DFW Skylink

File:DFW Skylink from plane.jpg

Skylink was developed as a replacement for the Airtrans (part of which was later operated as American Airlines' TrAAin System), the airport's original people mover system that connected airport facilities and parking lots. It served the airport for 31 years from 1974 to 2005 and transported a quarter of a billion passengers between DFW's then four terminals and employee facilities, logging a total of {{convert|97|e6mi|e6km|abbr=off}} over the lifetime of its fleet. As DFW became a large connecting hub for flights, Airtrans was noted for being slow with its top speed of {{convert|17|mph|abbr=on}} and following a uni-directional counter-clockwise loop located inside security for Terminals A, B, and C and outside security to other areas, was inefficient in moving passengers.{{cite news|last=Marta|first=Suzanne|title=Airtrans pulling into station for good - D/FW people-mover replaced by Skylink will make final trip Tuesday|work=The Dallas Morning News|page=1A|date=June 20, 2005}}{{cite press release |title=DFW International Airport Bids Farewell to Venerable Airport Train System – 97 Million Miles and 250 Million Passengers Later |author=Public Affairs Department |publisher=Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport |url=https://www.dfwairport.com/pressroom/Bids_Farewell_Venerable_Airport_Train_System_97_Million_Miles_250_Million_Passengers_LaterLater.pdf |date=June 21, 2005 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511033747/http://www.dfwairport.com/pressroom/Bids_Farewell_Venerable_Airport_Train_System_97_Million_Miles_250_Million_Passengers_LaterLater.pdf |archive-date=2012-05-11 |url-status=dead }} The system was decommissioned soon after Skylink opened as a modern replacement and the old guideways were left in place throughout the airport.

Skylink guideway construction began in the fall of 1999 and took place with limited interruption of aircraft traffic. Contractors worked during overnight hours for 3 years – when airline gates were unused – arriving on site, completing work and removing equipment each morning before returning gates to an airline.{{Cite web|url=http://dfwairport.mediaroom.com/DFW-INTERNATIONAL-AIRPORT-DEBUTS-WORLD-S-LARGEST-AIRPORT-PEOPLE-MOVER-SYSTEM|title=DFW International Airport Debuts World's Largest Airport People Mover System|date=May 21, 2005|website=DFW Airport|access-date=April 8, 2018|archive-date=April 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408210008/http://dfwairport.mediaroom.com/DFW-INTERNATIONAL-AIRPORT-DEBUTS-WORLD-S-LARGEST-AIRPORT-PEOPLE-MOVER-SYSTEM|url-status=dead}}

The system made its public debut on June 25, 2004, where it then began a rigorous testing period. It was opened to the public on May 21, 2005, and is completely automated. Skylink trains run every two minutes and travel at speeds up to {{nowrap|35–37 mph}} {{nowrap|(56–60 km/h)}}.{{cite web| url=http://www.bombardier.com/index.jsp?id=1_0&lang=en&file=/en/1_0/1_2/1_2_2_1_2.jsp| title=Bombardier Innovia Technology| website=Bombardier Transportation| date=February 3, 2006| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060103083143/http://www.bombardier.com/index.jsp?id=1_0&lang=en&file=%2Fen%2F1_0%2F1_2%2F1_2_2_1_2.jsp| archive-date=January 3, 2006| url-status=dead}}{{cite web| url=http://www.leaelliott.com/news/Featured%20Project_home.htm| website=Lea+Elliot| title=DFW International Airport Skylink System| date=February 3, 2006| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060512014856/http://www.leaelliott.com/news/Featured%20Project_home.htm| archivedate=May 12, 2006}}{{cite press release| url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2005_May_20/ai_n13759465| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118020909/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2005_May_20/ai_n13759465| url-status=dead| archive-date=January 18, 2008| author=Corgan Associates| date=May 20, 2005| access-date=14 February 2007| title=(untitled)}}

In 2015, after a decade of service, Skylink had transported over 141 million people and traveled over {{convert|32.4|e6mi|e6km|abbr=off|adj=pre|fleet}}.{{Cite news|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dallasfort-worth-international-airport-celebrates-a-decade-of-international-terminal-d-skylink-and-the-grand-hyatt-dfw-300132309.html|author=DFW Airport|title=Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Celebrates A Decade of International Terminal D, Skylink and the Grand Hyatt DFW|date=August 24, 2015|work=PR Newswire|access-date=April 8, 2018}}

The Skylink system operates airside at DFW, mostly serving passengers connecting between flights, and is inaccessible to those who have not cleared security.

Skylink operates trains 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The system is double-tracked and both tracks are operational between 5 am and midnight. Between midnight and 5 am, one track may be taken out of operation to allow for maintenance.{{Cite web |date=August 15, 2023 |title=Central Terminal Area Expansion Project Appendix G2: Terminals E & F |url=https://downloads.ctfassets.net/m2p70vmwc019/1EKYEXtpNW5n91nlyYI5Qg/b39054750b264df11f54d5c2838e3c90/Appendix_G2_-_Terminals_E___F.pdf |access-date=March 22, 2024 |publisher=Komatsu Architecture}} The system has crossovers between the Terminal D stations and the Terminal E stations. There are also pocket tracks in the sections of the guideway that cross International Parkway.

The longest trip between farthest stations is 9 minutes with an average 5 minute journey. This allows most passengers to make a connection from any one flight to another in around seven minutes, not including walking time to and from the stations.{{cite web|url=http://www.dfwairport.com/CDP/skylink/index.html| website=Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport|date=February 3, 2007|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070523123931/http://www.dfwairport.com/CDP/skylink/index.html|archivedate=May 23, 2007| title=Skylink, the World's Largest Airport Train}} The train supports a minimum airline connection time of 30 minutes.

The Skylink system uses a total of 64 Innovia APM 200 vehicles, coupled together into two car trains.{{cite web |title=DFW SkyLink FAQs |url=https://www.dfwairport.com/skylinkfaqs/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713193240/https://www.dfwairport.com/skylinkfaqs/ |archive-date=July 13, 2022}} Each Skylink vehicle can accommodate up to 69 passengers and their carry-on luggage.{{cite web |date=May 21, 2005 |title=Skylink Opens to the Traveling Public after Five Years of Planning and Construction; High School Band Plays "Celebration" to Start Operations |url=https://news.dfwairport.com/dfw-international-airport-debuts-worlds-largest-airport-people-mover-system/ |website=Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) Newsroom}} The Innovia APM 200 technology is also used at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5 as well as the PHX Sky Train.

The audio announcements on SkyLink are provided by local voice-over artist Doc Morgan.{{cite news |title=D/FW's Skylink has a Familiar Voice |url=https://www.aviationpros.com/home/news/10434066/dfws-skylink-has-a-familiar-voice |access-date=13 May 2022 |agency=Aviation Pros |date=5 July 2005}}

The concrete and steel guideway for Skylink, elevated at an average of {{convert|50|ft}}, was constructed above the terminals on 375 columns in a {{convert|4.81|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} bi-directional loop. The inner track travels clockwise and the outer track travels counter-clockwise.

Each of the five terminals contains two stations which are accessed on the secure (air) side. Unlike the previous Airtrans APM system, Skylink only connects terminals and does not travel to the airport's parking lots or rental car facility. The stations contain four sets of doors on each platform for entrance and exiting of passengers. Two more stations can be constructed for a future Terminal F if it is built.

{{gallery

| File:Skylink Interior.jpg | Interior of a Skylink car

| File:DFWSkylinkStation.jpg | A Skylink station inside Terminal A

| File:DFWSkylinkStationoutside.jpg | Skylink pulling into station (Platform shown is for emergencies only; passengers normally exit through sliding doors directly into terminal.)

| File:Skylinkaerial.jpg | Skylink guideway above Terminal E (left) and Express South Parking Lot/future site of Terminal F (right)

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{{Reflist}}

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• [http://www.dfwairport.com/connect/index.php Official DFW International Airport site – SkyLink] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708064552/http://www.dfwairport.com/connect/index.php |date=2008-07-08 }}
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t6F2xW8RNo Video of Skylink]

{{North American airport people movers}}

Category:Airport people mover systems in the United States

Category:Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

Category:Innovia people movers

Category:Public transportation in Texas

Category:Railway lines opened in 2005