IARO Upcoming Events - Brussels and Hong Kong
IARO’s forthcoming programme offers two important opportunities for members to meet, share expertise and promote airport-rail connectivity internationally.
The IARO 2026 Air-Rail Conference and Networking Meeting, hosted by Brussels Airport on 7-8 October, will combine site visits, presentations and panel discussions on high-speed rail connections, technology and systems integration, and airport design and development. Participation is free for IARO members, although advance registration is essential.
Registration Available HERE (www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/iaro-2026-member…)
IARO will then participate in Super Terminal Expo, Hong Kong, from 3-5 November. On Wednesday 4 November, IARO will organise a 90-minute Air-Rail Forum featuring presentations and a moderated panel discussion on airport-rail links. Members interested in speaking or joining the panel should contact Patrick at patrick@iaro.com (mailto:patrick@iaro.com) . IARO will also have an exhibition stand, available as a meeting point for members and stakeholders, helping raise the profile of airport-rail connectivity within the international airport and transport community.
Phuket airport rail link plan revived
In 2020, IARO Express 365 reported the cancellation of a plan to link the Thai resort of Phuket with its airport. The plan is now being revived and a feasibility study is being reviewed.
The 58.6km light rail system line will probably have elevated, ground level and tunnelled sections, and is likely to be automated.
Sources Tramways and Urban Transit and the IARO database
Vienna City Check-in news
City Airport Train Vienna (CAT) recently released an updated list of airlines with full hold baggage check-in facilities at Wien-Mitte station.
These are:
- Aegean Airlines (www.linkedin.com/company/aegean-airlines/)
- EVA Airways Corp. (www.linkedin.com/company/eva-airways/)
- Turkish Airlines (www.linkedin.com/company/turkish-airlines/)
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (www.linkedin.com/company/klm/)
- Air France (www.linkedin.com/company/air-france/)
- LOT Polish Airlines (www.linkedin.com/company/lot-polish-air…)
- SAS - Scandinavian Airlines (www.linkedin.com/company/flysas/)
Check-in is available between 24 hours and 75 minutes before flight departure. Passengers without hold baggage can check-in later, as long as the next train will get them to the airport in time for their flight.
Bags travel in a special secure compartment of the trains.
In-town check-in at Wien Mitte, taken at the IARO Vienna conference in 2018.
Source LinkedIn Post (www.linkedin.com/posts/cat-cityairportt… )
Brașov Airport to have a rail link
Romania’s newest airport, Brașov, which opened in mid-2023, is to have a rail link.
The country’s Recovery and Resilience Plan included a link to the airport in Brasov. It will be a 3km electrified double-track line from Chumbav (Ghimbav) station, costing €148m.
Last year, a Partnership Agreement for the preparation and implementation of the Brașov Metropolitan Train project was signed. It aimed to connect the airport to the national railway network.
The initiative comes after an agreement between the Brașov County Council, the Brașov municipality, the Brașov Transport Association, and the town halls of Sf. Gheorghe (Covasna County), Codlea, Râșnov, Ghimbav, Zărnești, Cristian, Hărman, Prejmer, and Sânpetru.
The planning documentation will be the basis for accessing non-reimbursable funding with a maximum value of €238 million, available under the Transport Programme 2021–2027.
Brașov-Ghimbav International Airport in central Romania recorded a total of 56,897 passengers in the first quarter of this year, more than double (www.romania-insider.com/brasov-airport-…) the number from the same period in 2024, when 27,885 travelers were registered.
IARO Express 679 had an earlier report.
Sources Romania Insider (www.romania-insider.com/brasov-airport-… ), Railway Gazette International and the IARO database
South Bend services to be accelerated
South Bend Michiana Airport, in Indiana, to the east of Chicago, has had a rail link since 1992. In that year, the line into the city of South Bend was cut back and a link into the east end of the airport was created – partly using a former industrial siding. As a result, the route is circuitous – it runs from the west to the south of the airport, then turns north and west before running into the airport station in the east side of the terminal.
There have been plans for most of this century to build a new connection from the west into the west side of the terminal instead: we remember hearing about these at our workshop in Chicago in 2005.
The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District has recently agreed terms with the airport for a new alignment into the airport, which will reduce running times by 15 minutes.
This continues a process of improvements to the historic Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad which included a diversion around Michigan City, removing the need for on-street running there.
IARO Express 573 had an earlier report.
South Bend Airport station
Sources Tramways and Urban Transit and the IARO database
Delhi Metro real time load data
The Real Time Car Wise Train Occupancy system shows how full individual carriages are so that passengers can position themselves optimally along the platforms.
This was initially implemented on Line 8, the Magenta Line, the driverless line which has served Terminal 1 (the Domestic Terminal) of Indira Ghandi International Airport since May 2018.
IARO Express 598 reported on plans for a 7.7km automated people-mover between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3/2 at the airport, and included a sketch plan. This is due to open in 2029, and has been justified by the growth of transfer traffic at the airport – 5% in 2006, 25% today.
Sources Tramways and Urban Transit and the IARO database