Mainline Rail
Dedicated railway lines to airports have become popular since the 1980s, with airport terminals for airport express, intercity and commuter trains, allowing direct travel to the check-in halls. This solution requires the building of new track; a cheaper option is to open a new station on an existing line, connected to the airport by people mover or shuttle bus.
Integration with intercity services has produced alliances where airlines sell the connecting rail service. Central Europe has seen integration of high-speed rail into airports, with domestic and international TGV and ICE services from Charles de Gaulle International Airport and Frankfurt Airport. Because of this, many airport stations have received IATA codes.
Other airports instead use a high-speed airport express train to the city centre, especially if the airport is outside the urban area and some way from the mass transit system, but a direct downtown service is required, such as Flytoget serving Oslo Airport, Gardermoen. Other airports, such as London Heathrow Airport, are served by both express trains and mass transit.
These solutions often have the drawback of lower frequencies (e.g. twice per hour).
Read more about this topic: Airport Rail Link
Famous quotes containing the word rail:
“In my conscience I believe the baggage loves me, for she never speaks well of me herself, nor suffers any body else to rail at me.”
—William Congreve (1670–1729)