Initial details have been shared for a potential new high-speed rail connection between downtown Chicago and O’Hare International Airport. Dubbed the ‘O’Hare Flyer,’ the train aims to take passengers between the two in just 15 minutes, becoming the newest attempt to create a faster direct connection to one of the world’s busiest airports.
The announcement comes just as the airport also revealed a new phasing timeline for its massive terminal project, which we will cover tomorrow. Efforts for the O’Hare Flyer are being led by a group of industry professionals with backgrounds in political and media affairs, rail planning, and the Illinois Tollway, per Crain’s.
Rendering of O’Hare Flyer
Together, they have been working over the last three years to put together a plan to utilize mostly existing rail lines between the Old Post Office, through Forest Park, and north to the airport. These lines, operated by three different freight rail companies, are set to be relatively vacated as they all shift to utilizing various other railyards nearby.
Estimated route of O’Hare Flyer via Apple Maps
That shift, which has only occurred in the last few years, is what will allow this attempt to potentially take off. Deals have been struck with one of the operators, with talks ongoing with the last two. If approved, the team will only need to gain approval from the city to use tracks under the Post Office and construct 1.5 miles of new track into O’Hare.
Rendering of O’Hare Flyer
Including the purchase of new electric rolling stock, the overall project will cost $2.25 billion and is set to be privately funded. The trains will reach speeds of up to 80 mph and charge at each end, with travel times expected to take 15 minutes and departures occurring every 15 minutes between 4 a.m. and 10 p.m. No price has been set for the ride, but similar systems globally range from $10–$40 each way.
The project will now need to finalize deals with the aforementioned last two freight lines and the city, followed by approval from federal departments as well. This will require another two to three years of planning before moving forward, including final fundraising to cover the cost. If all goes according to plan, this could be completed by the opening of the new global terminal.
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For business travelers to the loop, and people who live in the loop/south loop maybe this works better than the Blue line. However, for residents, I’m not sure because there isn’t a lot of transit to the post office from other neighborhoods, taking two buses to the post office is really time consuming. For example, to travel from Lincoln Park to the Old Post Office, then catch the Direct line, people might as well take the North Avenue bus to the Damen blue line stop then take the Blue Line to O’Hare.
Secondly, I think making the trip 20 minutes with a stop in Oak Park might be a good idea, that could be a good place for a transit hub since there are two El lines there. But, I’m not sure which tracks they are using in that area – so – ???
I don’t hate the idea, but wonder if the Old Post Office is the right place to locate the Chicago end and wonder if it should start, for example, in Block 31 (ignoring logistics for the moment) where there’s more opportunity to change trains and buses?
I actually think the OPO is a good gateway to this project because it will let northside residents still Blue Line or drive to O’Hare, leaving Loop residents, tourists and businesspeople the priority. Not to mention bolstering development around South and West Loop.
Debbie, I agree. I like the project but if someone from Lincoln Park has to take a taxi downtown, why not just take it to O’Hara? There will, reportedly, be Blue Line connections but how clunky will they be? Never understood why they don’t just make a Blue Line that runs express like the Purple.
BTW, I typed “Deb” and it autocorrected to “Debbie”. Sorry.
“Never understood why they don’t just make a Blue Line that runs express like the Purple.”
From what I have read/looked into, it’s because the tracks are not wide enough (i.e. a third track in the middle) where an express train could pass. The Purple benefits from this because the is a third track that can pass other trains, where you don’t have that on the blue line. They’d need to expend the track for this to work.
Sucks, but the reality of it unfortunatly.
As long as we’re dream’n, a better connection from Lincoln Park and Lakeview would be to extend the Brown Line to the Blue Line.
Also, what’s needed more airport wise would be the Crosstown train from O’Hare to Midway direct. It would also reach into the westside.
And finally what would help CBD and near south/west/north sides is the Chicago Central Area Circulator which was a planned light rail transit system that would connect the Pier, McCormick Place and all the train stations downtown.
2.5 billion? For trains and an additional 1.5 miles of track? And another 3 years to complete planning? Come on Chicago, we can do better.
Maybe you missed the fact that this is privately funded? Why should anyone care what the investment is if they’re willing to make it?
It’s Chicago’s fault that a privately funded and planned rail system costs more than you think it should and will take longer than you think it should?
What do you think a new rail infrastructure project should cost? How long should it take? Curious to know your expertise on the concept. Thanks.
It ain’t a public project, bro.
I think a good idea, especially at Rush Hour, but how many people live close to the Post Office? This would really benefit office workers staying in hotels and the people in the Loop and South Shore communities. Are the ridership numbers big enough to support this transit system? Brightline in Florida had very rosy projected ridership numbers and they missed the mark by 2/3 of projected riders. If I had to get into a cab/uber with luggage from West Town, River North, and basically the entire North Side to go to the post office to catch a train to the airport I would just go directly to the airport in the cab/uber or take the El.
Looking at this from Chicago Ave and The River, maps says 13 minutes by car to Gotham Lofts (a block West) cause directly to OPO is showing all kinds of weird routes due to all the one way streets around there. Now add on the wait for the train and 20 minute ride out it is starting to break even with Uber right to airport. Granted at 4:30pm this might be the better route.
I just do not see anybody above Division using this.
Density increases in the Fulton Market (FM) area, offices in the CBD and FM, tourists and business travelers make up a considerable percentage. The Lakeview LP whiners have their own travel issues. Bulk matters.
Very exciting news. A world-class city needs a link of this kind. No surprise, however, that Chicago comes late to this important project: Numerous high-speed airport rail lines are already in service around the world. The lines that I have ridden most often are the Arlanda Express linking the Stockholm city center with the major airport Arlanda and the Flytoget linking the Oslo city center with the major airport Gardermoen. Both of those lines have been operating for a generation now.
All aboard! Full steam ahead!
The fact this is using “new” tracks is exciting. I hope this can be built no downside to having another transit option.
Choo Choo! Still very much on Team Blue Line to ORD…but if it’s privately funded – sign me up!
safer-cleaner-faster
Sounds exactly like taking the train to/from Heathrow Airport in London. They have the Piccadilly Line (their Blue Line; older, cheaper, louder, more stops, no air conditioning), and the newer Elizabeth Line (£15/$21) that looks like the AI rendering here. Clean and fast.
Nice to have the choice. Let’s upgrade. The more public transportation we build, the less traffic and car fumes.
This is a great idea. Chicago would be the FIRST city in the US to have such a system, so we’re not behind in that respect. This, along with the O’Hare expansion/renovations, it would place it at the world class level. I don’t think this is as much for local residents going to and from the airport as much as it is for visitors. I live within walking distance to a blue line downtown location and even question if it would be worth taking, but Chicago receives over 50 million tourists a year, many of whom come through O’Hare. Between tourists, conference attendees, concert goers and others, it would be a great connection to downtown.
Honest question, can the existing rail tracks from downtown to O’Hare edge handle the speed of this train, including all the switching that is going to need to happen? I am assuming a sustained average of 60+ mph, with some spots going faster to make up for the slow spots.
The ROW they plan to use is very old but its current-era uses were until a few years ago fairly heavy and regular. Seems likely that it’s in good shape.
I love this option for the people it would serve best, which would probably be businesspeople, tourists, and West Loop residents. My dream, however, is a line that would run beneath Lawrence Avenue and connect the lakefront, the Lawrence Red Line stop, the Ravenswood Metra station, the Western Brown Line stop, and the Montrose Blue Line stop. This would finally provide an efficient east-west transit option.
There is little to no chance we get this.
That doesn’t mean we don’t need it or it isn’t a good idea. Hell, even elons tunnel idea was worthy of the city. We need more rapid transit in the form of unobstructed rail.
I want to raise the capital for this. I want it to be built. I want tons of them built.
If they can pull it off this is an excellent plan. Its primary user base would be businesspeople/West Loop residents/tourists/Loop residents. Some additional local-resident users from the northern part of the South Loop and City East+River North.
The ongoing residential growth of the West Loop, and the projected residential growth in the Loop itself, must be central to their projected revenue base. I’m certainly rooting for them to be right about that.
These trains would be running right alongside the Eisenhower, i.e. ongoing free marketing of the snazzy modern train service to thousands of people inching along in that highway’s daily clusterf**ks.
That private money wants to spend $2.5 billion doing this is an encouraging indicator about the city generally.