Frankfurt Airport’s Sky Line people mover system taking shape

Frankfurt Airport today unveiled the the first vehicle for its new Sky Line people mover, which will carry travellers from the long-distance and regional train stations at the airport straight to the main building of Terminal 3 in only eight minutes.

When operational – the new terminal isn’t due to open until 2026 – the new driverless transportation system will be capable of carrying up to 4,000 passengers in each direction to and from Terminal 3.

The people mover, which will supplement the existing transportation system that passengers have been using for many years to get between Terminals 1 and 2, will boast a total of 12 vehicles each of which is 11 metres and 2.8 metres wide and weighs 15 tonnes. One car of each vehicle will be reserved for non-Schengen travellers.

Fraport AG CEO, Dr Stefan Schulte, enthused: “I’m very pleased to present part of Frankfurt Airport’s future today. The new Sky Line will integrate Terminal 3 into the existing airport infrastructure. And the arrival of this first vehicle marks yet another important milestone in the overall project.

“We are deploying state-of-the-art technology and intelligent construction methods to implement our vision of a futuristic airport terminal. Travellers, guests, and employees can all look forward to short paths, high frequencies, and outstanding levels of comfort and convenience.”

Siemens Mobility in Vienna is manufacturing the vehicles of the new Sky Line people mover to meet Fraport AG’s special requirements.

These include a large number of folding seats to ensure that passengers always have enough space for their luggage, as well as specially designed grab bars that allow greater freedom of movement. When the system is completed, the vehicles will run on angled wheels surrounding a guide rail mounted on a concrete surface. All of these measures will help ensure safe travel.

Albrecht Neumann, CEO for Rolling Stock at Siemens Mobility, explained: “The delivery of the first fully automated vehicle marks an important milestone in the construction of the new Sky Line.

“Going forward, these conveyances will efficiently, comfortably, and sustainably carry passengers to and from the new terminal. The trains are based on our proven Val solution, which is already in use worldwide, including at airports in Bangkok and Paris.”

The vehicles will be serviced in a new maintenance building and washed by a dedicated system.

This first vehicle of the new Sky Line people mover will also be provisionally parked in the maintenance building. Over the weeks ahead, it will be prepared for its first test runs. The Max Bögl group is responsible for building much of the new, 5.6 kilometre-long route on which the new Sky Line will operate. This work has been ongoing since July 2019 and is proceeding right on schedule.

Fraport notes that regular operation of the new people mover will begin right on time for the planned inauguration of Terminal 3.