As one of the first passengers on what has been branded the “Train to the Plane”, I can say that it is truly a game-changer for Colorado. It is one of the most exciting infrastructure projects to hit the State in decades, and, as the UK’s representative in Denver, it’s also exciting to see the significant British thumbprint on this initiative. Three UK companies – Aberdeen Global Infrastructure Partners LP, Balfour Beatty Rail Inc., and John Laing PLC – are part of the public-private partnership (P3) that financed and constructed a commuter rail line which will link Denver’s International Airport (DIA) to downtown for the first time.
The significance of this project for the city of Denver is enormous. Expected to carry over 18,000 passengers a day between Denver’s Union Station and the Denver International Airport, this rail line will span the 23-mile journey from downtown to the airport and provide a quick and cost-effective alternative to fighting heavy traffic or taking a costly taxi ride. Now passengers can commute to DIA in under 40 minutes and for only nine dollars each way.
The hope is that the new rail line will further amplify Denver’s position on the international stage by providing easier access from the airport to the city for both business travelers and tourists. With Colorado’s population growing by over 100,000 a year and its economy thriving, effortless connectivity to the airport will place the city in an even more competitive position, both nationally and internationally.
Given the UK’s significant experience with infrastructure P3’s, it is no surprise that UK-based companies formed the core of this project. Over the years, major rail developments in the UK, such as the £16 billion CrossRail project (or the Elizabeth Line), have been planned and financed through these types of partnerships. While the UK has been harnessing the power of P3’s for some time, the ‘Train to the Plane’ is the first full DBFOM (design, build, partially finance, operate and maintain) transit P3 in United States history.
I know I’ll be joining the thousands of others who will be using this line as a reliable way to commute to the airport. Moreover, I’m extraordinarily proud to have UK firms engaged in such a historic and impactful project for Denver.