Train To The Plane

At Bradley (BDL) there is the Bradley Flyer quasi-express bus at a $1.75 local fare running from Hartford Union Station ($15.75 for 10-trip, $63 monthly).

BDL is in the town of Windsor Locks, and is actually closer to the station there and a shuttle from the Windsor Locks station to BDL would only be a 10 minute ride. An opportunity with the station relocation coming soon.

At Rome, Italy, Leonardo da Vinci Airport has direct service to TERMINI station in downtown.
In Frankfurt am Main, Germany, the Flughafen has direct service to the Hauptbahnhof. From there, you can get to U or S Bahn tracks to get anywhere in metro Frankfurt, or an E, D, or ICE to anywhere in Germany.

Colonel, add Munich (MUC/EDDM) to the list of "train to plane".

The S-Bahn, which can be ticketed as part of a "mainline" journey is X a Plaza from Terminal 2 (United, Lufthansa) and can take you either to the Hbf or to Munich-Ost.

While I'm not "going over" this year (83yo), I found such to be quite convenient (in Salzburg, a 900m walk to the hotel).

Maybe I'll "feel up to it again" but I'm not all that optimistic.

I've had some experience myself, though rather limited experience.

Back in 1988, I returned from a trip to Princeton University by taking the Dinky Train to Princeton Junction, then either a NJT or Amtrak train from there to Newark NJ, then a bus to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). That was long before that airport's AirTrain system was extended to the Northeast Corridor, which was done in 2001.

I also went to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), but that was long before BART was extended to there or its AirTrain system opened, both in 2003.

On yet another trip that year, I arrived in Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and took a SEPTA regional train from there to downtown Philly, and some other trains from there.

In the early to mid 1990's, I went to Oakland International Airport (OAK), taking a bus from the Oakland Coliseum BART station to there. Returning, I reversed that trip. BART's Oakland Airport Connector opened in 2014.

In the early 2000's decade, I wen to OAK the same way, and at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), I took a bus to the C/Green line. Returning, I reversed that trip. The K/Pink line is to open there late this year, and the airport light-rail system next year.

In the mid 2010's, I went to Portland a few times, taking the Red Line to Portland International Airport (PDX). The train arrives right next to the main terminal building.

I can only reiterate my thoughts expressed at the Brightline Forum here that, as soon as they have made selection of their Treasure Coast stops between W Palm and Cocoa, that, first, select them "where the money is" then start negotiating with airlines for joint ticketing between those selected stops and the Northeast (take it from this "old Florida hand"; the Northeast goes to the East Coast and the Midwest goes to the West) through, of course, MCO.

It sure seems like a "win-win" to me.

lpetrich wrote: ↑Wed Sep 18, 2024 2:49 pmBack in 1988, I returned from a trip to Princeton University by taking the Dinky Train to Princeton Junction, then either a NJT or Amtrak train from there to Newark NJ, then a bus to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). That was long before that airport's AirTrain system was extended to the Northeast Corridor, which was done in 2001.

That bus, the NJT 62 still runs.

In August Brightline soft launched its partnership with AccessRail, making it bookable through the big three Global Distribution Systems (Amadeus, Sabre, and TravelPort) and began marketing that to travel agents and deal packagers this month, so they have set up the mechanics for that to work, and I am expecting that business travel systems (like Concur) will soon be able to book tickets on Brightline.

Mr. Randal W, all well and good as you report immediately but I'm addressing that Brightline actually become an integral provider with an airline to their proposed Treasure Coast stops.

Let's say that Vero Beach is to be their Indian River stop. It's "where the money is" (it ain't in Fort Pierce). Someone traveling from, say, La Guardia to Vero Beach buys a ticket on Delta (think the dominant carrier there)LGA-(to an assigned IATA code for the Brightline station there). That passenger would fly nonstop LGA-MCO then walk to Brightline Trrminal 3 with their baggage being transferred as if it were to another flight. Same arrangement with United, who "owns" Newark.

Think "change from Big Airline to a puddle jumper"; that what I'm suggesting Brightline do.

Apparently Brightline can't do direct partnerships until they get an IATA code of their own (IATA code 9B can be used to book Brightline travel, but that code is AccesRail's, which provides Air-Rail and Rail-Air booking for 23 railroads and 2 bus lines) and then work on the technical integrations. Their revenue report indicates multiple airlines are interested in codeshare (without naming any), but that Brightline thinks the airlines that will drive the most business to them are international airlines that serve Orlando, but do not serve Miami.

List of airport rail link systems - Wikipedia

• 1968 RTA - Cleveland Hopkins CLE
• 1977 Wash Metro - Ronald Reagan Washington DCA
• 1984 Chicago L - Chicago O'Hare ORD
• 1985 SEPTA - Philadelphia PHL
• 1988 MARTA - Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta ATL
• 1980 MARC, Amtrak - Baltimore/Washington BWI
• 1990 Metrolink, Amtrak - Hollywood Burbank BUR
• 1992 South Shore - South Bend SBN
• 1993 Chicago L - Chicago Midway MDW
• 1994 MetroLink - St. Louis Lambert STL
• 1996 Metra - ATS - Chicago O'Hare ORD
• 1997 Light RailLink - Baltimore/Washington BWI
• 2001 MAX - Portland PDX
• 2001 NJT, Amtrak - AirTrain Newark - Newark Liberty EWR
• 2003 BART - San Francisco SFO
• 2003 NYC subways, LIRR - AirTrain JFK - John F. Kennedy (NYC) JFK
• 2009 SkyTrain - Vancouver YVR
• 2004 Metro - Minneapolis–Saint Paul MSP
• 2009 Link - Seattle–Tacoma (SeaTac) SEA
• 2010 MBTA, Amtrak - Providence TF Green PVD
• 2012 Metrorail, Tri-Rail, (Amtrak) - MIA Mover - Miami MIA
• 2013 TRAX - Salt Lake City SLC
• 2013 Valley Metro - PHX Sky Train - Phoenix Sky Harbor PHX
• 2014 DART, (2019) TEXRail - Dallas Fort Worth DFW
• 2014 BART, Amtrak - OAC - Oakland OAK
• 2015 GO Transit - Toronto Pearson YYZ
• 2016 RTD - Denver DEN
• 2022 Wash Metro - Dulles (DC) IAD
• 2023 Brightline - Orlando MCO

Bus connections:

• NM Rail Runner - (bus) - Albuquerque ABQ
• MBTA - (bus) - Boston Logan BOS
• DART - (bus) - Dallas Love Field DAL
• Tri-Rail - (bus) - Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood FLL
• South Shore - (bus) - Gary/Chicago GYY
• Amtrak -(bus) - Milwaukee Mitchell MKE
• VTA - (bus) - San Jose SJC
• SMART - (bus) - Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County STS

Of these, I think that the most likely ones to get rail connections are BOS, DAL, SJC. Here are distances from the passenger-terminal buildings:

• BOS - about 1 mile from Boston MBTA "T" Blue-Line Airport station(Google Maps highway distance)
• DAL - about 2 miles from Dallas DART Inwood/Love-Field, though a closer station will reduce that distance to 1 mile.
• SJC - about 1/2 mile from San Jose VTA Metro/Airport station. The airport is also 1 mile from the Santa Clara Caltrain station, though an airport light-rail line would have to travel under the runways. Detouring around the runways and going to College Park station would need 2 miles, and Santa Clara 2 1/2 miles.

Under construction:

• DART Silver Line to DFW - 2025
• Skyline to Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye HNL - 2025
• LAX automated people mover - 2026
• MetroLink to MidAmerica St. Louis BLV - 2026
• REM to Montréal–Trudeau YUL - 2027
• O-train to Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier YOW - ?

Proposed:

• C-train to Calgary YYC
• LRT to Edmonton YEG
• PATH to Newark EWR
• SunRail to Orlando MCO
• SacRT to Sacramento SMF
• TTC to Toronto Pearson YYZ
• METROrail to Houston William P. Hobby HOU

LGA has the Q70 bus from Woodside (7 & LIRR), fare free covered by PANYNJ and MTA.

RandallW wrote: ↑Wed Sep 18, 2024 7:40 pm Brightline thinks the airlines that will drive the most business to them are international airlines that serve Orlando, but do not serve Miami.

Once again, Mr. Randall W, point indeed noted

There is a long way to go before Brightline can be an integral carrier such as is 9K (Cape Air) with any of the "majors" through BOS. First they have to select station locations along the Treasure Coast, which I'm sure will be the subject of "intense politicking". Then they have to approach the airlines to see 1) who's interested, and 2) how the pie will be cut.

But I sure think that "Zero" (my term for Vero: my Father and Wife #2 were there '82-'83; they always used PBI - in short IHTFP. Anyone here who's been in Service can translate that, but not here at the Site) should be top priority simply on the strength of "money, money, money", with "mega-money" at John's Island.

Finally, Tri Rail does its share of Train to Plane at MIA, observing such as I do on my trips "down below". However, such does not make me think that Amtrak should also serve that station in place of the existing Hialeah terminal.

R36 Combine Coach wrote: ↑Thu Sep 19, 2024 12:28 am LGA has the Q70 bus from Woodside (7 & LIRR), fare free covered by PANYNJ and MTA.

Yes, there are a lot of bus connections that that Wikipedia article does not mention - it mentioned those that connect to stations named after nearby airports.

Canada: Toronto YYZ - Montreal YUL (bus, uc 2027) - Vancouver YVR - Calgary YYC (bus) - Edmonton YEG (bus), - Ottawa YOW (bus, uc ?)

US: Atlanta ATL - Dallas, Fort Worth DFL - Denver DEN - Los Angeles LAX - Chicago ORD - NYC JFK - Orlando MCO - Las Vegas Harry Reid LAS (bus) - Charlotte Douglas CLT (bus) - Miami MIA - Seattle, Tacoma SEA - Newark EWR - San Francisco SFO - Phoenix PHX - Houston George Bush IAH (bus) - Boston BOS (bus) - Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood FLL (bus) - Minneapolis, Saint Paul MSP - NYC LGA (bus) - Detroit DTW (bus) - Philadelphia PHL - Salt Lake City SLC - Baltimore, DC BWI - DC DCA - San Diego SAN (bus) - DC IAD - Tampa TPA (bus) - Nashville BNA (bus) - Austin-Bergstrom AUS - Chicago MDW - Honolulu HNL (uc 2025) - Dallas DAL (bus) - Portland PDX - St. Louis STL - Raleigh-Durham RDU (bus, no urban rail) - Houston HOU (bus) - Sacramento SMF (bus) - New Orleans Louis Armstrong MSY (bus) - San Jose SJC (bus) - Orange County John Wayne SNA (bus) - Kansas City MCI (bus) - Oakland OAK - San Antonio SAT (bus, no urban rail) - Fort Myers Southwest Florida RSW (bus, no urban rail) - Cleveland CLE - Indianapolis IND (bus, no urban rail) - Pittsburgh PIT (bus) - Cincinnati CVG (bus) - Columbus John Glenn CMH (bus, no urban rail) - Palm Beach PBI (bus, no urban rail) - Kahului OGG (bus, no urban rail) - Jacksonville JAX (bus) - Los Angeles Ontario ONT (bus) - Los Angeles Burbank BUR - Hartford Bradley BDL (bus) - Charleston CHS (bus, no urban rail) - Milwaukee MKE - Anchorage Ted Stevens ANC (bus) - Albuquerque ABQ (bus) - Omaha Eppley OMA (bus, no urban rail) - Memphis MEM (bus) - Richmond RIC (bus) - Boise BOI (bus, no urban rail)

Harry Reid International Airport - Wikipedia - states that that airport is "the busiest in the world without an airport rail link." I checked that assertion, and that is indeed correct. I also found that the busiest airport outside the US without a rail link or an under-construction one is Tan Son Nhat International Airport - Wikipedia of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon - there are plans to extend the city's urban-rail system to there, but only plans - that airport is a tiny bit less busy as Boston Logan BOS, and is #50 on Wikipedia's list. US railless airports LAS, CLT, and IAH are also busier than it.

I've been using the IATA airport code - Wikipedia as abbreviations of airport names; that article explains oddities in those codes, like Canada's ones beginning with Y, and Newark's one having no N. BTW, Amtrak also uses 3-letter abbreviations for its stations.

Sources:
From List of the busiest airports in the United States - Wikipedia and List of the busiest airports in Canada - Wikipedia and List of North American rapid transit systems - Wikipedia and List of North American light rail systems - Wikipedia and Commuter rail in North America - Wikipedia and List of busiest airports by passenger traffic - Wikipedia