Travelator vs. Escalator — What's the Difference?

Travelators, also known as moving walkways, are designed to facilitate long-distance walking or to transport passengers quickly across horizontal or slightly inclined planes. They are commonly found in airports, large stations, or shopping malls, where the goal is to move people smoothly over flat or nearly flat distances without the interruption of steps. On the other hand, escalators are designed to move people between different floors or levels, featuring steps that move up or down at a moderate to steep angle. They are a staple in malls, airports, subway stations, and other public places where quick vertical circulation is needed.

While travelators offer a convenient way to cover long distances without exerting much effort, making them ideal for transporting luggage, shopping carts, or people who prefer or need to avoid stairs, escalators are specifically designed to save time and reduce the effort required to ascend or descend between floors. Escalators, with their step design, are not suitable for carts or wheeled luggage, but they provide a faster alternative to elevators or stairs for people on the go.

Travelators can be used to complement existing transportation systems, providing a seamless transition between different modes of transport or sections within large complexes. They help in managing foot traffic and reducing congestion in busy areas. Conversely, escalators are often used as the primary means of moving people between floors quickly, especially in high-traffic environments where elevators alone would not suffice to handle the volume of people.

One notable difference in operation and design is that travelators are typically longer and run at a slower speed compared to escalators. This design choice prioritizes safety and accessibility, especially in settings where people and luggage are moving together. Escalators, however, are shorter but operate at a faster speed to efficiently manage the vertical flow of people.

In terms of installation and maintenance, travelators require more floor space and are more complex to install due to their length and the need for a flat or slightly inclined surface. Escalators, while also complex, are generally easier to incorporate into buildings since they occupy vertical space and have a standardized slope, making them a common feature in multi-story buildings.