MARTA rail | |||
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Overview | |||
Owner | Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority | ||
Locale | Atlanta, Fulton and DeKalb Counties, Georgia | ||
Transit type | Rapid transit | ||
Line number | |||
Number of stations | 38 (Five Points, 11 North, 4 Northeast, 7 South, 9 East, 5 West, 1 Proctor Creek) | ||
Daily ridership | 92,900 (weekdays, Q1 2024) [1] | ||
Annual ridership | 31,110,300 (2023) [2] | ||
Operation | |||
Began operation |
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Character | Elevated, underground, at-grade | ||
Technical | |||
System length | 48 mi (77 km) | ||
Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge | ||
Electrification | Third rail, 750 V DC | ||
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The MARTA rail network, a component of the MARTA transit system in Metro Atlanta, has four service lines: the Red, Gold, Blue, and Green lines. The Red and Gold lines mainly run along the North-Northeast corridor, and the Blue and Green Lines run along the West-East corridor. The two corridors connect at the Five Points station, which is the only station where transfers are possible between all four lines. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 31,110,300, or about 92,900 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2024.
All trains are identified by their destinations, and an automated announcement system announces train destinations, bus and other transit connections, and landmarks that are at or near each rail station.
Each station also has a secondary designation that provides the cardinal direction (typically north, south, east, or west) and relative distance from the central Five Points station. For instance, Lindbergh Center is the sixth station from Five Points traveling north, and has the secondary designation (N6). Northeast of Lindbergh Center on the Gold Line, stations are designated with NE while continuing the numbering, so Lenox is (NE7). Similarly, Bankhead is on a branch from the main east-west trunk and is designated (P4), [3] a legacy of the original Proctor Creek name for the Green Line. [4]
During daytime hours, trains on the Red and Gold lines service the entire north-south trunk line and split north of Lindbergh Center (N6). All MARTA trains are identified with a destination on electronic LCD signs on the front and sides of the train and on each car. After 9pm, the Red Line is short-turned and runs as a shuttle between North Springs (N11) and Lindbergh Center (N6), connecting to the Gold Line at Lindbergh Center. [5] The connection is scheduled, with southbound Red trains arriving at Lindbergh Center just before Gold trains continuing southbound, and in reverse, northbound Gold trains arrive at Lindbergh just before Red trains leave northbound.
Blue and Green lines service the east-west trunk line together between Ashby (W3) and Edgewood–Candler Park (E4). At Ashby, Blue Line service continues to H.E. Holmes (W5) while Green Line trains divert to Bankhead Station (P4). Green Line service terminates at Edgewood–Candler Park, while the Blue Line continues east to Indian Creek. After 9pm, Green Line service is short-turned and operates as a shuttle between Bankhead (P4) and Vine City (stop W2). On weekends before 9pm, Green Line service is short-turned at King Memorial (stop E2). [5]
Older system maps used orange to denote the North-South line and blue for the East-West line, including the Northeast and Proctor Creek branches. [6] Lines were identified by the direction of travel and/or terminals. [4] [7] MARTA switched to a color-based route naming system in October 2009, so the North-South or North Springs-Airport line became the Red Line, for example. [8] The former Northeast line that served Doraville, known as the "heart of Atlanta's Asian community", was initially named the Yellow Line, which Asian-Americans found derogatory. [9] It was renamed to the Gold Line in 2010 in response to the complaints. [10]
Many suburban stations offer designated free daily and paid long term parking in MARTA-operated park and ride lots. [11] These stations also have designated kiss and ride passenger drop off parking spaces closest to the stations' entrances.
The MARTA rail system operates between approximately 4:45 a.m. and 1 a.m. Monday through Friday, and 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. [12]
Period | Headway (min.) | |
---|---|---|
Weekday | Daytime (6 AM – 7 PM) | 12 |
(non-rush) | 15 | |
Nights (9 PM+) | 20 | |
Weekends | 20 |
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Atlanta, train headways were reduced to 15 minute intervals between trains during most weekday hours and 20 minutes at other times. [13] In August 2023, MARTA announced that frequencies would increase to every 12 minutes on all rail lines between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Following the increase, headways would be every 6 minutes along the interlined portion of the network. [14]
Period | Headway (min.) | ||
---|---|---|---|
1979–2005 | 2005–2020 | ||
Weekday | Rush (6–9 AM & 3–7 PM) | 8 | 10 |
Non-rush | 12 | ||
Nights (9 PM+) | 15 | 20 | |
Weekends | 10/15 | 20 |
Originally, MARTA operated trains every eight minutes during the day on weekdays on each route. When two routes operated on the same tracks, the effective headway was cut in half, and the North-South Line operated on a combined four-minute headway between Lindbergh Center and Airport stations on the trunk. On Saturdays, it was every ten minutes (five minutes combined on the North-South Line trunk), and on Sundays it was every 15 minutes (7.5 minutes on the North-South Line trunk). At night, trains operated every 15 minutes. [15]
After budget cuts in 2005 affected the rail system, headways were increased by 25–50% to 10 minutes weekdays during rush hour and 12 minutes during midday, and 20 minutes nightly and weekends. For combined service, headways decrease to 5 minutes during rush hour and 6 minutes during midday and 10 minutes on the weekends during the day. All rail lines operate 20 minutes during late night (8:30pm weekdays, 8:50pm weekends) as the Red Line was short-turned and only ran from North Springs to Lindbergh Center; likewise the Green Line was short turned and operated from Bankhead to Vine City. Due to ongoing rail system maintenance, weekend headways were variable and could range from the normal 20 minutes to as much as 24 minutes, with the Green and Red lines occasionally being truncated all weekend. During weekends in the latter case, headways along the shared lines will increase from 10 minutes to 20 minutes. [16]
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Station | Code | Lines | Jurisdiction | Structure | Opened | Entries/ (2013) [17] | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Airport† | S7 | College Park | Elevated | June 18, 1988 | 9,173 | [18] | |
Arts Center | N5 | Atlanta | Underground | December 18, 1982 | 6,605 | [19] | |
Ashby | W3 | Atlanta | Underground | December 22, 1979 | 1,791 | [20] | |
Avondale | E7 | Decatur | At-grade | June 30, 1979 | 4,327 | [21] | |
Bankhead† | P4 | Atlanta | Elevated | December 12, 1992 | 1,903 | [22] | |
Brookhaven/ | NE8 | Brookhaven | Elevated | December 15, 1984 | 2,357 | [23] | |
Buckhead | N7 | Atlanta | At-grade | June 8, 1996 | 2,643 | [24] | |
Chamblee | NE9 | Chamblee | Elevated | December 19, 1987 | 3,785 | [25] | |
Civic Center | N2 | Atlanta | Underground, elevated | December 4, 1981 | 2,692 | [19] | |
College Park | S6 | College Park | Open-cut | June 18, 1988 | 9,026 | [18] | |
Decatur | E6 | Decatur | Underground | June 30, 1979 | 3,821 | [21] | |
GWCC/ | W1 | Atlanta | At grade | December 22, 1979 | 2,107 | [20] | |
Doraville† | NE10 | Doraville | Elevated | December 12, 1992 | 5,521 | [22] | |
Dunwoody | N9 | Dunwoody | Elevated | June 8, 1996 | 3,545 | [24] | |
East Lake | E5 | Atlanta/ | At-grade | June 30, 1979 | 1,241 | [21] | |
East Point | S5 | East Point | Open-cut | August 16, 1986 | 4,571 | [26] | |
Edgewood/ | E4 | Atlanta | Elevated | June 30, 1979 | 1,143 | [21] | |
Five Points* | 0 | Atlanta | Underground | December 4, 1981 | 19,447 | [21] | |
At-grade | December 22, 1979 | ||||||
Garnett | S1 | Atlanta | Elevated | December 4, 1981 | 1,516 | [19] | |
Georgia State | E1 | Atlanta | Elevated | June 30, 1979 | 4,055 | [21] | |
H. E. Holmes† | W5 | Atlanta | Elevated | December 22, 1979 | 6,480 | [20] | |
Indian Creek† | E9 | Unincorporated DeKalb County | At-grade | June 26, 1993 | 5,612 | [27] | |
Inman Park/ | E3 | Atlanta | At-grade | June 30, 1979 | 2,525 | [21] | |
Kensington | E8 | Unincorporated DeKalb County | At-grade | June 26, 1993 | 5,950 | [27] | |
King Memorial | E2 | Atlanta | Elevated | June 30, 1979 | 1,517 | [21] | |
Lakewood/ | S4 | Atlanta / East Point | Embankment | December 15, 1984 | 2,207 | [23] | |
Lenox | NE7 | Atlanta | Underground | December 15, 1984 | 3,284 | [23] | |
Lindbergh Center | N6 | Atlanta | Open-cut | December 15, 1984 | 8,604 | [23] | |
Medical Center | N8 | Sandy Springs | At-grade | June 8, 1996 | 1,629 | [24] | |
Midtown | N4 | Atlanta | Underground | December 18, 1982 | 5,664 | [19] | |
North Avenue | N3 | Atlanta | Underground | December 4, 1981 | 5,045 | [19] | |
North Springs† | N11 | Sandy Springs | Elevated | December 16, 2000 | 6,436 | [28] | |
Oakland City | S3 | Atlanta | Embankment | December 15, 1984 | 4,432 | [23] | |
Peachtree Center | N1 | Atlanta | Underground | September 11, 1982 | 7,453 | [19] | |
Sandy Springs | N10 | Sandy Springs | Underground | December 16, 2000 | 2,322 | [28] | |
Vine City | W2 | Atlanta | At-grade | December 22, 1979 | 821 | [20] | |
West End | S2 | Atlanta | Elevated | September 11, 1982 | 7,056 | [19] | |
West Lake | W4 | Atlanta | At-grade | December 22, 1979 | 1,378 | [20] |
MARTA currently operates a total of 312 married paired rail cars which can operate at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour (110 km/h). The trains are powered by an electrified third rail and can be operated in any combination from two to eight rail cars, [29] with six cars being the normal length for the Blue, Red and Gold rail lines, and two cars for the Green line (due to the shorter platform at Bankhead).
Type | Manufacturer | Image | Fleet # | Years | Quantity built | Constructed | In service | Traction motors | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CQ310 | Société Franco-Belge | 101–200 | 1979–1981 | 98 | 1976–1980 | 94 | Adtranz/Bombardier MITRAC 1508C [lower-alpha 1] | 111/112 converted to a work unit. 101 and 102 unpaired with unknown fate. 103/104 scrapped after 2019 derailment. | |
— | 501–520 | 20 | 0 | All single units. Cars retired in 2006 and stored at Avondale Yard until 2023. Currently in the process of disposal in preparation for delivery of CQ400 pilot cars. Units 509 and 510 preserved by the Southeastern Railway Museum [30] and the Trolley Museum of New York, [31] respectively. Some of the cars were dumped into the Atlantic Ocean for use as an artificial reef. [32] | |||||
CQ311 | Hitachi | 201–320 | 1984–1988 | 120 | 1982–1985 | 118 | All units received life extension work from Kinki Sharyo. [33] 2 units scrapped after damage from an incident. | ||
CQ312 | AnsaldoBreda [34] | 601–664, 667–702 | 2001–2005 | 100 | 1998–2000 | 98 [35] | Ordered from Breda before creation of AnsaldoBreda. Cars 665/666 purposely numbered 701/702 due to negative connotations with 666. Units 601/602 were retired in 2023 due to mechanical issues and were reefed later that year in December. [36] [37] | ||
CQ400 | Stadler Rail | TBA | 2025– | 254 on order + 100 options [38] | 2020–present | 0 | TBA | Currently on order. Scheduled to enter service in 2025. Will gradually replace all current rail cars. |
In 2002, Alstom was contracted by MARTA to overhaul 98 CQ310 cars and all 120 CQ311 cars as part of a $246m refurbishment contract. [39] The rehabilitated cars feature upgraded passenger amenities and upgraded propulsion and train control hardware. The first rehabilitated cars began service on March 12, 2006. The rehabilitation was completed on February 23, 2009. [40]
In 2011, Alstom was awarded an additional $117 million 5-year contract with MARTA to upgrade its train control and SCADA systems. [41] The new technology is designed to provide MARTA's rail team with more efficient operations, better communication between trains and stations, enhanced monitoring capabilities, quicker response times, and reduced maintenance costs. [42] Included in the project is an upgrade for all 318 rail cars to install an enhanced Fault Identification and Monitoring System (FIMS) and full color driver's display built by Quester Tangent. [43] The new systems passed "mini fleet" testing in 2015.
On December 1, 2017, MARTA posted a notice of intent to award a $146 million contract for the "Rail Car Life Extension Program" to Kinki Sharyo International LLC. On January 26, 2018, Kinki Sharyo signed the $146 million rail car refurbishment contract. The work starts with 118 cars, with 94 more options. [44] [45]
On March 29, 2019, Stadler Rail was awarded the contract to manufacture up to 354 new CQ400 rail cars for MARTA. These cars, which will enter into service in 2025, will replace the entire fleet of CQ310, CQ311, and CQ312 trains and provide expansion to the rail fleet. [46] [47] [48]
This is a list of key dates which led to the formation of the MARTA stations along the established rapid rail lines. [49]
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority is the principal public transport operator in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Formed in 1971 as strictly a bus system, MARTA operates a network of bus routes linked to a rapid transit system consisting of 48 miles (77 km) of rail track with 38 subway stations. MARTA's rapid transit system is the eighth-largest rapid transit system in the United States by ridership.
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Arts Center station is a train station in Atlanta, Georgia, serving the Red and Gold lines of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) rail system. It is the northernmost of three MARTA stations that serve Midtown Atlanta, the others being Midtown and North Avenue. North of this station, Lindbergh Center, the tracks emerge out from the subway as it approaches the above ground station.
Lindbergh Center station is an at-grade train station in Atlanta, Georgia, serving the Red and Gold lines of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) rail system. It serves the Lindbergh/Morosgo neighborhood in southern Buckhead, and is a part-time terminus of the Red Line and the last transfer point for the Red and Gold (Doraville) rail lines. It is the only station on this route served by the Red and Gold lines at all times. This is the third busiest station in the MARTA system, handling an average of 23,400 boardings per weekday. It is important to the MARTA system for a number of reasons. It is adjacent to the MARTA headquarters building, located just north of the Armour Yard Rail Services Facility, which allows trains to come into service at a more central location than was previously possible, and at an important junction point for the future Belt Line and Clifton Corridor.
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Avondale is a train station in Decatur, Georgia. It is on the Blue Line of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) rail system. The station is at-grade and has two island platforms, one for each direction. The center two tracks are not normally used for through service. Because of these middle tracks, it is not uncommon for trains to be bound for Avondale, having passengers change trains at Avondale. A limited number of Green Line trains originate and terminate at Avondale rather than at their normal terminus at Edgewood / Candler Park, though these trains bypass East Lake and Decatur.
East Lake is a transit station in Atlanta and Decatur, Georgia, serving the Blue Line of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) rail system. It has a track in each direction serving an island platform. When the station entered service on June 30, 1979, the opening ceremony took place in the south parking lot.
Ashby is a train station in Atlanta, Georgia, serving the Blue and Green lines of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) rail system. It incorporates the use of split platforms, where the westbound platform is on the upper level and the eastbound platform is on the lower level. This is to facilitate the Green Line's split toward Bankhead, immediately west of this station.
Airport is an elevated rail station and southern terminus on the Red and Gold lines of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) rail system, located at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. It is served by the Gold Line at all times, while the Red Line generally serves it all day until 8:30 PM on weekdays and 8:50 PM on weekends when there is no scheduled track maintenance. It features one of only two Ridestores, the only other one being at Five Points.
Bankhead is a train station in Atlanta, Georgia, the western terminus of the Green Line in the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) rail system. Bankhead station is located in the Grove Park Neighborhood due to a recent neighborhood expansion. This station primarily serves the neighborhoods of Grove Park, Bankhead, West Lake, Howell Station, and other Westside residents. Bankhead Station provides connecting bus service to Donald Lee Hollowell Highway, Maddox Park, and the future Westside Park at Bellwood Quarry; which will be the largest park in the city of Atlanta
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The Gold Line is a rapid transit line in the MARTA rail system. It operates between Doraville and Airport stations, running through Doraville, Chamblee, Brookhaven, Atlanta, East Point and College Park.
The Green Line is a rapid transit line in the MARTA rail system. It operates between Bankhead and Edgewood / Candler Park stations, running exclusively inside the Atlanta city limits.
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