PHX Sky Train

File:Terminal 4 looking at T3, under construction.JPG

Phase 1 consists of a {{convert|1.7|mi}} segment constructed between December 2008 and April 2013. It links Terminal 4, the East Economy Parking lot, and the 44th Street/Washington station on the A Line of the Valley Metro Rail system. The guideway runs in a new underpass (below the Union Pacific railroad), past the jet-fuel tank farm, and alongside 44th Street. At an estimated cost of $1.58 billion, Phase 1 opened on April 8, 2013.

Phase 1a, which opened December 8, 2014, extended the train from Terminal 4 to Terminal 3. A {{convert|0.25|mi|adj=on}} covered walkway connected the Terminal 3 station with Terminal 2 until Terminal 2 closed in February 2020.{{cite news |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/airlines/2020/02/06/phoenix-airport-sky-harbor-terminal-2-is-closed-whats-next-demolition-parking-bus-gates/4670749002/ |title=Sky Harbor's Terminal 2 is closed. What happens next? Here's what we know |last=Yeager |first=Melissa |work=The Arizona Republic |date=February 6, 2020 |accessdate=April 5, 2020}}

Phase 2 opened on December 20, 2022, and extended the Sky Train west from Terminal 3 to the Rental Car Center. Funding was approved in October 2016{{cite news |last=Gilbertson |first=Dawn |date=October 21, 2016 |title=Phoenix OKs update of airport terminal, train |work=The Arizona Republic |url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/airlines/2016/10/21/sky-harbor-airport-extend-sky-train-add-gates/92524276/ |accessdate=April 5, 2020}} and the extension was projected to cost $700 million. Phase 2 construction completed in mid 2022 and was under testing until its final opening in December.{{Cite tweet |url-access=limited |title=Register |user=mayorgallego |number=1600906490428018689 |url=https://twitter.com/mayorgallego/status/1600906490428018689 |access-date=2022-12-09}} Phase 2 was fully funded by airline and rental car passenger fees. The {{convert|2.5|mi}} extension passes in two cuts underneath future taxiways and Interstate 10.

Phase 2 includes provisions for infill stations to be constructed for a future "West Terminal" (on the site of the West Economy Parking lots) as well as a new ground transportation center to be built just east of 24th Street.{{cite web |url=https://www.skyharbor.com/docs/default-source/pdfs/about/final-environmental-assessment/1_phx_skytrain_final_ea_january2018.pdf?sfvrsn=358d9088_6 |title=Final Environmental Assessment for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Sky Train Phase 2 |date=January 2018 |author=HNTB Corporation |author-link=HNTB Corporation |accessdate=April 5, 2020}} Both the new terminal and new ground transportation center are unfunded and included in the airport's 20-year Comprehensive Asset Management Plan.{{cite web |url=https://www.skyharbor.com/docs/default-source/pdfs/camp/phx-camp-executive-summary_2019-09-13.pdf?sfvrsn=8c516889_4 |title=Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport - Comprehensive Asset Management Plan |date=2019 |author=Ricondo & Associates |accessdate=April 5, 2020}}

At the 44th Street station, domestic passengers could check baggage for flights operated by American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines, though this ended in November 2017.{{cite web | url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/airlines/2017/11/08/phoenix-sky-harbor-airport-ending-early-bag-check/817936001/ | title=Schlep your own luggage: Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is ending early bag check }} Once checked, the baggage was delivered in locked containers to the internal baggage-handling systems at Terminal 4. Delivery of the baggage was via secured shuttle-trucks that ran approximately every eight minutes.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

44th Street also has a passenger drop-off area, cell phone lot, bike racks, and bike lockers.{{cite web |url=https://www.skyharbor.com/ParkingTransportation/Biking |title=Bicycling to Sky Harbor |publisher=City of Phoenix Aviation Department |accessdate=April 5, 2020}} It is also served by routes 1, 32, and 44 of the Valley Metro Bus system.{{cite web |url=https://www.valleymetro.org/sites/default/files/brochure/rail.pdf |title=Valley Metro Rail |date=October 28, 2019 |publisher=Valley Metro |accessdate=April 5, 2020}} FlixBus boards from the north side of the Sky Train station.

Select airlines also offer kiosks to print boarding passes at the 44th Street/Washington and East Economy Parking stations.

Three months after opening, the PHX Sky Train carried about 70,000 people per week, over 40% higher than the design estimates of about 48,000.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} The busiest days are Thursday and Friday.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} The busiest times are 5 am-8 am and noon-3 pmThe Arizona Republic, July 14, 2013, page B5, "Officials: PHX Sky Train may top use estimates In March 2016, average daily ridership was 15,940.{{Cite web|url=https://skyharbor.com/Media/PressReleases/2016-archives/2016/05/09/phoenix-sky-harbor-sets-another-passenger-record|title=Phoenix Sky Harbor Sets Another Passenger Record|website=skyharbor.com|access-date=2016-07-19}}

Cumulative ridership hit 1 million in 2013 and hit 10 million in 2015.{{cite news |url=http://ktar.com/story/1494474/phoenix-sky-harbor-gives-first-look-700m-sky-train-extension |title=Phoenix Sky Harbor gives first look at $700M Sky Train extension |date=March 16, 2017 |work=KTAR-FM |accessdate=April 5, 2020}}

Rolling stock consists of 18 Innovia APM 200 vehicles.{{cite press release |title=Bombardier Wins Contract to Extend People Mover System in Phoenix |url=https://www.bombardier.com/en/media/newsList/details.bt_20180322_bombardier-wins-contract-to-extend-people-mover-syst.bombardiercom.html |location=Berlin |publisher=Bombardier Inc. |agency=Bombardier Transportation |date=March 22, 2018 |access-date=April 6, 2020}} Trains generally operating as six 3-car trainsets, although 2-car trainsets are in use during off-peak times. With the opening of Phase 2, Bombardier will deliver 24 additional vehicles.

File:231230-8 PHX Sky Train.jpg

The system is designed to carry 3,300 passengers per hour per direction.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} The average speed of the trains was forecasted to be {{convert|23|mph}}, with trainsets capable of reaching {{convert|38|mph}}, making the journey time from the 44th Street to Terminal 4 five minutes, plus an additional two minutes to reach Terminal 3.[https://archive.today/20130616012317/http://www.bombardier.com/en/transportation/media-centre/press-releases/details?docID=0901260d802af38c]

This is the third Innovia APM 200 installation following the DFW Skylink and Heathrow Terminal 5 Transit.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-21 |title=Alstom’s automated people mover at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport carries first passengers across new extension |url=https://railway-usa.com/news/63106-alstom%E2%80%99s-automated-people-mover-at-phoenix-sky-harbor-international-airport-carries-first-passengers-across-new-extension |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Railway USA |language=en-US}}

Different views of the PHX Sky Train and terminal.

{{Gallery

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|align=center

|File: Phoenix-Sky_Train_Station_2.JPG|Outside view of the main terminal of the PHX Sky Train.

| File:Phoenix-Sky Train-44 St. Sta.JPG| Inside the PHX Sky Train 44th Street Terminal Station.

|File: Phoenix-Inside_Sky_Train_Station.JPG| Another view of the 44th Street PHX Sky Train main terminal.

|File: Phoenix-Sky_Train_Station.JPG|View of the main terminal of the PHX Sky Train from an approaching train.

|File: Phoenix-Sky_Train_3.JPG |View of the other PHX Sky Trains.

|File: Phoenix-Sky_Train_2.JPG |View #2 of the other PHX Sky Trains.

| File:Phoenix-Sky Train-Circulator Shuttle Stop Sta..JPG|Inside the PHX Sky Train Circulator Shuttle Stop Station.

| File:Phoenix-Sky Train-Terminal 4 Sta..JPG|Inside PHX Sky Train Terminal 4 Station.

|File:Phoenix-Sky Train-5.JPG| PHX Sky Train rails from terminals four to three.

| File:Phoenix-Sky Train -Terminal 3 Sta..JPG|Inside PHX Sky Train Terminal 3 Station.

| File:Phoenix-Sky Train Terminal 3.JPG|Outside PHX Sky Train Terminal 3 Station

| File:240109-2 PHX Sky Train.jpg|An elevated section of the track near the Bombardier Transportation maintenance offshoot

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{{Reflist}}

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• [https://skyharbor.com/PHXSkyTrain/ PHX Sky Train, Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix]

{{North American airport people movers}}

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Category:Airport people mover systems in the United States

Category:Airport rail links in the United States

Category:Railway lines opened in 2013

Category:Innovia people movers

Sky Train

Category:2013 establishments in Arizona