NBBJ unveils plans to turn the london underground into a moving walkway

NBBJ unveils plans to turn the london underground into a moving walkway
all images courtesy of NBBJ

global architecture practice NBBJ has revealed conceptual plans to transform the london underground’s circle line into a moving walkway. the route, which carries 114 million people each year along its 17 miles of track, is one of the city’s most congested and is often subject to delays. using airport-style travelators, the design replaces underground trains with three side-by-side electronic walkways. the paths move at incremental speeds that take passengers around the famous circular tube route.

three side-by-side electronic walkways move at varying speeds

commuters would enter at the slowest speed of 3mph (5kph) and slowly increase their pace by stepping onto adjacent walkways, up to a top speed of 15mph (24kph). when added to an average walking pace of 3mph, pedestrians would actually move faster on foot than today’s circle line trains, which must stop for boarding at each station. the design team say that the scheme would result in considerably quicker, more enjoyable and healthier journeys. intended to promote new ideas for urban mobility, the scheme was developed with a view to inserting an element of fun into traveling on the underground, for tourists and londoners alike.

a cross section of the movable walkway