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Chicago plans to run express trains on metro: Chicago, already blessed with metro links to its two airports of O'Hare and Midway, is working to set up an express service to cut the running time and increase comfort and reliability.

Article Excerpt
CHICAGO has always been a transport hub. It started life as a strategic canoe portage centre, it then became the hub of the US rail network, and is now also home to the world's busiest airport: O'Hare International. As a travel hub, the city naturally grew its convention and tourism business into one of the largest parts of its economy. The city has the largest exhibition hall in the world, McCormick Place, and one of the highest number of hotel rooms anywhere.

Chicago already has extensive metro and commuter rail networks. Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) opened its metro line to O'Hare in 1984. The line to Midway Airport recently marked its 10th anniversary. But with both business and pleasure travel in Chicago growing, lots of work needs to be done.

"Chicago is already unique among cities in that it has a direct connection to both airports from downtown on the same system," said Mr Mark Walbrun, principal/ vice-president of TranSystems Corporation, which is coordinating the airport express project. Other major players include the City of Chicago Department of Transportation, the original planner, CTA, the City Department of Aviation, both airports, the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).

"This looked like a wonderful opportunity, especially with the world's busiest airport, to try to make an express connection between downtown and the airport. We were impressed not only from the technical capabilities, but also as an opportunity to reinforce the downtown area as a business centre," Walbrun noted. "Right now, even though O'Hare generates a lot of business...