This is a review about a trainline that runs from DIA to Union Station in downtown Denver and while it isn't fancy, it's super convenient. Affordable, too. There are a few stops along the way, but the big benefit is the roughly 30-45 minute trip costs $11 (as of August 2025.) That's a lot quicker and less expensive than a taxi, rideshare or a rental car (and who wants to try and park anyway?) Plus, depending where you're staying and where you are going, you can not only walk around downtown and its nearby neighborhoods, but you can also take the light rail and other mass transportation to other locations. The trains leave about every half hour. Please make sure to purchase a ticket because employees will walk through and ask for it. read more

Regional Transportation District - A Line - Trains Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Our AIRBNB recommended taking the train from the airport. It only cost $1.35!!!! Lyfts were $50-$70! It was so easy to purchase a ticket at the kiosk and jump on the train. I also used Google maps to make sure I was following directions correctly. I also asked a worker to triple check read more

Regional Transportation District - A Line - 3 hour pass - Trains Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Although I might love a good rideshare or arranging for private transportation, when I'm travelling and have the opportunity for clean and efficient public transport, count me in! Aside from the Denver Intl Airport being massive, this multi-stop train line will get you smack dab in the middle of Downtown Denver in about thirty or so minutes. As you depart the airport the train station is a short walk away from luggage pickup and you'll briefly walk outside and take the escalator down. The escalator ride in itself is impressive as you soon realize just how far down you're going to the platform. It's very similar to the Underground Tunnel system in London. For ten bucks you'll have the chance to commute to or from the airport which is not only a great price but you get to ride in comfort. I usually use my time on the train to catch up on emails or verify travel itinerary The dock is massive and allows for everyone to board as they have a train during busier commutes departing every 15 or so minutes. Once you board the train they have a few luggage racks to store your luggage during your commute and they have racks above your seat to place your carry on luggage. If there isn't enough space you can actually put your luggage in the seat next to you (you just can't block the walkway in-between the seats). Do not just board the train without the ticket, you will get caught and be called out in front of everyone. They have ticket agents going up and down the cars checking tickets and they will fine you on the spot. I've seen it happen to other people. read more

TRAVELERS NEED TO BE READY TO QUICKLY EXIT THE TRAIN AT THEIR STOPS The RTD (Regional Transportation District) public train system in Denver is an inexpensive and easy way to get around Denver and its suburbs. The RTD A Line is the line many tourists will use to travel between Denver International Airport (DIA) and Union Station in downtown Denver ($10 Airport Day Pass). It is a 30-45 minute ride between DIA and Union Station. Learn how to use the RTD app on your phone. Fare payment appears to operate on an honor system - there are no turnstiles to validate your pass and rarely have we seen any train personnel onboard. But on our last trip, a security officer was checking passengers for proof of payment of the train fare - we overheard him saying fare beaters were subject to a $100 fine. As with any urban mass transit system, riders need to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings. The A Line might be the safest line with its constant flow of travelers to and from the airport. But with little visible security presence on the trains and platforms, we would not be comfortable using the other RTD lines at night or during off hours. On the E Line, we saw many homeless people take refuge on the RTD especially during cold weather. Another issue with the RTD and especially the A Line with its many tourists, is that the trains stop for no more than 2-3 minutes at each stop. This is okay for locals hopping on and off the train but not for tourists new to Denver and the RTD. During our last trip, a disaster was barely averted - one family (a couple with three children, a baby and lots of luggage) could not get off at their stop before the doors quickly closed - luckily, they had not pushed their luggage out of the car and none of the children had gotten off the train ahead of their parents. As the train pulled away, we did not see any train personnel at the deserted station who would have been able to help this family if they had gotten separated from their children or their luggage. read more

It is one of the cleanest and most reliable transportation modes I've ever been on. No foolishness is happening here. A lot of transit officers come and go to make their rounds. There's a $10 surcharge if your in the airport zone, going or leaving. The officers check your ticket, so have it ready. I love it. We need something like this in the DMV! read more

Regional Transportation District - A Line - Trains Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Best way to get to Denver from the airport. It takes you directly to the city. RTD has a train going all the way between these. Going this way doesn't take that long. This is also much cheaper than a shuttle. Get on here at Union Station or the airport. It doesn't get any cheaper getting downtown. This is a much better way. Buy a ticket at any of the stations from the beginning to end. It's $10.50 for a trip. This is also one of the fastest ways. It doesn't take long for the next train to come. These leave the stations every few minutes. It makes getting to and from the airport much easier. It's pretty cheap and fast. They often check tickets so always have these with you. read more

Regional Transportation District - A Line - At Union Station - Trains Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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I used the train because Uber is insanely expensive and I rather do this. The station is impressive, very big but set up conveniently. I purchased at the machine which was fast and easy. I took a train right after. They check your tickets once the train takes off. read more

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Every time I travel to a city with decent public transportation, especially one with a reputation for horrible road traffic, I do my best to take full advantage of public transit. Why drive when you can relax and enjoy a safe ride on the train? The University of Colorado A Line from DIA to Union Station in LoDo is just perfect for a traveler like me. My best tip is to install the RTD Tickets app on your phone long before your trip. From there, you can purchase your $9 pass ($4.50 for students & seniors, free for active military & kids under 6) up to 45 days in advance and you have no reason to wait in a kiosk line with everyone else who did not plan ahead. A new train into downtown Denver takes off about every 10-20 minutes and there are 6 stops between the airport and the end of the line at historic Union Station (across from Coors Field and near tons of other food/drink/entertainment options). See the light blue line on the transit map image I've loaded to this biz page. The trip takes around 40-45 minutes, during which time you can be occupied with other things besides navigating the packed roads in an unfamiliar city. When you're on the train, there are racks for your bags near the doors, as well as overhead; you can't keep bags in the walkway. An armed agent will come by to scan your ticket once, maybe twice, during your trip. Within the smartphone app, just go to your ticket wallet and activate the ticket that you purchased earlier, show it to the agent, and you are good to go. From the airport: Follow the signs to baggage claim and transit. See the DIA map I've added to this listing to find your path from your gate to the Transit Station (Stop 34475). You'll descend down a long escalator through some interesting abstract art to the A Line departure area. Check the westbound schedule and which track you need to take here: http://www3.rtd-denver.com/schedules/getSchedule.action?runboardId=2514&routeId=A&routeType=32&&direction=W-Bound&serviceType=4#direction https://www.rtd-denver.com/app/nextride/stop/34475 To the airport: On a weekday morning, another train takes off from Union Station (Stop 34667) about every 5-15 minutes. Check the eastbound schedule and which track you need to take here: http://www3.rtd-denver.com/schedules/getSchedule.action?routeType=32&routeId=A&serviceType=4 https://www.rtd-denver.com/app/nextride/stop/34667 read more

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The RTD's A Line is absolutely great, getting you from the Denver Airport to Union Station downtown in 35 minutes for the grand sum of $10.50. That's an incredible bargain AND an amazing time-saver, as anyone who's made the 25-mile trek knows, especially now that I-70 is undergoing some major construction to widen the highway as the eastern suburbs expand. Just by way of comparison, my last Uber ride for the same trip was close to an hour in late-morning traffic and cost about $40. The Airport station is connected to the main terminal and located under the futuristic Westin hotel, a short five-minute walk and ride down the escalator. You can purchase your tickets right on the platform, and the trains run about every 15 minutes. Keep those tickets handy for when the conductor makes their rounds! The rail cars are laid out like commuter train cars, and as soon as I walked onto the train, I was struck at how clean the cars were - the RTD is definitely maintaining their trains well. There's ample stowage for bags, both overhead and in racks near both sets of doors. The staff is incredibly courteous, the announcements are easy to understand, and the view of the Rockies along stretches of the route make for a very pleasant trip. If you're staying downtown, there's two free bus services -the MallRide and the MetroRide - and one or the other will get you within a block or two of just about all of the LoDo or Central Business District hotels. Denver's done this right - and the folks here in DC could definitely learn a lesson or two about how to provide fast and enjoyable service to our own airports! read more

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Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. That's how easy it is to take the train from the airport to Union Station! Upon arrival from JFK, I found my way to the "Transit Center" which is where you need to go to get the train. There is also a large bus depot there so the focus isn't just on the train, but if you don't know that, it could be difficult to know if you're going to the right place. You descend a long escalator which takes you right to the train platform. There were only a couple of ticket machines there and long lines for them but the machines are fast! If you want a receipt, you have to quickly press "yes" once your ticket is printed. They could probably stand to add a couple of machines to reduce lines. The trains were clean and comfortable, with some racks near the doors for big bags as well as overhead racks that easily accommodated a carryon bag. Service to Union Station is relatively quick. It took about 42 to minutes on the way there (my return trip to the airport was exactly 37 minutes). Station announcements are clear and the armed security personnel who check your tickets are friendly and informative (but unlike conductors on MetroNorth or LIRR, these people are law enforcement and carry guns, which is a difference from the standard conductors I'm used to). I took a 5:15 am train back to the airport and was amazed that it was full by the time we got there. A lot of airport workers use this train so it's great to see it being utilized by travelers and employees. The ride is all above ground so you get to see the changing landscape and I was able to see the sun rise as we approached the airport. Great job on this train....it's world class! read more

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I would advise anyone who has a substantial layover at Denver International Airport to catch one of the RTD A line trains running between the airport and Union Station. It is a quick trip well worth the cost of a ticket, which is cheap compared to rideshare or taxi service. One can purchase a ticket from an automated kiosk at the airport, or, as someone else noted, you can use the RTD app. I thought the train station platforms were really clean and navigating the system proved to be an easy process. read more

Rejoice for the CU train began just over 3 months ago,& makes heading to Lodo, Uptown, Cap Hill, 5 Points, all very convenient! Xfer to green or yellow once at Newly redone Union, where the yummeee Snooze eatery and Tattered Cover bookstores all can be found. 22.8 miles-- wonder if I can go unconscious and back in that time? AC on full blast. I will alight at Union Station!! read more

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Review #228 - 2019 Maybe the fact that I live in the Bay Area & everything here is over priced makes me super excited when I find something in another state that is actually cost effective. During my 8-hour lay over in Denver, I decided to take a quick tour of the surrounding area in downtown just to see if there was anything that my daughter & I could enjoy together. We ended up going to a few places, but got tired after about 2 hours so we ended our tour much earlier than I expected, which was actually a good thing since the TSA line at DEN was very long. It looked like there was at least a thousand people ahead of me when I came back to the airport. The guy who was working at the security booth on Thursday, August 29th, around 5:30 AM was actually very nice & helpful. I guess he could tell that I didn't know what I was doing when I was trying to purchase a round trip ticket for myself so he came out to help me. For $10.50, I was able to get from the airport to downtown Denver & back. I didn't even know you can use that same ticket for the rail service and buses in downtown as well so I ended up walking the majority of my tour, which was fine since I got my step count in for the day. In the Bay Area, you're lucky to get anywhere far for $10, let alone being able to use it on all their public transportation for 24 hours. read more

Another placeholder so my pictures link. I'll update with details later, but the 4 star rating holds true. read more

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The RTD A Line runs from DIA to Union Station and is a fantastic public transit option. The full fare cost is $10.50 and is valid on the lightrail as well. The train usually takes 37 minutes and is a much faster option than driving during rush hour. An average Uber/Lyft is around $40, so the train provides substantial savings. The only issue is that operational issues are possible, leading to delays and schedule issues. Make sure to check early if there any delay notifications. I had one such delay today with the following message: ATTENTION on the University of Colorado A Line, trains will be running every 30 minutes due to operational difficulties. Trains will depart Union Station every hour at :00 and :30. Trains will depart Denver International Airport every hour at :27 and :52. read more

I love the idea that a train can get me to the airport, with multiple options for getting picked up. I used it a lot coming home from the airport, although have only done it while the sun shines... Plenty of seating, places to put your bags, bikes and self. The announcements are clear of where you go. Pro tip - there is 1 option to get into the town, the full day ticket - $9 I think it is a bit high to get the use they want out of the train, but it's a steal at rush hour! They did do a weird thing where sometimes the trains have to wait for each other before or after where the double lines are, as in, there are not double lines the whole way... All in all its amazing to have public transportation and i'll take it, i just want to make it more useable by the masses! read more

I have used the A LINE for years and years now. Taking me from the airport to downtown Denver. Offers multiple connections to Aurora and Denver at $10.50 per ticket. Luckily for me, I had the student pass and was honored transportation for years and my job offers me free public transportation, so this is a must. If you're coming from Denver International Airport, you'll find this nifty train line at the South end of exiting DIA. Take the giant escalator down and walk forward. It is facing the Westin Hotel and that's a plus if you're staying there! Lots of security guards are there auditing the stops, making sure nobody is causing any trouble, and obtaining a train stub. The A Line takes you to the last stop of Union Station (Approximately 40 minutes max) This is the way to go if you don't have a functioning vehicle, or you're flying in and needing to visit the city. It is a one way only and you do not need to get off the train to make it to downtown Denver. Worried about walking on foot once in Union Station?? Don't you worry, because the Free Mall Ride does navigate through the 16th Street Mall and also Union Station has an underground passing, so you're not dying of the heat or freezing of the cold. Overall, one of my favorite ways of transportation. read more

The train to downtown is superb. Convenient, easy to understand as a visitor, and affordable. Not sure why other major cities with remote airports cannot emulate this functional system. read more

Everybody has written all the positives, so I will nit pick here. 1. "61st and Pena Station" on the electronic signage. Does a tilde on Peña use too much energy? 2. Train is too slow. RTD needs to give operational control to Swiss Federal Railways SBB for a year to learn how to do it properly. 3. The ticket checker carries a pistol?! WTF?! I have never seen this on any European train. This is ridiculous. 4. The PA system needs work. The voices are too fuzzy. read more

Being from Hawaii, traveling by rail is something under construction right now. I had heard of the Denver area Regional Transportation District and decided that since my layover was only for two days, I wasn't familiar with area, and I am always looking for ways to stretch the budget, I looked into using this city's public transportation. The web page was really helpful in getting me around in pre-planning. I walked from my hotel to the nearest train station which was about 3 blocks away. I was able to ask one of the security officers I saw walking around about which train I should take to get to Larimer Square. He was very friendly to give me directions and even pulled out a pocket map he was carrying to show me how the route would be and where I should get off to get the best experience of Larimer Square. I only had to pay $10.50 for an all day pass and even though I didn't use it for the full day, I felt it was a great deal. The train came in a few minutes and I was able to ride it into downtown. The route maps are all over the trains so that you have a good reference. When you get to the stations, they have all the routes and schedules posted so that you plan your trip. I would recommend this for anyone to experience when in the downtown Denver area as it is the best way to see other things and let someone else do the driving. read more

Being from NYC now, it seems like a perfect idea to have a train from the city center to the airport. When we discovered the union station was only mile or so from our friend's place, it was a no-brainer for us to take the train in and have them get us at the station. The train is clean and the stops are clearly announced. Plus the union station is pretty awesome inside. Well done Denver, well done! read more

It's only $5.25 and about 35 minutes for a senior to ride from the airport to downtown. Why rent a car, tax a taxi or Uber when you can ride the train? Access is easy. Just follow the signs from Baggage Claim to the transportation center. Clean, modern and a great deal. read more

I travel to Denver regularly and love being able to walk down from the airport and hop on the train to union station. I then hop on a Lyft scooter and head to my meetings! read more

$10.50 for a pleasant ride from Union Station, in LoDo, to Denver International airport. I wish I knew about this before I took a VERY expensive cab ride to my hotel downtown after my flight in. Super clean, security - only 38 minutes. Considering the Denver traffic lately, it's a no-brainer to go this route. read more

Easy, clean - fast. Would recommend this to everyone who wants to explore downtown Denver from the airport or who needs a ride to the airport from downtown Denver. Person who checked out tickets while on the train was friendly and knowledgable. Would do this again! read more