Abstract: Transportation apparatus, such as a moving walk or an escalator, having a continuous handrail driven about a closed loop by a handrail drive. The closed loop includes a longitudinal axis, or axes, which divide a load run on which passengers may grasp the handrail, and a return run. The transportation apparatus includes a drive unit which, in addition to driving the transportation apparatus, also drives the handrail drive via a drive chain or belt. The chain or belt is automatically tensioned, notwithstanding wear thereof, or longitudinal positional adjustment of the apparatus drive unit towards either end of the apparatus, by mounting the handrail drive unit such that it is free to move longitudinally, in either direction of the handrail, restrained only by the drive chain or belt.