The underground trains that ferry passengers to and from Denver International Airport's terminal and gate areas don't break down often.
But when they do, there's often chaos because of what's sometimes called the airport's "original sin:" the train system is the only way to get to most of the airport's gates.
So in addition to pursuing a redundant system - likely long bridges, much like the one from the terminal to the A Gates - airport officials are also trying to beef up the underground train.
They ordered 26 new train cars back in 2018. And now, after a lengthy delay the airport blamed on supply chain issues, the first has finally arrived.
The airport will phase out its 16 oldest train cars, which date back to the airport's birth in the mid-1990s. In total, the fleet will also grow from 31 cars to 41.
That means the underground system will be able to carry about 850 more passengers per hour, airport CEO Phil Washington said in a press release.
"They will reduce the time between arriving trains and allow us to run a more effective operating schedule," Washington said. "These efficiencies are going to be felt by passengers and make for a more seamless experience at DEN."
The airport says the full fleet of new train cars, built by Alstom, will be operational by the summer of 2024.
