When One Rail Line Is Not Enough

The Chicago Transit Authority offers elevated train service from both O’Hare and Midway airports to downtown. But that wasn’t enough for Mayor Daley. After all, other world-class cities like Amsterdam, London, Paris, Hong Kong, and Moscow offer express — i.e., non-stop — train service from their airports to downtown.

Because Chicago’s El has no passing sidings, all trains must stop at all stops — horrors! Express service would supposedly save travelers between O’Hare and downtown 9 minutes (21 vs. 30) over existing train service.

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