The enabling work for the rail link has been taking place for a few months now so it is no pipe dream.
I agree it is a very exciting time for the airport and the appearance of the CTA next Christmas will once again look very different from this year and the year before.
What we have learned over the years is that artists impressions and the final product can be very different. Also the airport will no doubt be looking to save every penny it can to fit in with its low cost image.
It wouldn't surprise me that the seamless transfer of passengers from Parkway to the Dart is interrupted by a 10 minute queue to buy a ticket for the final leg. Hopefully this won't happen but most passengers arriving at Parkway now don't seem to buy through tickets so I don't know what is going to change when the link opens.