ATL is the busiest airport in the world. While the Atlanta Airport is huge and busy, it never takes very long to travel between terminals. The ATL Plane Train makes getting between the 7 concourses very easy. Every concourse at ATL is connected to the Plane Train. If you’re making a connection at ATL(Guide Here), it’s very likely you’ll end up on the Plane Train. It’s easy to use, fast, and efficient. The ATL airport was built around the Plane Train and because of this, the airport works well.
In This Guide
ATL Plane Train History
When the current ATL Airport was originally designed in the 1970s, the design of separate concourses connected with an automated train was selected. This allowed connecting passengers, who made up the majority of the airport’s traffic, to very quickly move between the concourses. The ATL Plane Train opened with the airport in 1980. As the airport grew from 5 concourses to 7 the Plane Train was expanded each time.
ATL Plane Train Route Map
The ATL Plane Train runs in two directions and stops at 8 different stations. At some of the stations, there’s a divided platform, this means you just follow the signs down to the platform in the desired direction of travel. The other concourses have a combined platform where you get onto the correct train at the platform level.
ATL Concourses E and F are usually considered the international terminals. Though international flights could depart from any concourse, it’s usually E and F. International arrivals must arrive at E or F as those are the only locations with customs and passport control. The good news is that all of the concourses are connected airside. So if you’re making a domestic to international connection at ATL, you don’t re-clear security, just head to the next gate on the plane train. If you’re arriving from an international flight you’ll need to clear security after passport control and customs.
ATL Plane Train Stops
In the center of each concourse there are escalators that lead down to the Plane Train. At the A-D concourses you’ll chose the direction of travel before you head down the escalator to the platform.
Other’s don’t matter, once you’re at the platform, you can choose the direction of travel.
ATL Plane Train Travel Time
The Plane Train travel time between each concourse is about 60 seconds. Some travel times are shorter than others due to the distance between the individual concourses. From end to end Concourse T to F would take about 10 minutes. The headtime(time between departures) at peak times is 60 seconds, at slower times it can increase to 90 seconds. Overnight and during times of maintenance, it will increase to 5-6 minutes. The Plane Train does run 24 hours a day.
Using the ATL Plane Train
Using the ATL Plane Train is easy and makes it’s fast to get between the concourses. So wherever you are in the ATL airport, the process to change concourses is the same.
First, look up and find a sign that directs you to the desired concourse. These are very regular in all of the concourses. This will point you to the correct direction and the center of the concourse where you’ll see the escalators to the plane train. Take the correct escalator down to the platform. At the platform, if needed, select the correct train direction, both sides will be well labeled and show all of the stops.
When the train arrives, both sets of doors will open, allow arriving passengers to get off, stand to the side. Once the people who need to disembark are off, head into the train. You’ll be warned that “this train is departing, please stand clear of the doors.”
Onboard the plane train there is an announcement of what the next concourse will be, there is also a screen that displays the next stop and the ones that will follow. The ATL plane train doesn’t have seats like a subway train, it’s mostly standing room with one bench at the end of the train car.
When you arrive at your desired concourse the train will stop and the doors will open. Walk off the train and follow the signs to the escalator that will take you up to the departures level.
ATL Plane Train Final Thoughts
Using the ATL Plane Train is an easy and efficient way to get around the Atlanta Airport. If you’re going to making a connection at ATL(Guide here), there’s a good chance you’ll be on the train. The Plane Train stops at all 7 concourses and the main terminal. From end to end, the ride would take about 10 minutes. The Plane Train connects all of the domestic gates to the international ones, so there’s no need to exit security to make a domestic connection to an international departure.
It’s certainly not glamorous, but the Plane Train is a vital part of the ATL airport.