While some cities have regional rail or rapid transit to their airports, how many have LRV's operating to the airport? I've compiled a list, but would appreciate updates, corrections, or discussion about the pros,cons, limitations of trolleys to the planes (do passengers prefer heavy rail when lugging bags, etc.)
Do you think that the transit or LRV connection benefits out of towners more than local area residents who are leaving town? Or does it seem a "wash"?
Personally, I've used the Hiawatha line to Minneapolis (with luggage), and Baltimore's line from the Amtrak station (with luggage) (and MARTA in Atlanta and CTA in Chicago multiple times for business trips). How about you? What were your impressions?
The South Shore hardly belongs on this list since it's a full-size electric railroad but it does have two airport connections: it connects at Clark Rd. with a bus shuttle to the Gary Municipal Airport and its eastern terminal is at the South Bend Regional Airport.
Paul:
District of Columbia's Metro goes to the airport.
I have ridden it from the airport to Capitol Heights, MD. It is very convenient, but then I usually travel with one bag.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
CSSHEGEWISCH wrote: The South Shore hardly belongs on this list since it's a full-size electric railroad but it does have two airport connections: it connects at Clark Rd. with a bus shuttle to the Gary Municipal Airport and its eastern terminal is at the South Bend Regional Airport.
Thanks for the feedback, I will transfer the South Shore to my list of commuter lines and mark it as having a bus connection.
Paul F.
Boston's Logan International Airport is located only 2 miles from downtown (the other side of Boston Harbor) with over water approach, it is served by the "Blue Line Subway" which runs from Government Center, under the Harbor, Logan Airport, and up the North Shore.
The "Green Line LRV" (that runs in a Subway throught the center of the city) connects with the "Blue Line". The "High Speed Line" is restored PCC Cars running on a former New Haven right-a-way, connecting with the "Red Line Subway" that then connects with the "Blue Line Subway".
Don U. TCA 73-5735
As far as this list goes:
al-in-chgo wrote:Have you included the fact that in Chicago, the CTA's Orange Line serves Midway Airport?
No. It's not a trolley (LRV). It is on my list of rapid transit lines, as is the Blue Line to O'Hare.
(no disrespect to Chicago meant -- it's a very transit friendly area that I've used on many business trips.)
JT22CW wrote: As far as this list goes:Newark NJ: That ought to be "planned" (at least), since the original plan for the extension to the Broad Street Station (former Lackawanna) was to have been the first segment of a light rail extension to the airport. Presently, "via connections" would apply, since there is the EWR rail station on the Northeast Corridor, which connects to the "Airtrain" monorail.Everything in Philly is also "via connections", because the R1 regional rail goes right to Philadelphia International Airport.
Thanks! I didn't catch that about the Newark Light Rail system. Regarding Air Train and NEC. It's on my list of regional rail (commuter services) associated with NJT, but I see how folks could lug their bags on the Newark trolley then catch the NJT out of Penn Station (Newark). And what about PATH? It's, what, .8 miles from the transfer station and no one talks about extending even one track to reach that station!
Regarding Philly. I grew up in Aldan on the 102 (which from Sharon Hill wouldnt have been a very long extension.) To be honest, my first impulse was to include "via connections", since "all lines lead to the R1", but isn't that like saying you can get to the airport from TEXAS via connections? I mean really, isn't it stretching it to catch the trolley, the el, transfer at Market East to the R1? With in transit connection times, that's a "3 hour tour" of the system (think Gilligans Island).
Maybe we need a rule about "via connections" -- limited to a single cross platform or terminal transfer? The only reason to suggest this is to make it "convenient" for travelers (ie. families with kids, business travelers who don't use stretch limos, etc.)
we foamers would say as long as it's continuous rail then via connections applies. Much to my wife's chagrin I want to take NJ Transit Riverline Burlington to Camden, PATCO to 8th and Market Philly, walk through the concourse to 11th and Filbert Market East station, then SEPTA R1 to the airport.
Also the 3 hour tour you mention is shorter if one transferrs at 30th St instead of Market East.
Patrick Boylan
Free yacht rides, 27' sailboat, zip code 19114 Delaware River, get great Delair bridge photos from the river. Send me a private message
gardendance wrote: Also the 3 hour tour you mention is shorter if one transferrs at 30th St instead of Market East.
Ah, but then where's the fun in that?
paulsafety wrote: al-in-chgo wrote:Have you included the fact that in Chicago, the CTA's Orange Line serves Midway Airport?No. It's not a trolley (LRV). It is on my list of rapid transit lines, as is the Blue Line to O'Hare.(no disrespect to Chicago meant -- it's a very transit friendly area that I've used on many business trips.)
. . . and no disrespect taken, Paul. Chicago has quite a lot of "light" heavy rail if you'll pardon the oxymoron (L's, I mean), but has been pretty anti-LRV. A plan had been kicking around for years for a "center city circulator" that would link Union Station with the Ogilvie (former CNW) station, run east to Grant Park and possibly up north of the Chgo River to Streeterville. But Mayor Daley put the final kibosh on that a couple of months ago. New York City seems much the same to me -- the thinking doesn't get much beyond "trolleys are old-fashioned."
First, it's a stretch to consider the South Shore a trolley line in the colloquial sense (light rail). The cars are basically heavy mainline overhead electric multiple-unit equipment that still operate on streets.
The South Shore actually provides direct service to the South Bend Airport airline terminal.
Trains also stop at the Gary Airport, formerly Clark Rd, station; but I don't know what shuttle service may be provided, or if scheduled airline service is available at this time. A number of carriers have tried and failed at Gary that is conveniet to an area with 3/4 million people.
Metro rail (rapid transit lines) to airport or via connections:
Commuter Rail to the Plane?
In Baltimore the light rail goes to the airport, too.
Phoebe Vet wrote: Paul:In Baltimore the light rail goes to the airport, too.
Yup, I think it's on both lists already...thanks
The Los Angeles Metrolink airport connection applies only to Bob Hope Airport (formerly Burbank Airport). The RR station is within a moderate walk of the terminal building. From downtown LA one only needs to get to Union Station (bus, subway, or cab) and take Metrolink or certain Surfliner trains.
LA Airport continues to be a headache to get to. From downtown one takes the Subway to 7th St.; the Blue Line to the Green Line; the Green Line connects to a shuttle bus to the airport. There is also a new Shuttle bus (Flyaway - $4) directly from Union Station to LAX.
Ontario (CA) Airport has 2 Metrolink lines that go right past it to Riverside and San Bernardino. The Riverside Line goes along the southwestern corner of the airport. The San Berdoo Line runs east to west a couple of miles north of the parking lots. The Gold Line has been touted for a potential connection to Ontario airport.
John Wayne Airport (Orange County) and Long Beach Airport are quite isolated from any rail service. I don't know about buses.
Long Beach is my favorite airport in SoCal. It is a short drive from my house in NW OC. A terminal right out of the 1930s, good parking, and a coffee shop overlooking the runways. It is crowded and busy but security seems to easier to get through. No jetways. You walk to the plane across the tarmac and climb up stairs. I don't know about disabled access.
Jack
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