Airport rail link

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London's Heathrow Express runs non-stop from Paddington Station to Heathrow Airport.
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London's Heathrow Express runs non-stop from Paddington Station to Heathrow Airport.

An airport rail link is a passenger rail connection between an airport and the center of the city it serves. The purpose of building an airport rail link may be to reduce congestion on roads leading to the airport, to relieve long-term car parks at the airport, to encourage greater use of public transport, or to improve the (perceived) accessibility of the city center, making it more attractive for tourists and businesses.

Having a quick, easy train connection with the airport has been common in Europe and Japan for a long time, but it is becoming more popular in North America, with New York City, San Francisco, Portland, Oregon, and others having added rail links to their airports since 2000.

In some cases, such as Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, it is even possible to check your baggage and check in for your flight at the train station prior to arrival at the airport.

Contents

[edit] Connection types

[edit] One-seat ride via main-line train

Narita Express
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Narita Express

Regional rail-type service directly from a city center to the airport, without needing to change trains and sometimes without intermediate stops:

[edit] Asia

[edit] Europe

[edit] North America

[edit] Oceania

[edit] One-seat ride via local public transport

Many cities also provide a link to their airports through their metro/rapid transit or light rail systems, which, unlike express trains, often make numerous stops on the way to the airport.

[edit] Asia

[edit] Europe

[edit] North America

A Baltimore Light Rail vehicle at BWI's International Terminal.
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A Baltimore Light Rail vehicle at BWI's International Terminal.

[edit] Rail to airport people mover

New York City's AirTrain JFK provides dedicated airport services.
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New York City's AirTrain JFK provides dedicated airport services.

A hybrid solution adopted in some cities is a direct commuter rail connection to an airport train station instead of to the airport itself. At the airport train station, the passenger switches to a peoplemover or other train that goes to the airport terminals. The same system can also serve passengers moving between different terminals and travelling between the terminals and car rental lots or parking areas.

[edit] Europe

[edit] North America

[edit] Rail to bus to airport

Another common arrangement, especially in the United States and Canada, requires the passenger to take a train (or metro) to a railway station (usually) near the airport and then switch to a bus that goes to the airport terminals.

[edit] North America

In the 1980s, New York City Transit had a service called the JFK Express (advertised as the Train To The Plane) that was quite unpopular and eventually cancelled. It was essentially a premium-fare subway ride to a bus that went to JFK Airport. Afterwards the bus continued to run, serving Howard Beach station until the opening of AirTrain JFK in 2003.

[edit] Europe

[edit] Asia

[edit] Future

More and more cities are considering "train to the plane" services.

Dublin Airport in Dublin, Ireland is one of the main destinations of the (in planning) Dublin Metro.

In Johannesburg, South Africa, the Gautrain system (under construction) will link Johannesburg International Airport to the cities of Johannesburg and to Pretoria and well as Sandton.

Denver has included such service in a massive regional rail plan that was unveiled recently. Plans are also in the works to connect the Washington Metro to Dulles. From time to time, New York City has proposed extending the subway N/W (Astoria) line to create a connection to LaGuardia Airport. Las Vegas has an ongoing discussion about extending the monorail into McCarran International Airport. Also in the Vegas area, the planned Ivanpah Airport is sited on the right of way for the proposed maglev demonstration project.

None of Canada's major airports currently have railway links today, however there is one currently under construction. Vancouver's TransLink is building the Canada Line, an automated rapid transit line connecting the southern suburb of Richmond with downtown Vancouver. A branch line of the new metro will terminate at Vancouver International Airport; it is scheduled to be in service prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

In Toronto, there are plans for a mainline train called Blue22, running from its downtown Union Station to Toronto Pearson International Airport, though this has plan is controversial. Also, in Ottawa, there have been plans to extend the O-Train to the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, and in Montreal, there are discussions of a direct rail link between Gare Centrale and Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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