Red Line (MARTA)
| Company type | Rapid transit line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia , United States |
Area served | Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Atlanta, East Point, College Park |
| Products | Rapid transit service |
The Red Line is a rapid transit route within the MARTA rail network, running between the stations of North Springs and Airport. It connects several prominent areas such as Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Atlanta, East Point, and College Park.
History
The segment now utilized by both the Gold and Red Lines initially opened on December 4, 1981, under the name North-South Line, operating between and . In 1982, an infill station was added at , followed by expansions extending northward to and , and southward reaching West End. By 1988, the line extended to College Park and the Airport station, with further northern growth culminating in the opening of in 1992.
On June 8, 1996, MARTA introduced a branch serving , , and , which was exclusively operated by what is currently known as the Red Line. To distinguish service routes, the Dunwoody branch was labeled the North-South Rail Line, while the Doraville branch became the Northeast-South Rail Line (later renamed the Gold Line). Initially, both routes were depicted using a single orange color on MARTA’s maps.
In December 2006, MARTA assigned red to represent the North-South Line while maintaining orange for the Northeast Line. By October 2009, a color-coded naming convention was adopted: the North-South Line became the Red Line, and the Northeast Line was first named the Yellow Line, before being rebranded as the Gold Line in early 2010.
Future
On March 25, 2024, Atlanta’s mayor Andre Dickens announced plans to add four new infill stations to the MARTA rail system. Among these is Murphy Crossing, which will be located along the shared Red and Gold Lines corridor on the western side of the Atlanta Beltline. Subsequently, on April 11, Dickens revealed that another station named Armour Yards—also serving both Red and Gold Lines—will be situated near the Armour Yard district.
Operations
Between Airport and just north of Lindbergh Center stations, the Red Line shares tracks with the Gold Line. On weekdays after 8:30 pm, Red Line shuttle service is limited to running between North Springs and Lindbergh Center until operations cease for the day. Similarly, on weekends from 8:50 pm onward, service is restricted to this segment. During significant single-tracking events, service coverage is also confined to this portion of the line.
Line description
The Red Line features sections that are elevated, at-grade, and subterranean along its path. Beginning at North Springs station in Sandy Springs—with non-revenue tracks extending further north—it follows southward roughly parallel to GA 400. The line then veers southeast toward Dunwoody before crossing I-285 while running within GA 400’s median. In Buckhead, it passes beneath the Gold Line before merging with it and continuing southwest alongside I-85. The route proceeds south through Midtown and downtown Atlanta where it intersects with both the Blue and Green Lines at Five Points station. From there, it continues southward through East Point and College Park until reaching its final stop at Airport station.
Stations
arranged from north to south
| Station | Code | Year Opened | Connecting Rail Line |
Service Schedule | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Line Standard service |
Shuttle 8:30 pm – 1:00 am | ||||
| North Springs | N11 | December 16, 2000 | ● | ● | |
| Sandy Springs | N10 | ● | ● | ||
| Dunwoody | N9 | June 8, 1996 | ● | ● | |
| Medical Center | N8 | ● | ● | ||
| Buckhead | N7 | ● | ● | ||
| Lindbergh Center | N6 | December 15, 1984 | Gold | ● | ● |
| Arts Center | N5 | December 18, 1982 | Gold | ● | |
| Midtown | N4 | Gold | ● | ||
| North Avenue | N3 | December 4, 1981 | Gold | ● | |
| Civic Center | N2 | Gold | ● | ||
| Peachtree Center | N1 | September 11, 1982 | Gold Streetcar | ● | |
| Five Points | December 4, 1981 | Gold Blue Green | ● | ||
| Garnett | S1 | Gold | ● | ||
| West End | S2 | September 11, 1982 | Gold | ● | |
| Oakland City | S3 | December 15, 1984 | Gold | ● | |
| Lakewood/Fort McPherson | S4 | Gold | ● | ||
| East Point | S5 | August 16, 1986 | Gold | ● | |
| College Park | S6 | June 18, 1988. | Gold | ● | |
| Airport station (MARTA) | S7 | Gold | ● | ||