Why is the handrail always faster than the escalator?

Question

As a seasoned traveller on the London Underground something has always puzzled me.

Why is it, when you are standing on the escalator the handrail always moves faster than your legs. I mean, you put your hand on the rail next to you and 5 seconds later, it's moved way ahead of where you are standing and you have to move your hand back next to you.

Is there some scientific or safety reason why the handrails move faster than the steps or did the people that fitted the escalators just set the timings different to annoy us?!

Answer 1

HaHa, that is great, I hadn't paid much attention but you are absolutely correct.

Maybe so if you fall, you will fall being drug forward instead or backward.

Or the designers have a wierd sick twisted sense of humor, that is my guess.

Answer 2

Slippage. The handrails are supposed to be tuned to the steps so they *should* stay perfectly in tune. But sometimes the stairs are faster than the handrail, and other times the handrail is faster than the stairs, because excessive load on one can cause it to slow while the other is not so loaded.

Some of those escalators are very long which is probably why it's not so noticable in shopping centres and department stores because those escalators are quite short.

Answer 3

What a fantastic question!! I have also thought about this on many occassions. I will be watching your answers to get the definitive answer. My theory was that the handrail was slightly smaller in size than the escalator itself. Therefore, if they both go at the same speed, the rail will travel one full circle before the escalator. I'd love to find out if I am correct.

Answer 4

It's a sick joke.