Hitachi Rail Celebrates Skyline Honolulu Segment Two Opening
New Segment Connects Airport and Other Key Hubs While Advancing Island-Wide Sustainable Transportation for Waikiki Communities.
www.hitachirail.com
Honolulu, HI – Hitachi Rail, in partnership with the City and County of Honolulu, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART), and the City's Department of Transportation Services (DTS), announced the opening of Segment 2 of Skyline, the first fully autonomous, urban light railway system in the United States.
This milestone marked the launch of four new stations— Makalapa Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Lelepaua Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Ahua Lagoon Drive, and Kahauiki Kalihi Transit Center —extending the reach of Skyline and enhancing connectivity for both residents and visitors. As the largest public infrastructure project in Hawaii's history, Skyline continues to transform sustainable public transportation across O'ahu.
Strategic Connectivity to Key Destinations
Makalapa Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Station serves as a vital center for the Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hickam Air Force Base, Salt Lake, and surrounding residential communities. It will offer a faster, more reliable commuting option for thousands of military personnel and civilian employees that work on base.
Lelepaua Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Station provides a direct connection to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, supporting over 10,000 airport employees and offering travelers a convenient and efficient transit alternative. In addition, a new public express bus route will connect Skyline riders directly to Waikiki, enhancing accessibility to one of Honolulu's most popular destinations.
Kahauiki Middle Street Transit Center Station will serve as a vital transit hub, enabling seamless transfers between Honolulu's rail system and public bus network through the use of a single fare card. This integrated system enhances travel efficiency to downtown Honolulu. By reducing commute times, the new station is expected to significantly benefit passengers traveling between homes, schools, and workplaces.
Celebrating a Milestone
To commemorate the opening, a grand opening ceremony was held today at Kahauiki Middle Street Transit Center Station. The event began with an inaugural train ride from Halawa Aloha Stadium Station through the new Segment 2 stations. Upon arrival at Kahauiki Middle Street Transit Center Station, guests were welcomed with a traditional Hawaiian blessing and remarks from Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi.
Hitachi Rail USA, President and Country Representative, Joseph Pozza:
"The delivery and completion of Skyline, Honolulu Segment 2 – the US' first fully urban autonomous rail system, is another proud moment for the Hitachi Rail team, especially our dedicated team leading on the ground in Honolulu, whose work has been significant in our success. As we celebrate this milestone, the Hitachi team looks forward to its continued work in ongoing and future operations to the Skyline system, ensuring seamless delivery of reliable, sustainable, and high-capacity transportation for the people of O'ahu and cities across the globe."
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi:
"Today marks another milestone in Skyline's revolutionary impact on Oahu. Residents and visitors will now be able to reach the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, two major destinations that serve as powerful economic, employment, and transportation drivers. Meanwhile, each additional Skyline segment unlocks incredible opportunities to address Oʻahu's housing shortage. The City's Transit Oriented Development plan will pay exponential dividends by creating housing for our residents at strategic locations along the rail line. Skyline is an investment in the future of the City and County of Honolulu and will prove itself to be a game changer for this island over the long term. It has taken bold vision, leadership, and dedication to get Skyline to this point, and it will require those same qualities to complete the task of moving Oahu into the future."
HART Executive Director and CEO Lori Kahikina, PE:
"Hitachi has been a critical partner in reaching this next goal of handing over Segment 2 of Skyline to the City and County of Honolulu, Department of Transportation Services. The opening of the second segment of the Honolulu Rail Transit Project, extending service from the Halawa Station at Aloha Stadium to the Kahauiki Station at the Middle Street Transit Center, is a significant milestone for the project, its stakeholders, and the taxpayers. The entire HART Ohana (family) is extremely grateful for the collaborative effort to bring the nation's first fully automated driverless commuter rail system to service the state's two largest employment centers, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport."
DTS Director J. Roger Morton:
"The opening of Segment 2 is a major milestone in our journey toward a fully integrated, island-wide transit system for Oʻahu. With Skyline now reaching the Airport, Lagoon Drive, and the Kalihi Transit Center, we're enhancing connectivity with our award-winning bus network and delivering on our promise of safe, reliable, and modern transportation. This progress wouldn't be possible without our strong partnership with Hitachi, and we're excited to continue building a better-connected future for our island."
Public Launch and What's Ahead
Passenger service on the new Segment 2 stations will officially begin on October 16th. To celebrate, free public ride days will be offered on October 18th and 19th, allowing the community to experience the full Skyline route, now spanning 13 stations across Segments 1 and 2.
Looking ahead, Segment 3 is anticipated to be completed by 2031. There will be six additional stations, further connecting Oahu's west side corridor to downtown Honolulu.
www.hitachirail.com
