The NEW O’Hare Airport Transit System is FINALLY OPEN

In 1993, the first automated transit system at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport opened. These trains were retired in January 2019, and the line closed for renovations in anticipation of new trains.
The trains arrived soon enough, but for months, all we could do was watch them run by on test runs. Then finally, in November 2021, the new and improved O'Hare Airport Transit System opened. This was our first time riding it, and we were really impressed by how modern the trains were on the inside. This transit system is definitely an improvement to the airport, which is undergoing a major refurbishment over the coming years.
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[@alexschork2914]

I was sent to Chicago from October through January and implemented numerous engineering and practical changes to the ATS. It was my team who got the trains up and running for the first time and was proud to be on the first public ride. We are very proud and happy that you enjoyed your experience! I work for Alstom, previously Bombardier so I build these trains for a living. I’ve worked on LAX, Heathrow, Chicago, and I am currently the project lead for Denver International Airport’s new transit system as well! Feel free to ask any questions you would like!

[@Thom-TRA]

Shoot! I was just in Denver! Didn’t realize they were replacing it. Thanks for a great job in Chicago! If you stick around and read some of the comments, you’ll see a lot of people are very happy with your work!

[@alexschork2914]

@@Thom-TRA I really appreciate it! Took an absolute boat load of work but we got the job done. There is still work to be done in Chicago but I’m happy with what we got done so far. And yes, Denver is replacing theirs with larger, more technologically advanced trains. They actually are expanding the tunnels becuase the new trains are too large to fit in the old ones lol it is a new model of train that has never been seen before so look out for any updates from them! I cannot say too much about the trains themselves due to my involvement but we have just finished the very first car, the prototype car, and it is going to be pretty large and epic!

[@AlanXenos]

Are there any particular painpoints that caused the extensive delay in completion? I’m aware the VAL256 was never particularly common and may have posed an engineering issue, but Bombardier products seem to be plagued with teething trouble - Toronto streetcars with brake trouble, BART cars with faulty ATC computers, New York’s failing door mechanisms, so on.

[@AdamLeuer]

Do you know if there's any plans to update the interior lighting? Those overhead (I assume fluorescent) lights are looking pretty yellowed (e.g. see 3:29), the cars could really benefit from some nice modern LED lighting I think. But anyway great job! So nice to have the ATS back again, and better than ever, especially after a few years of shuttle buses being the only option.

[@alexschork2914]

@@AlanXenos so the first, probably largest issue was the fact that O’Hare kept the old track for the old trains so that really screwed things up. The software was not aligning with their software and there were many problems. It was also back and forth between us and the city of Chicago.

[@chewie4418]

I live near O'Hare and we flew out of it last week for vacation and it was so nice seeing it working after all this time

[@jbw53191]

Great video. I live in Chicago and frequently fly to Mexico. I am SO glad this is open. Getting to and from Terminal 5 was a nightmare

[@jeffreygramenz3905]

If I remember correctly, this project was supposed to take 6 weeks, with the work done at night, and no service interruptions. That didn't last more than 2 weeks.

[@Thom-TRA]

Hmm, well it ended up taking 148 weeks. Close enough! Lol

[@jontownsend8090]

I passed through ORD back in 2018, the old carriages were running but we were directed onto a bus. The driver said it wasn't running, but as we waited to board our aircraft back to the UK, we saw the old carriages go by empty. It's great to see this back up and running, thanks for sharing.

[@Thom-TRA]

That sounds like such a typical US transport story 😂 glad you made your flight though. Thanks for watching!

[@robertbarrows8847]

This system was originally built by Siemens. The cars now used were originally built for another Siemens system in Taipei, Taiwan. This was done as the two systems are technically identical. There are several VAL mini-metro systems in the world. For some reason, these systems aren't going back to Siemens for replacement cars.

[@sunnymarie2060]

Thank goodness because those busses....in the winter...were not right!😄😄😄

[@Bjd79]

I agree. They were terrible!

[@gethighonlife11]

Learned something new today. I didn't know that they revamped the people mover train system at O'Hare. The last time that I used O'Hare International Airport was in 2016, when I was flying to Argentina. I guess that I utilized the "old" people mover trains then.

[@nace888]

Every time I've flown into ORD and I'm waiting for my ride, I've watched those trains shuttle back and forth, just practicing their runs. Glad to hear they're up and open now!

[@eddieflxible379]

I love that Chicago Car rental Intermodal shuttle .... only because of the NewFlyer buses assigned on that line. Most of the NewFlyers on the Intermodel shuttles are second-hand that came from the west coast... cities such as Portland Tri-Met, San Diego MTS and NCTD, OCTA, and Houston-MTA. Just standing outside the intermodal at the traffic light is a real treat watching them leave and arrive at the same time

[@nooner1228]

Great video! Over the summer we flew into ohare and this was down and the entire airport was in chaos lol. Really shows how dependent the airport is on it!

[@danielueblacker9118]

Thom and Bear double the pleasure, thanks so much.

[@233CFH]

I actually forgot O'Hare airport even had this type of system. It would be nice if more airports had monorails. We have our monorail here in New Jersey at Newark Liberty International airport, Philadelphia has the Septa Regional Rail that takes you to the airport, but nothing is as unique as the monorail at the airport in Detroit, unless there's another unique system like Detroit that I have no idea about.

[@Thom-TRA]

The Detroit one is cool. I haven't been on it, but I've seen it. Do you know when the EWR AirTrain will close? I keep riding it telling myself it will be the last time...

[@233CFH]

@@Thom-TRA I didn't hear anything about the airtrain at EWR closing. But I'll let you know if I read anything about that.

[@Thom-TRA]

@@qjtvaddict I did not know that yet! When did this change?

[@MuniMetro]

Detroit has a People Mover train system in downtown Detroit (and not the airport,, but I could be wrong). Chicago is not the only airport major city with an airport train line of its own: there is an ATS-style train network in New York City (this one serves John F. Kennedy International Airport's "JFK Airtrain" with service to the Jamaica central business district with direct links to two NYC subway lines (the "E" and "J" subway lines , ands the MTA Long Island Rail Road) in the NYC borough of Queens), AND the Newark-Liberty International Airport ("Airtrain" might be that airport's train name, too, but I'm not 100% sure), with transfer connections to New Jersey Transit's Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Lines which both run to Newark Penn Station (in downtown of the City of Newark) and New York Penn Station (in the NYC borough of Manhattan).

[@Thom-TRA]

@@MuniMetro Detroit Airport also had a people mover. It’s called the ExpressTram, definitely worth researching, it’s very cool. We rode the NJ Transit line in our latest video, feel free to check it out!

[@colleencamp3784]

Took this 2 months ago, been open for awhile, it’s nice

[@Jpkjr52]

Glad to join Thom. John in Chicago

[@Thom-TRA]

Heading to Chicago again this weekend! Metra Rock Island is my plan this time around

[@animeshbandyopadhyay560]

Nice video. I travelled to and from T5 of ORD to India. It's really informative.

[@nareshbhatia7311]

I understand shuttle does not drop you at terminal 5 but terminal 3. If you decide to go by this train can you take cart from terminal 3 to terminal 5. Can you please guide. Thanks.

[@animeshbandyopadhyay560]

@@nareshbhatia7311 Not exactly. I travelled by shuttle from West Lafayette. There was passenger for 2 terminals, but the Reindeer service was good and I could reach up to terminal 5. I wanted to say this type of video is quite informative, if anyone face problem.

[@marcuswalton2922]

Tu/Vous did not mention that if someone rode Metra to O'Hare Transfer, they had to ride a bus to A.T.S. Well, that Mereda is a thing of the past!

[@Thom-TRA]

That’s not true it is a 2 minute walk

[@michaelbodine6142]

I believe the company ran into budget problems. . "They" wanted to extend the tram to the far F LOT, that's really EXTENSIVE CHANGES.

[@chromebomb]

Chicago is a great american city

[@coreyhipps7483]

As someone who rode the original a lot all it looks like they did is maybe replace the original rolling stock, though the interior looks the same and it is just as loud as ever. I remember when they opened this. Unfortunately it is still outside of security so it does not really help with transferring between terminals while not needing to go through a security check again. Granted, back when it was first open there was no security to speak of.

[@DutchRailroads]

Nice video

[@Thom-TRA]

Thanks!

[@Bjd79]

Those buses going between terminals and parking garages were terrible, on verge of breaking down, crowded and worn out seats. I had always taken ATS before construction started. I can’t wait to check out new ATS next time I fly,from O’Hare. Road Construction in that area is a nightmare right now.

[@Ashitsheth]

So is this after the security check point or before that ? if we just need to change terminal do we need to go through security again ?

[@Thom-TRA]

This is outside of security

[@rikkichunn8856]

I hadn't seen this video before. But you did a super job as usual! I'm curious. How did O'Hare get the abbreviation ORD? I get the O and the R, but where did the D come from? Does anyone know? My only guess (and I don't think it's very good) is that ORD is short for ORcharD place, the old name for the neighborhood around there.

[@GeorgeWenckebach]

You are correct. ORD stands for ORcharD Field.

[@waynewright2886]

Can't wait till we get ours here in L.A. Next Year or 2024, it's suppose to be Longer than the O'Hare People Mover.

[@TCORV]

I didn't even know Chicago airport even had a AirTrain system

[@midmichiganemdrailfan.4187]

Cool

[@Thom-TRA]

Thank you!

[@michaelbodine6142]

about 11 minutes round trip for time.

[@sutthidasukkamol4492]

My first time at O'Hare was last year, transit to another building as an international flight which not a walking distance, only an option is a bus, and maybe my bad to get this worst but we survived, me, my husband and my son have five luggages, then we have to take it up and down to the bus by ourselves, without a cart, so struggle but we have to do that even I already planned not to have that five bags becuase I know the O'Hare transit was not ready. This going to be great for a huge hub of international airport, this should happen 10 more years ago.

[@Thom-TRA]

There was a system until 2019, but then that closed. Experiences like the one you had are the reason this train is such a good thing! Buses are no match for trains. Hopefully you can come back to O’Hare and try it out soon!

[@nareshbhatia7311]

Can you carry airport cart from one terminal to another. I have 3 bags and travelling shortly. What I understand is that there is no drop off at terminal 5. Is that correct.

[@Thom-TRA]

I don’t think you can bring your carts aboard, so you’ll have to carry them. Drop-off is at terminals 1-3.

[@jrm78]

It feels as if the people mover has been closed for longer since they closed the old kiss-n-fly drop-off point at the end of the people mover at some point around 2014 or '16 to do work extending the line out to the new car rental facility / Metra "station".

[@Thom-TRA]

It really has felt like forever!

[@GeorgeWenckebach]

@jrm78 please stop calling the Multi Modal Facility "Parking lot/Metra station". Also, I like your "call me ronald" channel.

[@jrm78]

@@GeorgeWenckebach "Multi-modal" is doing a lot of work considering the only modes are cars, the people-mover to the airport, and a notoriously difficult Metra line. But I suppose that makes it technically correct, which is the best kind of correct. And it's rare that I have people notice my ancient channel from the early days of YT, when people would post meme clips from the Star Wars Holiday Special or fan-made Star Trek videos which were floating around college FTP servers in the '90s. Ah, memories.

[@KaedeAnimation]

Will there be an Airport Rail Link train like NEX train in Narita Airport?

[@Thom-TRA]

I wish there was one like Narita Express or Skyliner. There are CTA blue line local trains every 5-10 minutes from downtown.

[@robertlee6781]

Do you have go through TSA again after riding the people mover? That would be a huge hassle if so.

[@Thom-TRA]

Yeah, unfortunately I think so. It’s a landside train.

[@l.s.3562]

It’s still outside of security unlike dfw where all the trains are connected

[@benjouras2498]

These look so nice, is there any reason a steel-wheel design couldn't be used on the L?

[@Thom-TRA]

The L uses steel wheels so I don’t know what you mean

[@benjouras2498]

@@Thom-TRA I mean since the ATS is a rubber tire system, it would be nice if the same rolling stock could be produced to be compatible with the steel-wheel design of the L. I believe these are used in the Taipei metro so if they added extra seating it would be a nice modern looking addition to the blue line or somesuch

[@DLD22productions]

1:56 that guy is always there

[@Thom-TRA]

He's really good!

[@Bjd79]

I think I have seen him in 2019 when I last flew

[@cuocsongoithuong2445]

Can you tell me from T3 to T5 which way I should go to find the train, please. I am nervous about running late. My fight arrive T3 and then move to T5 for international fight. Thank you so much for share your video.

[@Thom-TRA]

Follow signs saying airport shuttle! It is by the ground transportation, you will take an escalator up, cross the highway, then back down into the station.

[@cuocsongoithuong2445]

@@Thom-TRA Thank you so much!

[@GeorgeWenckebach]

First follow signs to the Baggage Claim and then follow signs to Airport Transit/ATS and go up the ATS Escalator and then look at the Boarding Information signs and get on the train that's going to Terminal 5 and then get off at the Terminal 5 stop and then walk to the Check-In/Security area.

[@skyhighnikk]

That took forever!!! Now they want to do another terminal ? 😂

[@jon123etc]

So where did you fly off to?

[@Thom-TRA]

Denver and Portland

[@GrzegorzKonowalik]

Just go straight after exiting CTA past the Hilton to Terminal 2 then just go upstairs for the O'Hare trains, why would you walk all the way to Terminal 3 when there's a train just so you don't have to walk.

[@Thom-TRA]

For the great sax music

[@funnylife7585]

What is the frequency of AirTrain, and how much is ride time from T3 to T5. My layover is only 2 Hrs? Will it be enough to collect baggage, take the train, do the security again and run to gates ... ha ha Or should I reschedule

[@Thom-TRA]

T3 to T5 probably takes about 5 minutes. Maybe factor in 5-10 minutes wait time. You should be fine, if it’s not a busy day at the airport and your flights are on time.

[@funnylife7585]

@@Thom-TRA Thank you so much

[@Bjd79]

@@Thom-TRA yes. 5 minutes. That what I was told.

[@generallypositive7535]

From where does this start?

[@Thom-TRA]

From terminal 1 to the Parking lot/Metra station. There’s a map in the video that might be helpful.

[@GeorgeWenckebach]

It goes from Terminal 1 to the Multi Modal Facility.

[@alexthai5223]

so im guessing this transit system transports people terminal to terminal before going through security check?

[@Thom-TRA]

Yes, it’s outside of security. The US requires you go through immigration at your port of entry, so this isn’t a problem even when transferring from an international flight.

[@MetraUPNWproductions7202]

Hmmmm 10B was a test still

[@IainHendry]

Good review! Too bad the new trains don't have the Silver/Red paint scheme from the original Matra VAL256 vehicles. The blue trains with red stars look terrible. So tacky. There were only 3 VAL256 systems built - Taipei, Jacksonville and ORD. Jacksonville's was closed and renovated as a monorail. The vehicles from Jacksonville came to ORD. Bombardier produced custom replacement vehicles for Taipei (since Matra is no longer around) and so were able to offer the design here to ORD as well. 256 refers to the width of the vehicle in cm.

[@Thom-TRA]

Cool! A history and a lot of facts that I didn’t know! Thanks for your comment, I genuinely love learning more about the trains I ride.

[@SamSitar]

the ORD train should extend outside the of airport.

[@Thom-TRA]

That would be convenient. Fortunately, it does connect to the Metra Station.

[@ultimoimperio7278]

Leave it like that, another 10 yrs construction! jajaja, as this friend said, it's connected to Metra (👍) and CTA Chicago Transit Authority to go Downtown and connections to ALL neighborhoods

[@juliettedemaso7588]

Facts.

[@firsttankcrews]

Great system if you don't have luggage

[@Thom-TRA]

I think the stations have elevators, but I forgot to check

[@Nader95]

is this train free to ride?

[@Thom-TRA]

Yes it is!

[@anthonym6119]

It’s not 24 hrs a day yet

[@Thom-TRA]

Hopefully soon

[@GeorgeWenckebach]

As of May 9, 2024 the train returned to 24 hour service.

[@RC94332]

They would have built this in a month in China…

[@TheMaxx111]

They still make you ware masks?!

[@Thom-TRA]

Yes…? Not for much longer but still

[@nigelwarrington3696]

Looks exactly as it did 3 years ago. Very disappointing..

[@Thom-TRA]

Yeah, I think the main change was the trains. Which makes it ridiculous that it was closed for so long.

[@GeorgeWenckebach]

Thom can you stop calling the Multi Modal Facility "Parking lot/Metra station"? Please!

[@Thom-TRA]

No I won’t. It’s a parking lot / metra station. Deal with it.

[@GeorgeWenckebach]

@@Thom-TRA Sorry but you are being rude.

[@Thom-TRA]

@@GeorgeWenckebach I’m sorry you feel that way

[@GeorgeWenckebach]

It's OK. Sorry for saying that you are rude.

[@Luke_Go]

Why does this feel so 1960s? Kinda third world...

[@felixhekster]

American infrastructure

[@ccserfas4629]

That looks & sounds awful.