LAX People-Mover Testing Underway, Yet Completion Remains Years Off

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is moving closer to resolving its notorious traffic congestion, but travelers shouldn’t pack their bags just yet.

The much-anticipated Automated People Mover (APM), an electric, driverless train system designed to transport passengers seamlessly above the airport’s notorious traffic snarls, has been seen conducting test runs. Despite these promising signs, officials acknowledge the project remains significantly behind its original timeline.

On Friday night, the futuristic train was observed in motion, providing a tantalizing preview of the potential relief it could bring to one of America’s busiest airports, as reported by NBC4.

The APM, a $3.34 billion investment, aims to whisk passengers along a 2.25-mile elevated route. It will connect terminals, parking areas, a centralized rental car facility, and a Metro station, all while reaching speeds of up to 47 miles per hour.

Although construction began in 2019, the project has faced considerable delays and may not be operational until the latter half of 2026. This would mark it as over two years overdue, potentially causing it to miss the upcoming FIFA World Cup slated for this summer.

Insiders suggest that ongoing disputes between Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and the contractor consortium LINXS are part of the reason for the delay, despite claims that the project is approximately 95% complete.

When it finally arrives, the train will run 24/7, stopping at six stations — three inside the Central Terminal Area and three outside — and operate a fleet of 44 cars arranged into nine four-car sets carrying up to 200 passengers each.

“Trains will arrive at stations every two minutes during peak hours with a total travel time of 10 minutes,” according to the LAWA website.

The service will be free for ticketed passengers, airport workers and those picking up or dropping off travelers.

Still, fed-up locals aren’t buying the delays. “Is it sheer incompetence or a will to get it done,” one Redditor asked.

For now, travelers remain stuck navigating the same congestion the train was meant to fix.

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