Building the Future - Terminal 3 Menu

The Sky Line People Mover
Highlights

Vision

The new Sky Line supplements the existing people mover system at Frankfurt Airport. How will Terminal 3 in the south of the airport be linked to Terminals 1 and 2 in the north? The challenge is that two runways separate the new terminal from the rest of the airport. The solution is the new Sky Line people mover. It will be able to carry up to 4,000 passengers per hour in each direction between Terminals 1, 2, and 3. The trip between Terminals 1 and 3 will take eight minutes at speeds of up to 80 km/h. The existing Sky Line will continue to operate between Terminals 1 and 2 but only carry passengers who are transferring between flights.

More about the new system

Support After Support

In order to travel the 5.6 kilometers separating the north and south of the airport, the Sky Line follows an up-and-down route. In the north the line will be raised to wend its way among the existing buildings and structures. The central part will be at ground level to avoid blocking the view of pilots who are landing aircraft on an intersecting approach path. After briefly dipping down to pass beneath a road, the people mover line will continue south on another elevated stretch to reach the new station at Terminal 3.

More on construction of the new Sky Line route

Striving for an optimal solution

Various ideas were advanced for connecting Terminal 3 with the rest of the airport. They included simply extending the existing Sky Line people mover all the way south to it. Although this sounds sensible, the planners opted for another approach that, although it involves a greater effort and expenditure, delivers greater benefits.

More on an optimal solution

Next Stop: Terminal 3

The new system requires two new and one expanded stations. One is now taking shape in front of Terminal 1; from there, passengers arriving at the regional or long-distance train station can travel straight to Terminal 3. The existing station at Terminal 2 is being enlarged to permit transfers between the existing and new systems. An a new station in front of Terminal 3 is the most important Sky Line stop for everyone who doesn’t get to the new terminal by car, taxi, or bus.

More on the new stations

State-of-the-Art Technology

A highly efficient system like the Sky Line people mover depends on capable technical support. A new maintenance facility for servicing, repairing, and cleaning the automated trains will therefore make sure that travelers can always travel comfortably and conveniently among Terminals 1, 2, and 3 – maximum availability is an absolute must. The facility comprises two connected buildings containing the central control room, a workshop, and a warehouse for materials and parts.

More on the maintenance facility