Taking the A Line train to Denver International Airport – a quick guide
Taking RTD’s A Line train, pictured here at Denver Airport Station, is easy and convenient for travel between Downtown Denver and Denver International Airport.
Image: The Window Flyer
“Welcome aboard RTD Commuter Rail. This is the University of Colorado A Line to Denver Airport Station,” blared an automated computer-synthesized voice over the train’s public address system as we left Downtown Denver’s Union Station. 23 miles and a quick 37 minutes later, we were riding up the escalator from the train platform into the Jeppesen Terminal (also known as the main terminal, or Great Hall) at Denver International Airport, having bypassed all the traffic on I-25 and I-70, and having avoided driving through endless rows of cars at Denver Airport’s parking lots searching for a place to park.
RTD’s A Line, in Denver, Colorado, which first opened on April 22, 2016, is the rail-based public transit link between Denver International Airport, and Union Station in Downtown Denver. It is officially known as the University of Colorado A Line (at least until May 2022 when the university system’s naming rights expire), and provides trips as frequently as every 15 minutes, for about 22 hours every day.
The line is highly convenient for all kinds of travelers. Featuring park and rides at almost every station, it’s great for Denver area residents looking for an alternative, cheaper, and often quicker way to get to and from the airport. It’s also great for visitors, with a direct link to Downtown Denver and its vibrant Union Station and LoDo districts. Union Station is also the main transit center for the Regional Transportation District (RTD), allowing riders to transfer quickly to dozens of bus routes, and the rest of RTD’s light rail and commuter rail network.
If you’ve never taken the A Line to and from Denver Airport before, and are looking for a quick how-to guide, you’re in the right place!
Heading to the Denver Airport on RTD’s A Line
As mentioned above, the A Line train begins its journey in Downtown Denver at Union Station and takes about 37 minutes to travel to Denver Airport. There are also 6 additional stations along the line, spaced about 2 to 4 miles apart, each with a park and ride. The tracks of the A Line generally parallels Interstate 70 and Peña Boulevard, the airport’s main access highway, so finding stations to access the A Line should be a breeze.
RTD’s A Line Train to Denver International Airport originates in Downtown Denver, at Union Station.
Image: The Window Flyer
Once you’re on the A Line train, there are luggage racks located near each door, along with a luggage shelf above each row of seats. Be sure to have your proof of fare payment ready, as fare inspectors may make their way through the train at times.
The interior of an RTD commuter rail train car.
Image: The Window Flyer
At the end of the line, the A Line pulls into Denver Airport Station, located on the south end of the airport’s main terminal complex. The train platform is located beneath the Westin hotel; from there, follow the signs to go up the escalator or elevator toward the terminal. From the top of the escalators and elevators you’ll have a very short, mostly covered, walk to the directly into the Level 5 terminal entrance.
For those unfamiliar, Level 5 of Denver Airport’s main terminal is the baggage claim level, which also contains some of the airport’s security screening checkpoints. If you don’t have to stop by the check-in and ticketing counters, you can head straight for the TSA checkpoint. The airport’s south screening checking point is literally right in front of you as you enter the terminal. For those needing to stop at a ticket counter, head up to Level 6 of the terminal and follow the signage to your specific airline’s counters.
Leaving the Denver Airport on RTD’s A Line
For passengers arriving at Denver International Airport (DEN), accessing the A Line is easy. Most passengers will arrive in the main terminal via the airport’s automated people mover tram, which lets passengers out onto Level 5 of the terminal, otherwise known as the baggage claim level. If you’re arriving via the airport’s sky bridge (accessible from Concourse A), you’ll be at level 6 and need to take an escalator down one level.
From there, pick up your bags, or head directly to the A Line by following the signs to the Transit Center, which will lead you to a terminal exit, located at the south end of the terminal building, on the same level. From there, take the escalators or elevator down to the train platform level, pay your train fare, and board the train.
The Denver International Airport’s Transit Center, home to RTD’s Denver Airport Station, is just a quick walk from the southern end of the airport’s main terminal and can be accessed by escalators and elevators from the Plaza at the airport’s on-site Westin Hotel.
Image: The Window Flyer
What’s the best station to catch RTD’s A Line to Denver Airport?
For Denver Residents
For Denver residents, we would recommend Central Park Station or the 40th Ave and Airport Blvd – Gateway Park Station. As the Denver metro area is very sprawled out, most people will find it most convenient to access the A Line by personal vehicle.
RTD Central Park Station
Located near I-70 and I-270
RTD 40th & Airport Blvd - Gateway Park Station
Located near I-70 and Peña Blvd
The aforementioned stations are conveniently located near major highway interchanges, near I-70 and I-270, and near I-70 and Peña Boulevard, respectively. These two stations also feature the largest park and rides along the A Line. With each having over 1,000 parking spaces, finding a place to park should not be an issue. Additionally, parking with hundreds of other cars around you, in parking lots designed for airport commuters, helps increase the safety factor – your car won’t be the only car parked in the parking lot for an extended period, which should help relieve some anxiety about leaving your car in a park and ride overnight.
RTD’s 40th Ave and Airport Blvd - Gateway Park Station, which serves the A Line to Denver International Airport, has a large park and ride that’s designed for airport commuters. Convenient connections can also be made to other local transit routes.
Image: Google Earth
If you’re a big transit user you can take transit the whole way from your doorstep to the airport. Many transit lines (bus and rail) connect to various A Line stations, with the most notable being Union Station, which connects to numerous bus lines and most of Denver’s other light rail and commuter rail lines. On the east side of town, RTD’s R Line light rail – from Aurora, Centennial, and Lone Tree – connects with the A Line at Peoria Station near the I-225 and I-70 interchange.
For Denver Visitors
For visitors, you’ll most likely be staying around Denver’s main activity centers around Downtown, so we would recommend Union Station. Of course if you’re staying with friends around Denver, or visiting other parts of Denver, you can always be dropped off, take an Uber, or a connecting RTD bus line to any of the stations along the A Line.
How much are A Line train fares?
A $10.50 RTD train ticket from Denver Airport.
Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) utilizes a zone-based fare schedule for its light rail and commuter rail lines. Denver International Airport is located in RTD’s Airport Fare Zone. As of the writing of this article, current full fares for the A Line into and out of RTD’s Airport Fare Zone are $10.50 one-way, per person. For the latest fares, check out RTD’s website. RTD, as a public transit agency, also offers reduced fares for those who qualify. Certain transit pass holders may also have A Line access to the airport included in their pass program.
$10.50 each way per person may seem expensive, and can be if you’re taking the whole family, but depending on what your personal itinerary is, can still be significantly cheaper than taking an Uber, Lyft, or Taxi to the airport or even parking at the airport.
How much does parking cost along the A Line?
Speaking of parking your car and accessing the A Line, how much will it cost? If you’re a Denver area resident who wants to park your car at a Park and Ride and hop on the A Line, fees are just $2/day (if your car is registered within the RTD service boundaries), and you get your first 24 hours free. Cars registered outside the RTD boundary will be subject to a $4/day fee beginning on the first day. This is by far cheaper than parking at the airport, where parking ranges from $8/day to as much as $28/day.
How to pay for A Line fares and parking?
Payments for riding the A Line, as well as parking along the A Line, can be made via cash or card at station kiosks, or by mobile apps.
Kiosks are located at stations adjacent to the boarding platforms and should be easy to spot. Note, the ticket kiosk and the parking kiosk are two separate kiosks, so if you’re parking and riding, you’ll need to make two separate payments.
For mobile users, tickets can be bought via the RTD Mobile Tickets App, available for iOS and Android devices. Parking can be paid via Parking.com’s website, Parking.com’s mobile app, scanning a QR code at the station, or paying by text. Find out more about how and what to pay for parking at an RTD park and ride in the Denver Metro area and along the A Line train .
What’s the A Line’s schedule?
RTD’s A Line train schedule can be viewed here: https://www.rtd-denver.com/app/route/A/schedule
Conclusion
So there you have it! Convenient, right? Please be sure to bookmark this guide and share it with your friends and family for your next trip to/from Denver.
To recap, RTD’s A Line links Denver International Airport to Downtown Denver’s Union Station, with 6 other stops in between. These 6 stops each have park and rides, allowing Denver area residents to park and hop on board the train. Full fares are $10.50, each way, per person and parking is as low as $2/day.
Trains run as frequently as every 15 minutes during daytime hours, and service runs for about 22 hour each day. The total trip takes just 37 minutes, and can be a big time saver during rush hour periods on the local interstate highways.
The Denver Airport Station is located at the south end of Denver International Airport’s main terminal, beneath the on-site Westin hotel. The station can be accessed by escalator or elevator off the plaza at the Terminal’s south end.
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