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Trolley to the Plane?

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Posted by Kay Boose on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 3:47 PM
Cleveland Railways in the 1930s had the first trolley to the airport. It was got its most traffic for the air races..
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Posted by Jack_S on Monday, September 8, 2008 1:52 AM

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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Posted by paulsafety on Saturday, August 16, 2008 2:17 PM
 Phoebe Vet wrote:

Paul:

In Baltimore the light rail goes to the airport, too.

Yup, I think it's on both lists already...thanks

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Posted by Phoebe Vet on Saturday, August 16, 2008 2:11 PM

Paul:

In Baltimore the light rail goes to the airport, too.

Dave

Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Saturday, August 16, 2008 2:06 PM
Minor clarification on Chicago:  The CTA Orange Line serves Midway and the Blue Line runs to O'Hare.
The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by paulsafety on Saturday, August 16, 2008 2:05 PM

Commuter Rail to the Plane?

CitySystem NameAirport?
MontrealAgence métropolitaine de transport (AMT)
TorontoGO Transit
VancouverMXTrains bcRail Express Services bcRail Regional Services
Mexico CityTren Suburbano
AlbuquerqueNew Mexico Rail Runner Express
AustinCapital MetroRail (opening 2008)
Boston and suburbsMBTA Commuter Rail (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority)via connections
Chicago and suburbsMetravia connections
Chicago/Gary/Michigan City/South BendChicago South Shore Lineyes
Dallas/Fort WorthTrinity Railway Express (TRE)
Harrisburg/LancasterCorridorOne (Capital Area Transit)
Los AngelesMetrolink
Miami/Fort Lauderdale/West Palm BeachTri-Rail
MinneapolisNorthstar Commuter Rail (opening 2009)
NashvilleMusic City Star
New Haven/New London/Bridgeport/StamfordShore Line East
New Jersey - statewideNew Jersey Transityes
New York - Long IslandLong Island Rail Road (LIRR)
New York - northern suburbs & Conn.Metro-North Railroad
Philadelphia and suburbsSEPTA Regional Railyes
Portland, Oregon and suburbsWestside Express Service (WES) (opening Fall 2008)
Salt Lake CityFrontRunner (opening Spring 2008)
San DiegoCoaster
San Diego (Oceanside)Sprinter
San Francisco/San JoseCaltrain
San JoseAltamont Commuter Express (ACE)
Seattle/TacomaSound Transit (Sounder)
Washington - central Maryland/part of West VirginiaMARCwith shuttle bus
Washington - northern VirginiaVirginia Railway Express
Chicago and suburbsSouth Shore Lineyes

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Posted by paulsafety on Saturday, August 16, 2008 1:59 PM

Metro rail (rapid transit lines) to airport or via connections:

CityRoute NameAirport?
San FranciscoBay Area Rapid TransitYES
MiamiMiami Metrorail
ClevelandRed LineYES
Los AngelesRed Linevia Connections
BaltimoreMetro Subwayvia Connections
AtlantaMARTAYES
ChicagoThe "L"YES
PhiladelphiaMarket Frankford Elevatedvia Connections
PhiladelphiaBroad Street Subwayvia Connections
WashingtonMetrorailYES

BostonBlue LineYes
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Posted by HarveyK400 on Saturday, August 16, 2008 11:58 AM

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. 

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Posted by al-in-chgo on Friday, August 15, 2008 6:19 PM
 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." 

 

al-in-chgo
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Posted by paulsafety on Friday, August 15, 2008 12:25 PM
 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?Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

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Posted by gardendance on Friday, August 15, 2008 12:14 PM

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

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Posted by paulsafety on Friday, August 15, 2008 7:34 AM
 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?Laugh [(-D]  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).Confused [%-)]   

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.)

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Posted by paulsafety on Friday, August 15, 2008 7:04 AM

 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.)

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Posted by JT22CW on Friday, August 15, 2008 1:51 AM

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.

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Posted by al-in-chgo on Thursday, August 14, 2008 10:49 PM
Have you included the fact that in Chicago, the CTA's Orange Line serves Midway Airport?
al-in-chgo
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Posted by DMUinCT on Thursday, August 14, 2008 9:57 AM

  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

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Posted by daveklepper on Thursday, August 14, 2008 8:44 AM
Up to 1948, LaGuardia Airport was reachable by streetcar, and now is still not reachable directly by subway.
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Posted by paulsafety on Thursday, August 14, 2008 7:58 AM

 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.

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Posted by Phoebe Vet on Thursday, August 14, 2008 7:57 AM

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

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Thursday, August 14, 2008 6:45 AM

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.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Trolley to the Plane?
Posted by paulsafety on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 7:36 PM

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?

CitySystem-Route NameAirport?
BaltimoreMTA Light Railyes
BostonAshmont-Mattapan High Speed Linevia connections
BostonMBTA Green linevia connections
BuffaloMetro Railno
CharlotteLYNXplanned bus connect
ChicagoSouth Shore Electricno
ClevelandBlue Line Green Linevia connections
DallasDART
DenverTheRideplanned
Fort Collins

Fort Smith

HobokenHudson Bergen Light Railno
HoustonMetrorail
KenoshaStreetcar no
Little RockRiver Rail Streetcarplanned
Los AngelesBlue Linevia connections
Los AngelesGold Linevia connections
Los AngelesGreen Linebus connect
MemphisMATA Trolley
MinneapolisHiawatha Lineyes
New OrleansTrolleyno
NewarkNewark Light Railno
Norfolk VATide Light Rail
OceansideSPRINTERno
PhiladelphiaP&Wno
PhiladelphiaRed Arrow (P&WCT)no
PhiladelphiaCity Streetcar systemno
Pittsburgh
no
PortlandMAXyes
PortlandPortland Streetcarvia connections
Sacramento
planned
Salt Lake CityUTA TRAXplanned
San Diego
no
San Francisco Bay AreaMUNIvia connections
San Jose
no
Santa ClaraVTA Light Railno
SeattleTunnelplanned
SeattleCentral Linkplanned
SeattleSouth Lake Union Streetcar
St LouisMetrolinkyes
TacomaTacoma Link
TampaTECO Line Streetcarno
TrentonThe RiverLineno

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