Skylink
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Locale | Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport serving the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex |
---|---|
Transit type | Automated People Mover |
Began operation | 2005 |
System length | 5 miles (8.04672 km) |
No. of lines | 2 |
No. of stations | 10 |
Operator |
Skylink is the world's largest high-speed airport train system. It is an automated people mover operating in the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), and was created by Bombardier Transportation. It was opened in Spring of 2005 and is completely automated. Skylink trains run every couple minutes and travel at speeds around 35-37 mph.[1][2][3]
Skylink's average wait time is 2 minutes, while the average ride time is 5 minutes, allowing most passengers to make a connection from any one flight to another in around 7 minutes.[4]
The Skylink system uses Bombardier Innovia technology acquired from Bombardier Transportation. Future use of the Innovia technology is planned for implementation in the London Heathrow International Airport's T5 terminal in 2008.[1] The Innovia system in DFW utilizes 5 miles of dual laned, bi-directional, elevated guideway, which connects all 10 stations together. 2 more future stations are able to be constructed with the further expansion of another airport terminal. A total of 64 Skylink trains are currently in service at DFW.
Skylink replaced the original Airtrans system (part of which was later referred to as American Airlines' TrAAin system), which was notoriously slow and uni-directional (although it was a state-of-the-art automated system when the airport opened).
[edit] References
- ^ a b Bombardier Innovia Technology, Bombardier Transportation Website, 2006-02-03
- ^ Lea+Elliot Skylink Project, 2006-02-03
- ^ Corgan Associates press release, dated 20 May 2005, retrieved 14 February 2007
- ^ Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Website, 2007-02-03