We're Building a Better Way
MARTA Rail Car Rehabilitation
MARTA has a major rail car rehabilitation program underway
to overhaul 238 of its oldest cars. This $226 million capital project
will increase service reliability and on-time performance, enhance the
overall customer experience and lower operating costs for the Authority.
Program Background
Having traveled over 1 million miles each, MARTA’s first and
second generation rail cars, the CQ310 and CQ311, were approaching
the end of their useful lives. Rather than purchasing new cars,
MARTA began a rehabilitation program to cost-effectively extend each
vehicle’s lifespan by 15 years. Alstom Transport in Hornell,
New York was contracted to take each vehicle down to its shell and
rebuild it from the ground up using new components and designs. MARTA
receives an average of 4 to 6 rehabilitated cars a month from Alstom,
and each car undergoes 3 months of qualification and acceptance testing
before being placed back into revenue service. MARTA is slated
to receive all 238 rehabilitated cars by spring 2009.
The Authority has saved $448 million by refurbishing these vehicles
rather than purchasing new cars at an average cost of $3 million each.
Rail car improvements include:
- New
brakes and propulsion systems
- New
communications systems
- Improved
interior lighting and features such as stainless steel hand-grabs
and new seats
- Upgrades
to door and climate control systems
- Easy
to clean rubberized floors that replace existing carpet
- New
and upgraded auxiliary electrical systems
- Redesigned
ergonomically enhanced operator’s cab
Benefits to MARTA:
- Lower
operating costs
- Eliminate
numerous obsolete parts
- Standardize
components between fleets
- Creation
of life cycle based maintenance programs
Life Cycle Based Maintenance Program
In coordination with the rehabilitation project, MARTA has created
life cycle based maintenance programs to proactively maintain vital
components and sustain improvements to the entire fleet. The
maintenance programs will manage the useful life of components at
prescribed intervals, the overhaul or replacement of major components
at end of useful life and coordinate asset management for the life
of the asset.
Read more about Rail Car Rehab
Track Maintenance
Just as the rail cars are experiencing signs of age, our rail tracks require more attention as well. This is why single tracking has become very important.
While a section of track is being repaired, trains must share one side of the tracks in the affected area. This is done to minimize inconvenience to our riders and get the necessary repairs finished quickly. This track work is restricted to weekends and may result in trains running less frequently. We also take into consideration what events are taking place around the area and may postpone or eliminate single-tracking for that weekend.
We hope for your understanding and cooperation while we work to "Build a Better Way !"
Please check the track work schedule here
Be sure to call our Graffiti Hotline if you
witness
any vandalism at
(404) 848-3939
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