Cargo Movers and Their Revenue Potential for the People Mover Industry

It has been a well recognized fact that passenger rail systems lose money and freight railways make substantial profits. The same formula could easily be applied to People Movers except that there are no freight or "Cargo Movers" in operation. The idea of carrying light cargo on People Mover systems was born almost simultaneously with the inception of the Automated People Mover concept in the 1960s and 70s. However, it quickly disappeared when the bureaucratic champions took over activities from inventors and corporate developers. There are only two People Mover systems in medical center settings that have been used for years to move light cargo and accommodate utility lines. There are also a few conventional passenger transit systems that are utilized for light cargo movement. For example, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system in San Francisco, California is used for mail distribution. In order to move People Movers from the margin of the transit market's interest into the mainstream, they need to become more cost efficient to their buyers in comparison with other modes. Cargo (and utilities) can play an instrumental role in that necessary transition.