Overview
- The O’Hare Flyer was unveiled Tuesday as a privately led plan to run battery‑electric trains between a downtown station near the Old Post Office and O’Hare Terminal 2 in about 15 minutes with departures every 15 minutes.
- Project designers say the line would mostly use existing freight rights‑of‑way and have a tentative agreement with CSX while they continue talks with Canadian National and Union Pacific.
- The team published a roughly $2.25 billion cost estimate and says it will raise equity and debt rather than seek government subsidies, though it did not disclose committed financing.
- Organizers describe battery‑electric rolling stock similar to recent Metra orders, four trains running simultaneously on mostly single track, a 90‑foot flyover into Terminal 2, and daily service roughly from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Supporters say the link could cut commute times and boost downtown business travel but the plan still needs final railroad, city and aviation approvals, community outreach, and proof of ridership and financing to manage cost and single‑track risks.