Thursday, March 04, 2010

ThyssenKrupp Elevator receives follow-up order for Barcelona Metro

ThyssenKrupp Elevator has received a further order for the supply of 132 escalators for the Barcelona Metro in Spain. This increases the number of elevators and escalators to be supplied and installed by the company for the new 47.8 kilometer long Line 9 to over 600 installations. On completion in 2014, the mega-project will be the longest underground metro line in Europe, with a total of 52 stations. The new connection links the airport to the city's eastern suburbs and serves stations close to various public facilities such as the university, hospitals, tourist places and
FC Barcelona’s stadium. Line 9 will also connect four suburb cities with Barcelona. The operators expect around 130 million passengers to use the line each year.

The densely populated city of Barcelona poses considerable challenges for the project planners. The tracks and platforms are being built at depths of up to 90 meters. That's about the height of a
30-floor residential or office building. Furthermore, as well as ground-level entrance halls, many of the stations have different levels underground. At greater depths below ground, increased demands are placed on the elevators and escalators needed to take passengers quickly, safely and comfortably to the trains or exits. For this, ThyssenKrupp Elevator has developed an intelligent control system which ensures elevator cars are waiting at platform level before a train enters
the station. In addition, many of the stations will feature elevators capable of carrying up to
40 passengers at a time.

Under various new installation and modernization projects, ThyssenKrupp Elevator has already installed elevators and escalators in many of Barcelona's Metro stations. In addition, with its maintenance and support services, the company also plays a key role in ensuring the safe and reliable transportation of passengers within the stations.

The Metro is just one of ThyssenKrupp Elevator's key reference projects in the Spanish city. Others include the new Terminal 1 at Barcelona Airport, the escalators in Montjuic Park, the Torre Agbar office tower, and various renowned luxury hotels.