LAX train expected to begin service in January 2026

Los Angeles, California: The Los Angeles International Airport’s train is expected to be fully operation by January 2026 carrying as much as 30 million passengers a year, resulting in an estimated 42 million fewer vehicle miles annually. It will be available to ticketed passengers, their guests and airport employees for free.

This came after the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners approved in mid-July an agreement that sets a construction completion date of December 8, 2025, for Los Angeles International Airport’s (LAX) Automated People Mover (APM) train.

“This project is going to reduce traffic on our freeways and our local streets while bringing good paying union jobs to Los Angeles,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “This train will make a direct connection to the Metro system to ensure LAX welcomes Angelenos and visitors from across the globe in a truly world-class way.”

“Constituents who drive, live and work around LAX are eager for the train to start taking cars off the road,” said Councilwoman Traci Park. “I am hopeful this project will reduce congestion on our local streets; give people time back in their lives; and improve mobility for residents, travelers, and patrons of our local businesses.”

Board of Airport Commissioners President Karim Webb said: “This will be a game changer for LAX’s millions of travelers and for the residents and businesses in our surrounding neighborhoods. We have been working hard to ensure Angelenos benefit during the construction of this project by awarding more than $1.02 billion in contracts to local, diverse, small and veteran-owned businesses. More than 85 local businesses have been working to build this train.”

John Ackerman, CEO of Los Angeles World Airports, commented, “LAX’s train will make life better for millions of people year after year. This is a critical step in our transformation of LAX to make it more welcoming, convenient and sustainable, and to enhance the airport as an economic engine for our region. Completing this program with certainty is a top priority of LAX leadership, and this agreement does just that. The train will also make it easier for Angelenos to work at LAX, easing commutes and stress.”

LAX’s train will operate 24/7, with trains arriving at stations every 2 minutes during peak hours (from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.). Running on 2.25 miles of elevated guideway, it will connect to six stations: three inside the Central Terminal Area, one at LAX’s Economy Parking facility, one connecting to Metro’s LAX/Metro Transit Center station (with transfers to the C and K lines) and one at LAX’s Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility. Total end-to-end travel time will be 10 minutes with a top speed of 47 miles per hour.

The construction completion date is part of an agreement with the train’s developer, LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS). The Board and LINXS also agreed that LINXS will be paid an additional $550 million, largely to cover already completed extra work dating back to August 2018 and a longer than anticipated construction timeline. The agreement also appropriates an additional $50 million for contingencies. The construction of LAX’s train has created nearly 10,000 jobs to date.