Any rail that serves an airport
Direct services, light rail, metros, long distance and high speed — plus rail connected by a transit or bus to the terminal.
About
Sharing airport-rail experience since 1997.
Conceived in 1997 and formally launched in 1998, IARO helps the people planning and operating airport rail links learn from one another. Its reports, events, database and introductions turn project experience into practical guidance.
IARO publishes reports, holds meetings, maintains Airport Railways of the World and arranges introductions so that project experience is not lost between cities.
Reliable rail access can reduce road trips to airports. IARO helps members examine operating evidence and understand how outcomes vary between markets.
The current programme, sometimes called IARO 2.0, restarted in 2023 after a three-year pause. The 2023 Heathrow meeting marked 25 years of Heathrow Express; IARO itself was conceived in 1997 and launched in 1998.
Secretariat
Patrick Hicks
Administrative Director, based in Surbiton, United Kingdom.
patrick.hicks@iaro.com
+44 (0)7770 636613
Suite 3, Charter House
26 Claremont Road
Surbiton KT6 4QZ
What is an airport rail link?
From IARO’s published FAQs.
Operational and planned links
Explore passenger services and, with membership, planned schemes and cargo connections in Airport Railways of the World.
The well-known examples
Hong Kong Airport Express and Heathrow Express; Munich S-Bahn and Paris CDG RER; London City DLR; Frankfurt ICE; JFK AirTrain.
IARO 2.0
Meetings since the 2023 restart.
The 2023 conference at Heathrow marked 25 years of Heathrow Express, with visits to Heathrow, Luton DART and the Elizabeth line. Milan 2024 covered Malpensa’s North Rail Access. Paris 2025 was hosted with Groupe ADP. Brussels, 7–8 October 2026, is next.
IARO exists so that people planning and operating airport rail links can learn from one another.
Working together
Bring a question. Share experience.
Operators, project teams and specialists contribute to IARO through meetings, research and introductions arranged by the Secretariat.
Planning a connection
Explore comparable airports and ask which reports or members can help with your project's next decision.
Explore airport railways →Sharing what you learned
Propose a case study, a technical visit or a workshop topic. The Secretariat reviews contributions before publication.
Discuss a contribution →Meeting your peers
See the programme and practical arrangements for upcoming IARO events.
Explore events →