Disclosed is an escalator system including handrail, the system having: a handrail including a handrail base and a handrail cover operationally connected to the handrail base, a first sensor disposed between the handrail base and the handrail cover and a first controller for controlling the first sensor, and wherein the first sensor processes data representing a sensed parameter, whereby the system identifies the occurrence of a trigger event and executes a first responsive measure.