Mega project: 81 installations from ThyssenKrupp Elevator for the world’s largest underground rail terminus

ThyssenKrupp Elevator has been awarded a contract to supply equipment for the West Kowloon Terminus project in Hong Kong (China). The company will supply a total of 73 escalators and eight moving walks. With a total area of over 380,000 square meters, the gigantic rail terminus, the majority of it located underground, will be larger than most airport terminals. Its capacity, too, will be exceptional – the terminus will be capable of handling around 99,000 passengers per day. The first trains are expected to run from 2015. The Hong Kong section of the Express Rail Link operating at up to 200 km/hour will connect Hong Kong with the capital Beijing over 2,000 kilometers away, passing via Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Wuhan.

To provide daylight to the multi-storey terminus with its duty-free shops, restaurants and waiting lounges, architect Andrew Bromberg (Aedas) chose a special design: the walkable glass and steel roof structure spans the building below like a futuristic helmet. The design was a winner in the 2010 World Architecture Festival and also won a 2012 MIPIM Award, one of the most prestigious international property awards.

The 81 escalators and moving walks from ThyssenKrupp Elevator will smoothly and efficiently transport travelers and visitors throughout the new multi-level terminus and to the station’s 15 platforms. All installations will feature an eco-friendly energy saving system that reduces the speed whenever there are no passengers. Depending on passenger volumes this can create energy savings of up to 60 percent.

For ThyssenKrupp Elevator this latest order represents a further success in connection with the expansion of the Chinese rail network. At the end of 2010 the company won its biggest ever contract to supply passenger transportation systems for train stations in China: a total of 234 elevators and 637 escalators will be installed at 96 stations in cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.