{{Short description|Rapid transit line in the MARTA rail system}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox rail line | name = Blue Line | color = {{rcr|MARTA|Blue}} | image = MARTA Indian Creek Station.JPG | image_width = 300px | caption = A Blue Line train stopped at Indian Creek | type = Rapid transit | system = MARTA rail | status = Operational | locale = Atlanta, Georgia | start = Hamilton E. Holmes (west) | end = Indian Creek (east) | stations = 15 (5 West, Five Points, 9 East) | routes = | daily_ridership = | open = 1979 | close = | owner = | operator = MARTA | character = at grade, elevated, underground | stock = See MARTA rail#Rolling stock | linelength = | tracklength = | tracks = | gauge = {{track gauge|ussg|allk=on}} | minradius = | electrification = {{750 V DC|conductor=third rail}} | speed = | elevation = | map = {{Switcher | {{maplink-road|from=Blue Line (MARTA).map}} Blue Line highlighted in blue | Show interactive map | {{Blue+Green Line (MARTA)|line=Blue|inline=yes}} | Show route diagram }} }}
The '''Blue Line''' is a rapid transit line in the MARTA rail system. It operates between Hamilton E. Holmes and Indian Creek stations, running through Atlanta, Decatur and portions of unincorporated DeKalb County.
==History==
What is now called the Blue Line contains some of the first sections of the MARTA rail to open. On February 19, 1975, construction on what was then known as the '''East Line''' began.<ref name=NYCSubway>{{cite web |title=nycsubway.org: Atlanta, Georgia |url=https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Atlanta,_Georgia |website=www.nycsubway.org |access-date=15 May 2024}}</ref> On June 30, 1979, service on the East Line began operating between {{stl|MARTA|Avondale}} and {{stl|MARTA|Georgia State}}.<ref name=Sams>{{cite web |last1=Sams |first1=Douglas |title=Jacoby eyes MARTA rail to Ford site |url=http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2008/06/09/story4.html?b=1212984000^1646264 |website=www.bizjournals.com |access-date=15 May 2024}}</ref><ref name=NYCSubway/> On December 22 the same year, the '''West Line''' was opened, between Five Points station and what was then known as Hightower station (now Hamilton E. Holmes station).<ref name=NYCSubway/> The combined Hightower-Avondale route became known as the '''East-West Line'''.<ref name=EW>{{cite web |title=East-West Rail Line (and Proctor Creek) |url=http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/schedules/EW.htm |publisher=Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority |access-date=15 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030810114009/http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/schedules/EW.htm |archive-date=10 August 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
On December 29, 1992,<ref name=NYCSubway/> a branch (then known as the Proctor Creek Line<ref name=EW/>) of the East-West Line to Bankhead station opened.<ref name=MARTAHistory>{{cite web |title=MARTA - About MARTA - History |url=http://itsmarta.com/about/history/default.asp |publisher=Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority |access-date=15 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224161243/http://itsmarta.com:80/about/history/default.asp |archive-date=24 February 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The following year, on June 26, 1993, {{stl|MARTA|Kensington}} and {{stl|MARTA|Indian Creek}} stations on the East Line opened.<ref name=NYCSubway/> This was the first time MARTA rail extended beyond Interstate 285.<ref name=MARTAHistory/>
In 2009, MARTA introduced a color-coded system of naming for its rail lines.<ref>{{cite web |title=MARTA launches color-coded rail system |url=https://www.metro-magazine.com/10027012/marta-launches-color-coded-rail-system |website=www.metro-magazine.com |publisher=Metro Magazine |access-date=15 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126050754/https://www.metro-magazine.com/10027012/marta-launches-color-coded-rail-system |archive-date=26 January 2021 |date=2 October 2009}}</ref> As a result, the former East-West Line became the Blue Line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rail Stations & Schedules |url=http://www.itsmarta.com/rail-schedules-or-route.aspx |website=www.itsmarta.com |access-date=15 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090819122829/http://www.itsmarta.com/rail-schedules-or-route.aspx |archive-date=19 August 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Future ==
On March 25, 2024, Andre Dickens, the mayor of Atlanta, announced plans for four new infill stations on the MARTA rail network.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hansen |first1=Zachary |title=Atlanta mayor announces 4 new MARTA rail stations, including near Beltline |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/breaking-mayor-announces-4-new-marta-stations-including-near-beltline/4IFBOQEV2JGYZH2UGVY73X6GCI/ |access-date=April 12, 2024 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |publisher=Cox Enterprises |date=March 25, 2024}}</ref> On April 11, Dickens announced that one of those stations will be on the Blue Line: namely, Krog Street/Hulsey Yard, located on the Blue/Green Line's shared section.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bunch |first1=Riley |title=Mayor Dickens announces locations of new Atlanta MARTA stations |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/breaking-mayor-dickens-announces-locations-of-new-marta-stations/CLO3WW3IZRFYZJ26J56G3YJJ7I/ |access-date=April 12, 2024 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |publisher=Cox Enterprises |date=April 11, 2024}}</ref>
==Stations== <ref>{{cite web |title=Train Stations & Schedules |url=https://itsmarta.com/train-stations-and-schedules.aspx |website=itsmarta.com |access-date=14 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Blue Line |url=https://itsmarta.com/Blue-Line.aspx |website=itsmarta.com |access-date=14 May 2024}}</ref>
''listed from west to east'' {| class=wikitable ! Station ! Code ! Opened ! Rail Line<br />Transfer |- |Hamilton E. Holmes || W5 || rowspan="6" | December 22, 1979<ref name=NYCSubway/>|| |- |West Lake || W4 || |- |Ashby || W3 || {{RouteBox|Green|Green Line (MARTA)|#{{rcr|MARTA|Green}}|white}} |- |Vine City || W2 || {{RouteBox|Green|Green Line (MARTA)|#{{rcr|MARTA|Green}}|white}} |- |GWCC/CNN Center || W1 || {{RouteBox|Green|Green Line (MARTA)|#{{rcr|MARTA|Green}}|white}} |- |Five Points{{refn|group=note|name=FivePoints|The platforms for what is now the Red and Gold Lines opened in 1981, two years after the East-West Line platforms.}} || || {{RouteBox|Green|Green Line (MARTA)|#{{rcr|MARTA|Green}}|white}} {{RouteBox|Red|Red Line (MARTA)|#{{rcr|MARTA|Red}}|white}} {{RouteBox|Gold|Gold Line (MARTA)|#{{rcr|MARTA|Gold}}|white}} |- |Georgia State || E1 || rowspan="7" | June 30, 1979<ref name=NYCSubway/> || {{RouteBox|Green|Green Line (MARTA)|#{{rcr|MARTA|Green}}|white}} |- |King Memorial || E2 || {{RouteBox|Green|Green Line (MARTA)|#{{rcr|MARTA|Green}}|white}} |- |Inman Park/Reynoldstown || E3 || {{RouteBox|Green|Green Line (MARTA)|#{{rcr|MARTA|Green}}|white}}{{refn|group=note|name=Green1|The Green Line only operates here on weekdays.}} |- |Edgewood/Candler Park || E4 || {{RouteBox|Green|Green Line (MARTA)|#{{rcr|MARTA|Green}}|white}}{{refn|group=note|name=Green1}} |- |East Lake || E5 || |- |Decatur || E6 || |- |Avondale || E7 || |- |Kensington || E8 || rowspan="2"| June 26, 1993<ref name=NYCSubway/> || |- |Indian Creek || E9 |}
==Notes== {{reflist|group=note}}
==References== {{Attached KML}} {{reflist}}
{{MARTA Nav}}
Category:Blue Line (MARTA) Category:Railway lines opened in 1979 Category:1979 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)