RTA to Replace Airport Trains With Buses in October
The RTA will substitute shuttle buses for Red Line trains between Cleveland Hopkins Airport and Brookpark Road station.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Air Travel
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From October 20-22, 2026, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will replace Red Line train service with buses between Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and Brookpark Road station. The service change is necessary to facilitate maintenance work within the airport tunnel.
Why it matters
This transit adjustment ensures that critical repairs to the airport tunnel can proceed while maintaining passenger connectivity to the terminal. Travelers should account for the bus shuttle transition when planning their arrivals and departures during these overnight dates.
Replacement buses for Route 66R will operate on the same frequency and schedule as the standard Red Line trains. The shuttle pickup and drop-off point at the airport is located on the roadway between the terminal and the Smart Parking Garage.
The players
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
The public agency provides bus and rail transportation services to residents and visitors throughout Cleveland and the surrounding Cuyahoga County.
The details
During the three-day window, RTA crews will focus on tunnel repairs, forcing the temporary closure of the rail link between the airport and Brookpark Road. Red Line train service will continue to run normally for all stations between Brookpark and Stokes-Windermere.
Timeline
October 20-22, 2026
11:59 p.m. nightly start time for the service change
6:30 a.m. end time for the daily service change
Travel Outlook
This temporary service change follows a recurring pattern established by the RTA Red Line infrastructure maintenance cycles. Regular maintenance of these transit corridors is essential to managing the long-term wear on aging rail tunnels throughout the system.
Travelers arriving or departing during the overnight closure must head to the roadway between the terminal and the Smart Parking Garage to catch the 66R shuttle bus. Passengers should budget extra time for the transition between the shuttle and the rail line at Brookpark Road.
The takeaway
Travelers flying in or out of Cleveland during these dates should prepare for a shuttle bus transfer between the terminal and the Brookpark rail station. Ensuring you arrive at the designated airport bus stop early will help mitigate delays during these scheduled maintenance hours.
Further reading
For more information on navigating local transit during construction, visit the Cleveland Air Travel section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cleveland.
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