Red Line (MARTA)


     Red Line
Overview
Type rapid transit
System Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
Status operational
Locale Atlanta, Georgia
Termini North Springs (north)
Airport (south)
Stations 19 (11 North, Five Points, 7 South)
Operation
Opened 1981
Operator(s) MARTA
Technical
Electrification third rail
Highest elevation at grade, elevated, underground
Red & Gold Lines
Legend
North Springs Parking, Ridestore
Sandy Springs Parking, Ridestore
Dunwoody Parking
Interstate 285
Doraville Parking
Medical Center Parking
Chamblee Parking
Brookhaven/Oglethorpe Parking
Buckhead
Lenox Parking, Ridestore
Georgia 400
Lindbergh Center Parking, Ridestore
Interstate 85
Arts Center
Midtown
North Avenue
Civic Center
Peachtree Center
Five Points East-West Line, Ridestore
Garnett
Interstate 20
West End Parking
Oakland City Parking
Lakewood/Fort McPherson Parking
East Point Parking
College Park Parking
Interstate 85
Airport Ridestore

The Red Line is a rapid transit line in the MARTA rail system. It operates between North Springs and Airport stations, running through Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Atlanta, East Point and College Park.

The Red Line was originally called the North-South Line until MARTA switched to a color-based naming system in October 2009. The North-South Line, from its launch, was considered one line (denoted with the Orange Line color on old system maps) until 2006 when the North Branch and the Northeast branch were redesignated as the North-South Line (the current Red Line) and the Northeast-South Line (the current Gold Line).

The rail line was part of the initial launch of MARTA rail service in 1981. The first segment ran from the Garnett to the North Avenue stations, although the Peachtree Center opened the year after as an infill. In 1982, it expanded north to Arts Center, and in 1984, expanded as far north as Brookhaven and as far south as Lakewood/Fort McPherson. The East Point station opened, extending the line two miles to the south. A little more than a year later, the Chamblee station began service and served as the temporary terminus of the North Line. In 1988, the Airport station opened, and became the terminus of the South Line. In 1992, the North-South Line was extended northward to its current terminus at Doraville. In 1998, MARTA extended North Line services to Dunwoody. This created two branches of the North Line, and the Doraville branch was redesignated as the Northeast Line to avoid confusion. It finally extended north to its current terminus at North Springs in 2000.

Now known as the Red Line, it shares trackage with its counterpart, the Gold Line, between Airport and just north of the Lindbergh Center.

After 7:00pm, Red Line shuttle train service operates between North Springs and Lindbergh Center stations only until the end of the service.

External links