Overview
- The O'Hare Flyer team publicly announced the plan Tuesday, saying battery‑electric trains would run every 15 minutes between a downtown station near the Old Post Office and Terminal 2 at O'Hare.
- Organizers say the route would reuse underused freight rights‑of‑way owned by CSX, Canadian National and Union Pacific and that they have a letter of intent or tentative agreement with CSX while talks continue with CN and UP.
- The group estimates a roughly $2.25 billion price tag and a five‑year delivery target with preliminary construction possibly beginning in 2027, but it has not disclosed committed financing.
- Key approvals and risks remain: the project needs city and airport sign‑offs, final railroad access agreements, detailed operations and ridership plans, potential single‑track constraints, and a yet‑to‑be‑set fare.
- If built, the line would offer a much faster alternative to the CTA Blue Line and proponents say it could spur downtown development and jobs, though past failed proposals and public skepticism underline the hurdles ahead.