The PHX Sky Train is a free, 24-hour electric people mover at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona; closed to the public between the hours of 10:00pm and 5:00am, restricted to flight ticket holders and employees only. The first segment opened to the public on April 8, 2013. The second segment, extending the train to Terminal 3 (with a walkway to Terminal 2) opened on December 8, 2014
The PHX Sky Train is gradually replacing shuttle buses, which is expected to reduce road congestion, pollution, lifting of baggage onto and off of buses, bus noises, and pitting and buckling of roadways caused by the heavy buses. Inter-terminal shuttle bus service was discontinued on January 15, 2015, however, the rental car shuttle buses still remain in service. The final segment of the PHX Sky Train, which will extend service to the Rental Car Center, is planned by 2020. This extension should allow for the replacement of the rental car shuttle bus service.
The PHX Sky Train features a 100-foot-tall (30Â m) bridge over Taxiway R, one of three which connect the north and south runways. This is the first location in the world where a rail system of any kind crosses over an active taxiway. The bridge is tall enough to accommodate a Boeing 747 and an Airbus A380.
Construction
Phase 1 (Dec 2008 - Apr 2013) links Terminal 4, the East Economy Parking lot and garages, and the 44th St/Washington Valley Metro light rail station. The guideway runs in a new underpass (below the Union Pacific railroad), past the jet-fuel tank farm, and alongside 44th Street.
Estimated cost was just over $1 billion in 2005. The PHX Sky Train Phase 1 was completed April 8, 2013.
Phase 1a (see picture) which connects Terminal 4 and Terminal 3 (and Terminal 2 via a covered walkway) opened December 8, 2014. Since the airport's long term plans call for the closure of Terminal 2, a stop at Terminal 2 will not be built.
The final segment, phase 2 - out to the Rental Car Center - should be complete by 2020.
Passenger services
All facilities, from the hotel sidewalks, to the METRO stations, to the terminals are "at grade", which means that baggage, baby buggies, and wheelchairs need not be lifted into and out of vehicles; they are rolled on and rolled off. To get from one level to another, elevators and escalators are provided. Numerous curb cuts are provided at street level for wheelchairs and such. This "at grade" concept continues from the hotels, to the street, to the stations, to the train, and indeed to the boarding gates of the aircraft. Such was never possible with the buses.
Free baggage check-in to one's final destination is available for Southwest and US Airways (later American Airlines) by personnel at the 44th St Station and the East Economy Garage station. Once checked, the baggage is delivered in locked containers to the internal baggage-handling systems at Terminal 4. Delivery of the baggage is via secured shuttle-trucks that run every 8 minutes or so. This reduces curbside congestion and queuing for baggage check-in on the T4 sidewalks.
Boarding passes can be printed (from self-serve kiosks) at the 44th St Station and the East Economy Station for American Airlines, British Airways, Air Canada, and WestJet (others to be added soon).
Passenger drop-off areas are now available at the 44th St Station, as well as a "cellphone lot" for those who are picking up passengers.
A system of air-conditioned escalators and moving walkways connects the 44th St Station to METRO light rail and two Valley Metro city bus lines (the 1-Washington, serving Downtown Phoenix and the Arizona State Capitol; and the 44-44th St/Tatum Blvd, serving points north along 44th Street and eventually the affluent enclave of Paradise Valley and Paradise Valley Mall, located a few miles north).
Two hotels are immediately adjacent (approx. 50 yards) to the 44th St Station. One is an Aloft Hotel, and the other is the Phoenix Airport Plaza Hotel (formerly Coast Hotel, formerly Crowne Plaza).
The Pueblo Grande Museum, a pre-Columbian (Hohokam) archaeological site operated by the City of Phoenix, is located on the southeast corner of 44th Street and Washington.
Bike racks and bike lockers are available at the 44th St Station.
Animals can visit the Park 'n' Play in the northwest corner of the 44th St Station, or they can visit the Park & Bark near the East Economy Garages (as well as T2, T3, and T4).
Ridership
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. The busiest days are Thursday and Friday. The busiest times are 5am-8am and noon-3pm In March, 2016, average daily ridership was 15,940.
Rolling stock
Rolling stock consists of Bombardier Innovia APM 200 vehicles, being Bombardier's second installation in the United States for such model (after the Skylink APM at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport), and third installation worldwide (after DFW's Skylink APM and the Terminal 5 APM at London Heathrow International Airport.)
The new INNOVIA APM system is designed to carry 3,300 passengers per hour per direction. It will operate 24 hours a day with trains running continuously in both directions and arriving as frequently as every three minutes. The average speed of the trains will be 23 mph but speeds up to 38 mph can be achieved. The journey time from the 44th Street Station to Terminal 4 is five minutes plus an additional two minutes to reach Terminal 3.
As of April 2013, there are 18 cars in service, generally operating as six 3-car trainsets, although 2-car trainsets are in use during off-peak times.
Image gallery
Different views of the PHX Sky Train and terminal.
References
External links
- PHX Sky Train, Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix