Can you guess what is more than 4.5 NHL hockey rinks in length, can move up to a speed of 2 metres/second, and can be found at Toronto Pearson International Airport? Here’s a clue - it’s not a baggage conveyor belt. Here’s another clue - it was built and installed by ThyssenKrupp Elevator, a trusted name renowned not only for elevators but also for moving walkways.

The installation of two new Express Moving Walkways (EMW), which began in mid-September of 2006, is now completed. Over the next few months, they will be put through a rigorous testing and commissioning process. These high-speed walkways, measuring 280 metres in length, will provide international outbound and inbound passengers a speedier third option of getting to and from their gates. They can walk, take a series of normal speed moving walkways, and once all the testing is completed, they will also be able to take the new EMWs.

The two EMWs are on the cutting edge of design. “These are the first of their kind in the world,” said Lee Daniel, ThyssenKrupp Elevator’s Business Development Manager. “A person can get on at one end and they will be moving at roughly 0.65 metres/second,” said Daniel. “The pallet then begins to accelerate to full speed, at 2 metres/second. Coming closer to the end of the walkway, the unit will decelerate back to 0.65 metres/second. This all happens without the need to step from one pallet to another. It’s seamless.”

Once the walkways had been thoroughly examined and all systems were go, it was time to put them to the test with “passengers.” Using dozens of GTAA employee volunteers on January 11, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority tested its new EMWs, located on the upper level of Pier F of Toronto Pearson’s Terminal 1.

The purpose of the trial was to test both the user and emergency responder experiences. “This trial incorporated a medical, and a life safety (fire) event and both were very successful,” said Pauline Leloudas, GTAA Senior Risk Management Representative. “The trial provides us with invaluable feedback about the passengers’ acceleration (entrance) experience, the deceleration (exit) experience, noise levels, audible messaging, signage and general comments about the passengers’ overall experience.”

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Using the EMW, international departing passengers will soon be able to go from the security checkpoint to their gate area, a distance of more than 300 metres, in approximately five minutes. If they walk while on the moving walkways, this time will be even faster. For the same distance it will take an average of ten minutes using the series of existing normal speed moving walkways, which are located right next to the new EMWs. The same is true for international passengers arriving into Terminal 1; the EMWs will mean a shorter time from their gate to Canada Customs.

This also is excellent news for those passengers connecting through Toronto. A quicker and more efficient way to move through Toronto Pearson to get to your next flight makes for an enhanced travelling experience and greater peace of mind.