Do you know what happened the old airlines who flown BUD-ORD over years ago? Do they still flown it?

To my knowledge no airline has flown this route before. Malev used to fly from JFK and LAX but not ORD. I could be wrong though.

^^^ spyguy, was that just a release of higher res renders compared to April, or is there new information? Construction photos would be interesting to see.

Sorry, not sure how to display this link at a smaller size. (Any tips? I tried adding -small to the extension but it didn't work. Or, if anybody creates a new post with a smaller size, I'll just delete this.)

http://i.imgur.com/X1JkSnL.jpg
i.imgur.com/X1JkSnL.jpg

Another view. Same sizing problem again, sorry.
http://i.imgur.com/mzFr2r5.jpg
i.imgur.com/mzFr2r5.jpg.jpg

^ Disappointing to build this thing with such a big distance between the APM and Metra stop. Even if there's no immediate opportunity for better Metra service, this is incredibly shortsighted. Flipping the site plan doesn't seem like it would have increased cost significantly... now if they ever plan a transit center here, it will have to rely on moving sidewalks like Midway.

Also a little disappointed that the "spiral" ramps are being built with faceted sides. Those things are kinda sexy when built right, as we all know from JHC and Trump...

Just higher res.

The whole thing is rather ugly from the outside. I thought they were at least going to screen the exterior to make it somewhat pleasant, but must have ran out of money...

^^ I had been thinking the APM terminus will be so far away from the Metra tracks that it actually raises the likelihood they might build a one-stop extension to get there. If they end up implementing some gold standard express train that uses this Metra routing, then it may be a practical necessity, or else nobody will bother to use the express train. Although I wonder what such an extension's price tag would be. However if no rail service changes occur at this Metra stop, then it won't happen and it's a waste of a layout as you say.

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And I'll bet it's only negligibly more expensive to make precast concrete ramp elements curved rather than straight?

Totally agree with you guys about the aesthetics. Presumably this is just a result of a design-build competition, where the developer/contractor is using in-house design, and the client (City) doesn't have anybody advocating for good design because they view it just as some transit depot tucked away in a corner?

Let me just add that the main garage is being built in 2 phases, where a "vertical completion" will add 4 floors at some point in the (near or medium term?) future. Nowhere as technically interesting as good ol' BCBS ... but I think you can conclude that the forest of concrete stubs currently littering the roof level are actually the columns that will be extended.

CBS Chicago - O’Hare Getting $782 Million Consolidated Rental Car Facility - May 21, 2015

Here's to hoping the 4-story crown can perform some aesthetic acrobatics that nullify what's below.

As I understand, Ross Barney was selected as architect.

Not sure they had total control, though - they may have just been brought in to design the APM station and lobby areas. I think there will be some kind of decorative screening on the garage too, maybe something kinetic.

This is not by choice as it costs more to operate mainline flights on former regional routes, but it is still happening due to regional shortages. If fuel costs start to go up again this will start to eat into the airlines bottom line. Right now they have add on fuel surcharges with the lowest fuel costs in many years(someone at the DOT is not paying attention )

https://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/...l-traffic.html



By the way, nice added service from Norwegian Air, LOT and WOW Air as mentioned above and on the last page link. Should add atleast a few new 787's into the ORD market.

A train that takes you an additional 15 minutes to get to the actual airport from the final stop is no express train and would be slower or equal to the existing Blue Line. Any 'express' train that terminates anywhere but the actual terminal complex itself is a waste of time and money.

^ Everyone complains about this but still I don't agree. I think saving 15 minutes is less important than clearing off the table pain points like crime, panhandlers, urine, breakdowns, earsplitting tunnel noise, vague timetables, unintelligible passenger announcements, drunken revelers or rowdy weekenders, being simply too packed to allow more passengers, and general unreliability, since airport trips normally require assurance of timeliness, safety, and some modicum of cleanliness and comfort. However, it is true that, to some extent, you could accomplish this just with comfortable purpose-built carriages running along the Blue Line with no stops and controlled platform entry at each terminus. So this Metra station routing may offer limited advantages over that, such as Ogilvie being a more desirable and workable downtown terminus compared to Clark/Lake, and the absence of line stoppages due to police action or malfunctions.

Yeah, I am aware of that. That's a problems. Those people is complaining about criminal, homeless, and a few others, as well. They should keep off the airport property. They need more police officer to patrol at ORD property or at the platform.

^ I'm not aware of those problems on airport property, but all bets are off on platforms in the city.

Air Berlin adding ORD-DUS (Dusseldorf) 5x weekly in May 2018, starting this route after Lufthansa ended it a few years ago.

http://atwonline.com/daily-news/airb...go-routes-2018

the monster of the skies is coming to ORD.



source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...808-story.html

Next summer American is launching Chicago - Venice service on their 787-8. A new European destination to add to the list. Also confirmed that their seasonal Chicago - Barcelona service will return as well.

Good! Here's the press release:

http://news.aa.com/press-releases/pr...?sf106407158=1

Here's the flight schedule:

ORD-VCE 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 a.m.
VCE-ORD 2:50 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.

I think the timing is good. They can catch the cruise ships, but they won't be leaves after 4 or 5pm.

The Maps are new again-(wiki&google maps)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosemont_station_(Metra)
what are they building near this station
south of the new ballpark?