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The Denver A Line approaches Denver International Airport. Courtesy of RTD.
The Denver A Line approaches Denver International Airport. Courtesy of RTD.
RTD celebrates 10 years of A Line rail service in Denver
ColoradoBiz Staff //April 22, 2026//
DENVER — The Regional Transportation District is marking the 10th anniversary of its A Line commuter rail service, which connects Denver Union Station and Denver International Airport.
In Brief:
- A Line recorded over 59.4 million boardings since 2016
- Ridership increased 17.7% in January compared to last year
- RTD General Manager Debra Johnson highlights economic impact
- Aurora mayor Mike Coffman credits line for regional development
The 23-mile line has recorded more than 59.4 million boardings since opening in 2016 and was the most-used RTD rail line in 2025. From January 2025 through February 2026, ridership totaled more than 7.1 million trips.
Ridership has continued to increase, with boardings up 17.7% in January compared with a year earlier. Annual ridership rose 4.3% in 2025, the largest gain among RTD commuter rail lines.
“Celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the A Line is a milestone for the region,” said RTD General Manager Debra Johnson. “The launch of the A Line in 2016 made it easier to reach key activity centers while supporting economic growth and mobility.”
The A Line was the first commuter rail project completed under the voter-approved FasTracks program in 2004 and was delivered through a public-private partnership with Denver Transit Partners. Planning for the rail connection began in 1997, with final track construction completed in 2014 before service launched in 2016.
Trains travel up to 79 mph, with a typical trip between downtown Denver and the airport taking about 37 minutes. The line runs every 15 minutes from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and every 30 minutes during early morning and late evening hours.
RTD reported on-time performance averaged 90% in 2025 and 91% in March 2026. Service availability reached 97.7% last year.
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman said the rail line has supported development in the region.
“Transportation investments like the A Line continue to attract homebuyers, investors and businesses to Aurora,” Coffman said.
The A Line was the first U.S. transit rail line built with Positive Train Control technology from the outset, a safety system that enforces speed limits and can stop trains automatically if needed.
Since opening, trains on the line have logged about 11 million miles. The airport day pass now costs $10, up $1 since launch, and allows unlimited travel across RTD services for a full day.
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