers has been saved here. I would suggest costs have been increased especially given the capital expenditure that would have gone into this. It's all about providing a better service to business customers by transporting them between the car park and terminal quicker.

[@deeznoots6241]

@TheRenaissanceman65 they have to run an entire control room, its likely more expensive than a single bus lane or a small train. Its a stupid idea but people like dumb gadgetbahns like these.

[@sport-politicsmedia9726]

I have to say this is one of the coolest things I think I have ever seen :)

[@scorpion24100]

That de-icing unit was the most adorable thing

[@TheCircuitBoardYT]

I watched this a long time ago, and now when I'm a fan of Geoff Marshall, I see that it's him who is talking in the video! :D

[@ajs41]

For some reason the description says "Rachael Holdsworth" is doing the video.

[@cantbants]

Stayed at a hotel nearby and rode the pods to the terminal in the morning, they're cool.

[@TravelToTheWorldAaliyahtravel]

Thanks for upload ❤️amazing experience

[@hemz96]

i went on it a few days ago, it's so cool!

[@Thomas1980]

Fantastic great Video! Thumbs Up! 😀🤩😎💥💯💢👍

[@Clavinovaman]

I want one for the garden. Such a long walk from the front door to the garage.

[@VulcanTrekkie45]

They look like a 1960s era Doctor Who villain.

[@DmanYTofficial]

I love the reference

[@glynwelshkarelian3489]

But only the Doctor knows the hidden weakness that will save the peace loving Remainian's from brutal conquest!

[@Clavinovaman]

Yeah. Curvy war machines.

[@thesalandarian3314]

Spencer O'Dowd it’s the tardis

[@Smart1529]

Definition of the future. Awesome

[@crazyfroggie6546]

I had no idea this system even existed, until You Tube showed it to me, thank you for the interesting video. Seems to me a monorail system like Changi or KLIA have would be better for moving passengers about, they're faster and have more capacity.

[@unknowndomain]

The Changi system is quite a long wait by comparison, it's kind of annoying.

[@markorollo.]

Ive been interested in modes of public transport for a few years now, and i dont think ive seen better than these things, even future concept ideas. As a person with a disability and wheelchair user i face a few problems on public transport, used a bus last week, absolute nightmare, im lucky to have a tram system where i live, theyre great but i dont like when they get crowded, it can feel claustrophobic with me sitting in my chair and others standing around me, these pods would be ideal, private, A to B, no stopping and they look good!!, i wouldnt mind one for my own personal transport!!.

[@TransportForLuka]

There is also the brand new Luton Airport dart you should check it out its ready cool!

[@markorollo.]

@@TransportForLuka I'll have a look :)

[@TransportForLuka]

@@markorollo. Thanks :)

[@Vmonster]

wow...this is so cool!!! i want this in Japan too...this is just really cute little cool thing

[@tibsie]

Bet you didn't know that they were developed in Cardiff. Here is the test track. www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4652444,-3.1396418,404m/data=!3m1!1e3

[@Londonistvids]

Tom Dyer we knew they were a Cardiff based company, yes - never seen the test track on google maps before though - brlliant!

[@ZiggyTheHamster]

It looks a lot like the original DFW people mover too, but obviously way more intelligent. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vought_Airtrans

[@rossbailey5727]

Tom Dyer no

[@monbec_sigrym]

We demand a secrets of the Heathrow pods video!

[@adeshinaashogbon5359]

Really amazing innovation

[@HenrysAdventures]

I love a ride on an Ultra Pod!

[@bowenxu8129]

It's so adorable. Hope Montreal would have it in the future.

[@countdown9309]

So glad I could be featured in a video

[@samuelfitzgerald2025]

this would have been a great april fools' video

[@plankton50]

hope they extend this just so there is another full fledged PRT system in the world. could imagine it would cheaper too now thanks to improvements in battery technology and self driving tech like lidar.

[@Mr.dnicholson]

plankton50 there is. Research Skyway. Thank me later.

[@tommmicron]

Morgantown, West Virginia

[@cindywhitton5347]

I love the pods

[@JeffWiersma]

I love that it is "ultra personal" rather than public. That seems so convenient.

[@Daniel-md8vv]

But you're being watched the whole time, so do behave!

[@chikendagr8994]

Daniel So no Fake Pod porn? Damnit.

[@deeznoots6241]

In other words its dumb, trains and busses are a much better solution than these moronic pods.

[@verumignis4778]

What is wrong with a bus or train? busses and trains have significantly higher capacity, they are cheaper and faster. This is not even close to convinient.

[@jaredwang7521]

Oooooohhh! ❤️ I like it!

[@chinabazar4884]

I like this !!

[@EuropeanTrainDriver]

just great

[@doverandover61]

Reminds me a bit of Thunderbirds

[@azagtheenchanter5077]

The pod is the Star!

[@chriswood642]

thanks Geoff

[@Hammertime054]

Im going to fly from Heathrow next time just to go on one of these😂👍👍👍

[@jsma9999]

Thank for the flim, will do more transport flims thanks.

[@vibezwithando1041]

You’ve gotta admit, this was in all of our recommended

[@MatthewPlato91]

I tried to ride these in January 2020 but that Saturday they were down for maintenance... the next date I had planned got cancelled due to Covid... still waiting!

[@jonathandaohsunwang6408]

hope the pod can extend to terminal 4

[@gch8810]

Great for families and groups of friends. A nice private environment.

[@prateekjassal9194]

Looks like you missed the CCTV looking at you :D

[@gurintto]

A guided busway with tiny buses. Cutting edge 1980s technology right there

[@crazysharkgaming8947]

WAIT! Did i see a Malaysian Airlines plane land at 0:04

[@wavelen9454]

Yes, you did

[@rossidris8826]

+TheTrainGame yup! MH4 from Kuala Lumpur! :)

[@trainsandbusesofathens]

+MineSimulated hello

[@rockystrains8891]

I thought they always crashed, not land

[@katerobinson3516]

CrazyShark Gaming yes I did

[@MinecrafterMoose77]

Thats feckin awesome

[@rovercoupe7104]

Lovely MGBGT.

[@cyclingnut2122]

That's awesome

[@emmapeart3714]

heathrow pod Looks cool

[@AtheistOrphan]

Old and new - pod and MGB (in the car park) at the beginning

[@Boogersncome]

Lovely Johnny cabs.

[@namasivayamm9234]

Excellent

[@benroberts8949]

Subscribed

[@BenTaylor.]

im going to try it

[@peteroleary8964]

Wish they had that in Tullamarine....!!

[@twyfordlion]

reminds me of the trains in The Man Who Fell to Earth.

[@amjkodaz]

So cute!!!!

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

well done lads

[@whiterabbit5921]

I want this!

[@lorenzo8495]

AWESOME!

[@baruchpinnick811]

Nice cinematography from 1:40.

[@alanmichaellincoln]

Wow !!! Even got lasers !

[@ekay2705]

Ohhh so looking forward to ride this... when we stay in Thistle Hotel in Aug!! 😊😊

[@martinpintamalli1449]

E Kay And? How was it?

[@ec100]

How much would it charge to ride if it wasn't a free service of the airport? Would the cost be based on miles driven or time?

[@GBRf66715_]

What is the steam locomotive that the person is standing next to in the museum

[@parttimespotter2027]

Okay, so is there a map of the whole system? What are the pod numbers? How long the routes?

[@staceystory7175]

nice pod Free

[@FastCarsNoRules220]

Looks like a tiny version of the C751A trains in Singapore.

[@jamsdodger8970]

Didn't they have something like this in one of the earlier James Bond films ? Not sure which one though.

[@russiandrivers9986]

What would be great is if they had this system connecting the terminals.

[@russiandrivers9986]

@Green Tealaan Have you ever heard the expression "good enough is the enemy of great"?

[@russiandrivers9986]

​@Green Tealaan Yes, I'm sure it's an expensive system, plus they'd need to build tunnels or overpasses. It would be cool, though.

[@UNKNOWN_NICKEL]

It's too slow, the pods

[@Mgameing123]

The free rail transfer does that fine.

[@verumignis4778]

heathrow express, picadilly line and purple train all perform this better than these stupid "pods" ever could

[@DivineMrsM]

T'other half went through Heathrow recently and mentioned Pods - I had no idea what he was talking about but I do now. Thanks Londonist.

[@ek9772]

Heathrow airport loves them. They save in driver, fuel costs, and probably in insurance costs.

[@stevedoubleu99B]

How cool are they??

[@benjaminsnyder4183]

I don't know if I'll be able to. I am from northern Florida, and I live on the water.

[@wernervonbraun3356]

Lucky you.

[@Kub5008]

What will happen to the pods because of the LHR expansion? Please reply if you know.

[@MrSquareart]

Plans to expand are when?

[@ib9rt]

There are plans perhaps, to expand it? Perhaps there are plans? Perhaps there are not plans? Do we know if there are plans or not? :-)

[@1973Washu]

Something like this could be useful as a replacement for city loop buses in some cities.

[@deeznoots6241]

Busses are more efficient than the pods

[@Mgameing123]

Absolutely terrible idea. Unless you want more traffic in the cities.

[@linzherdscats]

Very cool. Let's get them in Shoreditch.

[@jonathanpang2475]

What if you didn’t park at the car park? Could you still ride the pods from the terminal and back?

[@Thegoldenemerald]

Yes

[@rambler241]

You were told that in the video.

[@Telfuke-ElevatorFan]

I wanna ride these so BADLY! :-(

[@engx3733]

Neat!

[@mysteryfoxxrj5102]

LAX needs these.

[@jmaclaren4147]

Right outae the movie Sleeper....

[@SamSitar]

when will they extend it?

[@pqrstzxerty1296]

All the way to Glasgow.

[@homebrosstudio2430]

hey! that thing has the voice of the Tesco lady!

[@yourneighborhoodwierdo8349]

they should do this here in chicago

[@wolfywolf2sda]

So, cars drive on the left but pods drive on the right?

[@building-online-wealth]

Why did Geoff see them white instead of purple?

[@dogtre2283]

When will Heathrow Pod Simulator be released?

[@jasonng3194]

why battery but not power cables?

[@RichardWilson1984]

Had a go on it yesterday. Really badly signposted at Terminal 5. It's on level two of the carpark. Good fun, ride very bumpy. Annoyingly they've wrapped them in advertising vinyls, obscuring the windows