Siemens (Germany) - Press Release: Fraport AG, operator of the Frankfurt Airport, has commissioned Siemens, lead in a consortium with Max Bögl Group and Keolis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, to deliver a fully automated Airval people mover. The Airval will connect the Terminal 2 with the new Terminal 3 and the Station at Terminal 1. The line will be 5.6 kilometers long, and have two tracks and three stations. Siemens will deliver 12 fully automated two-car trains equipped with GoA4 Communication Based Train Control Trainguard MT CBTC, the trackwork equipment, the station platform doors, communication system, depot equipment and the power supply system. In addition, Siemens will take over the operation and maintenance of the system for five years with an option to extend service for another five years. The Airval system will be designed and developed at Siemens' Val world center of competence in Toulouse, France. The fully automated people mover is scheduled to begin service at the Frankfurt Airport in 2023.

The Airval is a fully automated passenger transport system running on rubber tires and using a central rail guidance system. It offers high performance with short headways and is fitted with an energy management system that ensures high operating efficiency.

"With the consortium of Siemens, Max Bögl and Keolis, we have chosen a reliable system provider in the market. The new passenger transport system will increase the comfort and convenience for our customers and sustainably strengthen the hub function of the Frankfurt Airport," says Dr. Stefan Schulte, Chairman of the Executive Board of Fraport AG.

"Over 30 years of experience have gone into our Val systems – along with a steady stream of improvements. Frankfurt is already our second Airval order received this fiscal year, following the order for the Bangkok airport. With its high availability level, we deliver an especially reliable product to our customers," said Sabrina Soussan, CEO of the Mobility Division at Siemens.

The Airval trains will operate at the Frankfurt Airport with two-minute headway, 24 hours a day and seven days a week. In peak periods, the trains in Frankfurt can carry over 4,000 passengers per hour and per direction. The trains have a top speed of 80 km/h. Large doors and spacious aisles ease entries and exits and provide generous space for baggage. On-board Internet access and information displays enhance passenger comfort and convenience.

Val systems from Siemens are already operating at the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle and Orly Airports in Paris as well as at the O'Hare Airport in Chicago. Val systems also operate as metro lines, such as in the French cities of Lille, Rennes and Toulouse, in Uijeongbu, South Korea, and in Turin, Italy.

Picture 1 Caption:

The picture shows the fully automated Airval people mover for the Frankfurt Airport.

Picture 2 Caption:

Infographic: Airval Fully Automated People Mover for Frankfurt Airport