A horizontally or slightly inclined continuously moving conveyor surface for transporting pedestrians laterally across a floor or between gently sloped levels.
Full Definition
Moving walks (travelators or autowalk) operate on the same principle as escalators but are designed for horizontal or near-horizontal travel at inclinations of 0–12°. Step-type moving walks use pallets (flat interlocking plates) rather than profiled steps. Belt-type moving walks use a continuous rubber or composite belt. EN 115-1:2017 covers both escalators and moving walks. Speed limits: ≤0.75 m/s for horizontal and up to 0.50 m/s for inclined walks. Handrails must move at the same speed as the pallet/belt ±2 %. Moving walks are specified at airports (inter-terminal transit), large retail centres, and underground systems where walking distances are long. Key maintenance points: pallet or belt tension and wear, comb plate condition, skirt deflector function, and emergency stop switch testing. Annual throughput at peak transit airports can exceed 50 million passenger journeys per walk.
