The O'Hare Flyer is a proposed airport rail link between Chicago's West Loop and O'Hare International Airport. The $2.25 billion private project would use existing freight rail right-of-way for the majority of the route and estimates an end-to-end travel time of 15 minutes. The service would supplement existing rail service available by the CTA's Blue Line and Metra's North Central Service.
The company, O'Hare Flyer LLC, anticipates construction to begin in 2028 and claims it will partner with local labor unions, with revenue service beginning as early as 2031.
Route Project leaders envision the route running in existing freight rail corridors, but would utilize its own dedicated track. The line would be single tracked most of the way except for a double track section allowing trains to pass midway along the route. The route would require an agreement between three Class I freight railroads to occupy their right-of-way.
In downtown Chicago, the line would begin at a new station constructed near the Old Main Post Office utilizing city-owned land underneath Canal Street. The station would be within close proximity of Chicago Union Station for connections with Amtrak and Metra trains, the intercity bus station, and "L" service at Clinton station on the Blue Line, as well as various CTA bus routes.
Departing to O'Hare, trains would travel south before turning west around 16th Street along the Union Pacific Railroad's Rockwell Subdivision. Developers have not identified plans to navigate constrained coach yards owned by BNSF Railway or Amtrak south of the downtown terminal or if a tunnel would be constructed the length of Canal Street. Project leaders cited newly available land around Union Pacific's Global 1 yard as a contributing factor in making the line feasible. At Rockwell Street, the line would shift to CSX's Altenheim Subdivision. As of the project's public announcement, a Letter of Intent had been reached with CSX. At Madison Street in Forest Park, the line transitions northwest onto the Canadian National Railway's Waukesha Subdivision. North of Belmont Avenue in Franklin Park, trains would parallel the North Central Service, which provides an existing rail link to O'Hare, but would bypass the line's intermediate stations at Belmont Avenue/Franklin Park, Schiller Park, and Rosemont.
Upon reaching O'Hare, the line would diverge off from the Canadian National right-of-way onto of newly constructed track to directly serve the terminals. A tall flyover is being proposed to cross two taxiways before running parallel to the Airport Transit System (ATS). The airport station would be located in front of Terminal 2, with walkways extending for direct access to Terminals 1 and 3. Access to Terminal 5 would require a transfer to the ATS. The station would have a direct connection with the Blue Line at O'Hare station. Transfers to Metra, Pace buses, intercity buses, and other ground transportation would be available via the ATS at the O'Hare Multimodal Facility.
Stations and service The line is expected to have two stations, both being newly built for the proposal. Charging infrastructure is to be constructed to allow trains to recharge between runs. Trains plan to operate daily every 15 minutes between 4a.m. and 10p.m.
It would be the first rail link in North America to run non-stop solely between downtown and the airport, with no intermediate stops or service continuing further.
Officials have proposed one intermediate stop in Forest Park near the CTA Blue Line station. No agreements have been reached yet, and no other locations are being considered anywhere else on the route.
LocationCommunity areaStationConnectionsO'Hare International AirportO'HareTerminal 2 List of airlines and destinations Chicago "L": (at ) via Airport Transit System: : (at ) Pace Bus: Pulse Dempster Line, 250, 330 Intercity buses: Peoria Charter, Van Galder Bus Company, Wisconsin Coach LinesForest ParkForest Park Chicago "L": (at ) Pace Bus: 301, 303, 305, 308, 310, 317, 318Downtown ChicagoNear West SideOld Main Post Office Chicago "L": (at ) CTA buses: At Chicago Union Station (approx. 2 blocks north): (long-distance): , , , , , , , Amtrak (intercity): , , , , , , , : , , , , , CTA buses: Pace Bus: 755 Intercity buses: Amtrak Thruway, Greyhound, Megabus At Chicago Bus Station (approx. 2 blocks west): Intercity buses: Greyhound, Barons Bus Lines, Flixbus
Opposition The O'Hare Flyer has faced opposition from communities along the route, including River Forest. Concerns focus on safety for the community, noise, impact on a forest preserve and its wildlife, and impacts on property values.
Rolling stock No rolling stock has been selected yet, although the company plans to use four battery electric multiple units. Trains will average and include luggage racks and concierge service.
Organization and funding O'Hare Flyer LLC was founded by Mark Walbrun, Dave Lundy, and Kristi Lafleur, who all have previous experience in transportation and working within the Chicago metropolitan area. The project had been in development for three years prior to its public announcement in August 2026.
Being a private proposal, the project is being funded through debt capital. Fares, which have not been shared but are determined to be more than the Blue Line ($2.50–$5) but less than taxi or rideshare service (typically exceeds $50), would cover the cost of operations and repaying debt. The company has also budgeted in the possibility of a revenue sharing agreement with the City of Chicago. It has not been disclosed how much funding has already been accrued from investors, but the company is pursuing an additional $18 million during the second round.
The company plans to execute a Project Labor Agreement with the Chicago and Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council to use skilled union labor and local contractors for construction. A Memorandum of Understanding has already been reached between the two parties.
Before construction can begin, an understanding must be reached between Union Pacific, CSX, and Canadian National to lease the railroads' right-of-way. Several agreements would also need to be reached between the City of Chicago. Additionally, the project would require coordination from federal agencies, such as the Federal Railroad Administration, the Surface Transportation Board, and/or the Federal Aviation Administration.
See also Chicago Express Loop, a failed private proposal to bring express service between O'Hare and downtown Brightline, a private railroad in Florida with an airport rail link primarily utilizing existing transportation corridors CTA Orange Line, a rapid transit line that serves Chicago's other airport, Midway International Airport Rail services that link Chicago to other regional airports: Amtrak Hiawatha and Borealis, intercity trains that serve Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport South Shore Line, a regional rail service that connects to Gary/Chicago International Airport and South Bend International Airport Other North American airport rail services with similar context: RTD A Line (Denver, Colorado) SEPTA Airport Line (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Union Pearson Express (Toronto, Canada) Stadler FLIRT, battery electric trainsets on order by Metra
References
External links Company website