Chicago civic leaders plan a 15-minute train to O'Hare

Zoom in: The O'Hare Flyer promises to take riders from downtown to "O'Hare Airport's Terminal 2 on a dedicated track with a reliable schedule of whisper-quiet train departures every 15 minutes," organizers said in a Tuesday statement.

Between the lines: A group of Chicago business and civic leaders, helmed by O'Hare Flyer CEO Dave Lundy, announced the project.

What they're saying: "O'Hare Flyer will connect our world-class downtown with our world-class airport in fifteen minutes," Lundy said in the announcement.

• "This is a first-of-its-kind express train in the U.S. and will give Chicago a safe, reliable, world-class rider experience on a fast, whisper-quiet battery-electric train."

Zoom out: Planners say the train will operate "on freight rail right-of-way owned by three class one railroads: CSX, Canadian National (CN) and Union Pacific (UP). The O'Hare Flyer has reached agreement on terms, memorialized in a Letter of Intent (LOI) with CSX and is moving forward with the other carriers as well."

• They say they are not seeking government funding or subsidies that would otherwise go to regional transportation agencies.

What we're watching: When these planners hope to launch the train and how much it will cost.