Denver Airport's Underground: Exploring The Subway System

Denver International Airport (DEN) is one of the busiest airports in the world, and it offers a variety of transport and dining options. The airport has an Automated Guideway Transit System (AGTS) that connects the distant concourses with the main terminal, and travellers can also take the A Line train to get to downtown Denver. In addition, there is a Subway® restaurant at the airport, which offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as a children's menu.

Subway restaurant at the airport

Denver International Airport is served by an Automated Guideway Transit System (AGTS) that opened in 1995 along with the airport. The AGTS is not a subway in the traditional sense, but rather an intra-airport transit system that connects the distant concourses with the main terminal, the Jeppesen Terminal.

Denver International Airport does have a Subway® restaurant located within the Jeppesen Terminal on the West Side. The restaurant is open daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM and offers a variety of submarine sandwiches, wraps, salads, side dishes, and drinks. The Subway® restaurant at the airport provides a range of options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including a children's menu.

The Subway® restaurant at Denver International Airport allows customers to place orders for pick-up or delivery. It also participates in the Subway MyWay® Rewards program, where customers can earn tokens for every dollar spent, which can be redeemed for rewards. Additionally, the restaurant offers catering services and gluten-free bread options.

Denver International Airport has a wide range of dining options, including popular national chains and local favorites. Some of the other dining establishments at the airport include Auntie Anne's Pretzels, Aviator's Sports Bar & Bar-B-Que, Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, and Boulder Beer Tap House.

Automated Guideway Transit System

The Denver International Airport does not have a subway in the traditional sense of the word. However, it does have an Automated Guideway Transit System (AGTS) that operates within the airport premises. The AGTS is a 24/7 people mover system that connects the distant concourses with the main terminal, also known as the Jeppesen Terminal. The system became operational in 1995, along with the opening of the airport, at a cost of $84 million.

The AGTS consists of twin 1.25-mile (2.01 km) tunnels travelling underneath the aircraft taxiways and passing through the centre of the concourse buildings. There are four stations in total, serving each airside concourse (Concourses A, B, and C) and the Jeppesen Terminal. The trains generally operate at 1.5-minute intervals during peak times, resulting in an 11-minute travel time from end to end. The layout of the Denver International Airport is heavily based on that of Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, with the AGTS being operationally identical to The Plane Train.

The AGTS is not just a functional but also an artistic part of the airport. Nearly 1% of the construction budget for the airport was dedicated to artwork and art installations, and the AGTS is home to three of these. The first is an audio installation called "Train Call", which features the pre-recorded announcements delivered by well-known voices from the Denver area, preceded by a variety of short musical sound effects and jingles. The second is the "Kinetic Light Air Curtain" in the east tunnel, which consists of 5,280 propellers mounted on the wall and accented with blue light. The third is "Deep Time/Deep Space, A Subterranean Journey" in the west tunnel, which consists of over 5,000 feet (1,500 m) of coloured reflective metal strips and other items arranged into various images, illuminated by an advanced lighting system.

In addition to the AGTS, travellers can also use the A Line train service provided by the Regional Transportation District (RTD) to get to and from the airport and downtown Denver. The A Line has six stops between the airport and Denver Union Station, and the 23-mile ride takes approximately 37 minutes. Trains operate every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes outside of those hours.

The A Line train to downtown Denver

The A Line train began operating on 22 April 2016, and travels between Denver International Airport and Denver Union Station, the city's transportation hub, in approximately 37 minutes. The 23-mile journey costs $10 each way and travellers can expect a train every 15 minutes between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. and every 30 minutes outside of those hours. The A Line operates 24 hours a day, with a brief closure of less than 3 hours in the early morning.

The A Line train has six stops between the airport and Denver Union Station, with a total of eight stations serviced. The stations include parking, with over 4,300 total spaces available for commuters and travellers. The stations also offer connecting rail and bus services, providing access to various parts of the city and surrounding areas.

Denver Union Station is located in the heart of downtown Denver and offers access to local and regional transportation options, including light rail, buses, Amtrak rail service, and taxis. The station is housed in a beautiful 1914 Beaux-Arts building, featuring a variety of restaurants, bars, shops, and the boutique hotel, The Crawford Hotel.

The A Line trains offer level boarding, making it convenient for travellers with luggage, and each car has a capacity of 209 people, including seating for 91 and two wheelchair spaces. The trains are also equipped with overhead storage, luggage towers, and bicycle racks, providing ample space for travellers with different needs.

The airport's art installations

Denver International Airport has gained recognition for its art installations, even being named the "Best U.S. Airport for Art" by USA Today in 2013. The airport has dedicated almost 1% of its construction budget to various art pieces, including those on its Automated Guideway Transit System (AGTS). Here is a detailed description of some of the art installations at the airport:

Train Call

This installation is an audio experience on the AGTS, featuring the systems' station announcements and warning messages. The pre-recorded announcements are delivered by well-known voices from the Denver area, such as former Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies announcer Alan Roach, and local KUSA-TV anchor Kim Christiansen. The messages are preceded by short jingles and sound effects, including western-style electric guitar, organ, and piano. The audio is intended to be playful, friendly, and memorable.

Kinetic Light Air Curtain

Located in the east tunnel of the AGTS, this installation consists of 5,280 propellers mounted on the wall, representing Denver's elevation of exactly one mile high (5,280 feet). The propellers are accented with blue light, and the wind from passing trains causes some of them to spin. The total number of blades combined represents the height of Colorado's tallest mountain, Mount Elbert, which stands at 14,440 feet.

Deep Time/Deep Space, A Subterranean Journey

This exhibit is located in the west tunnel of the AGTS and was designed by Leni Schwendinger. It consists of over 5,000 feet of coloured reflective metal strips arranged into various images, along with sheet metal cut-outs of pick-axes and hammers. The exhibit transitions from older technology to newer, space-age technology, reflecting Colorado's industrial and mining history. The art is illuminated by an advanced lighting system activated by passing trains.

In Peace and Harmony with Nature

This mural, located in the Jeppesen Terminal on level 5, resembles the social realist murals of Mexico and highlights concerns about environmental destruction. The artist, Leo Tanguma, divides the mural into two themes: one side portrays environmental destruction and the end of life, while the other depicts humans uniting to restore the planet. This is a common theme in Tanguma's work, reflecting his desire for human liberation and democracy.

Children of the World Dream of Peace

Also by Leo Tanguma, this powerful mural is currently stored during the airport's construction phase but usually greets passengers near the baggage claim area. One side of the mural illustrates the sadness of war, while the other shows happy children from around the world celebrating peace.

Notre Denver

This unique artwork consists of two bronze gargoyles sitting inside suitcases at either end of the baggage claim area. Historically, gargoyles were placed in front of buildings for protection, and these gargoyles symbolise the protection of travellers and their luggage as they pass through the airport.

Blucifer

Perhaps the most iconic piece at the airport, "Mustang" or "Blucifer" is a 32-foot blue case-fibreglass sculpture with red eyes, greeting travellers as they approach the airport. The intriguing story behind the sculpture involves a tragic accident during its creation, resulting in the death of the artist, Luis Jimenez. Jimenez's sons completed the project, and the sculpture represents the power and freedom of the American Mustang.

The airport's location and accessibility

Denver International Airport (DEN) is located in Denver, Colorado, and opened in 1995. It is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving as the primary economic engine for the state of Colorado, generating over $36 billion for the region annually.

The airport is accessible by road, with detours currently in place due to construction. The airport can also be reached via the A Line train service, which connects the airport to downtown Denver and vice versa. The A Line has six stops between the airport and Denver Union Station, with trains departing every 15 minutes between 5 am and 8 pm, and every 30 minutes outside these hours. The 23-mile journey takes approximately 37 minutes, and tickets cost $10 each way. Denver Union Station is the city's transportation hub, offering access to local and regional transportation services, including light rail, buses, Amtrak rail service, and taxis.

Within the airport, an Automated Guideway Transit System (AGTS) operates 24/7, connecting the distant concourses with the main terminal (Jeppesen Terminal). The AGTS operates bi-directionally in a pinched-loop configuration, with twin 1.25-mile tunnels travelling underneath the aircraft taxiways. The system consists of 41 automated vehicles, each with a maximum capacity of 100 passengers. Trains typically run at 1.5-minute intervals during peak times, resulting in an 11-minute travel time from end to end. While it is possible to walk from the Jeppesen Terminal to Concourse A, the AGTS is the only way for the public to access Concourses B and C.

Denver International Airport offers a variety of dining options, including popular national chains and local favourites. These include Subway, which has reduced hours and offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and children's menus, featuring submarine and bagel sandwiches, wraps, salads, side dishes, and beverages.

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