Cubic 'gates up' Heathrow’s new Terminal 5
After many years of planning and hard work, Terminal 5 (T5) at London’s Heathrow Airport took off on 27th March – on
time and on budget. But the ‘flight path’ wasn’t without turbulence.
The planning process alone cost nearly £63m over a period of 14 years. This cost was borne mostly by the British
Airports Authority (BAA) and British Airways (BA) – who have sole use of the terminal – the two main stakeholders of the
project. Reportedly, BAA will ultimately invest an estimated £4.2bn into the ongoing development of T5.
And, the well-publicised lost baggage and flight cancellation furore aside, Cubic’s ticketing and gating innovation
have given flustered passengers ‘wings’ to fly, being pivotal in the smooth running of the Terminal’s rail and Tube
station.
Passenger-friendly.
The Terminal has its own modern rail station located in the basement of Concourse A. With six rail platforms: two for
the London Underground Piccadilly Line; two for the Heathrow Express extension, and a third pair built for potential
future rail expansion links to the west, it’s certainly passenger-friendly.
Heathrow Terminal 5
So just how has the station been equipped for the ongoing throng of passengers? Cubic’s Richard Thomas explains:
Cubic installed six Wide Aisle Gates (WAGs) allowing disabled persons access, seven Ticket Office Machines (TOMs) and
15 Advanced Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs)
All machines and gates are smartcard-enabled which ensure the greatest efficiency for the passenger.
While the gates aid station staff in safely monitoring and controlling passenger flow, and thwart potential
fare evaders; the ticketing devices give travellers a quicker option for buying their tickets - pay and go.
The T5 station will be staffed by BAA, unlike the other Underground stations
serving Heathrow Terminals 1-2-3-4.
So, wherever we’re travelling to and from via T5, Cubic is helping to keep us all on the move.
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