MARTA Advances $646 Million Stadler CQ400 Fleet Testing and Downtown Five Points Station Transformation

Generational Fleet Overhaul for Atlanta Rapid Transit

ATLANTA, Georgia — Ushering in a transformative technological era for urban mobility across the Southeast, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is advancing trackway qualification testing and systems commissioning for its landmark $646 million Stadler CQ400 railcar fleet. Representing the complete replacement of MARTA’s legacy heavy rail vehicles dating back to the late 1970s, the procurement of 254 brand-new railcars from Swiss rolling stock specialist Stadler Rail establishes an ultra-modern transit standard across Fulton, DeKalb, and Clayton counties.

Engineered and assembled at Stadler’s North American manufacturing headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, the CQ400 fleet is custom-tailored to MARTA’s 48-mile rail network. Featuring lightweight aerodynamic aluminum carbodies, high-efficiency regenerative electrical braking, and sophisticated noise-dampening suspension systems, the new trains deliver an exceptionally smooth, quiet, and reliable passenger experience across the Red, Gold, Blue, and Green transit corridors.

Passenger-Centric Innovations and Modern Digital Interiors

The CQ400 vehicles introduce a continuous open-gangway configuration, allowing riders to walk seamlessly between carriages to disperse evenly along train consists and enhance personal safety. The interiors boast wide automated bi-parting doors, generous luggage racks, forward- and backward-facing ergonomic seating with antimicrobial surfaces, and dedicated spaces for wheelchairs, strollers, and bicycles.

Each railcar is equipped with state-of-the-art digital amenities, including high-definition overhead dynamic route maps showing upcoming stops and live transfer connections, high-speed USB device charging ports at every seat, and energy-saving smart LED mood lighting that automatically adjusts according to exterior daylight conditions. Enhanced closed-circuit television (CCTV) security networks provide 360-degree real-time surveillance connected directly to MARTA Police emergency command.

$230 Million Five Points Transformation: Modernizing Atlanta’s Core Hub

Synchronized with the fleet rollout, MARTA is moving forward with the comprehensive $230 million Five Points Station Transformation in the heart of Downtown Atlanta. As the vital nexus where all four rail lines intersect and dozens of bus routes converge, Five Points is being remade from a 1970s brutalist concrete fortress into an airy, naturally illuminated civic landmark.

The architectural redesign removes the aging concrete canopy, replacing it with a soaring lightweight pedestrian roof, expansive public greenspaces, modernized concourse plazas, and upgraded ADA elevators and escalators. The revitalization creates an open, welcoming gateway connecting transit riders directly to Centennial Olympic Park, Georgia State University, Underground Atlanta, and the South Downtown redevelopment corridor ahead of major international sports and convention events.

Driving Decarbonization and Regional Economic Resilience

MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood and Atlanta civic leaders emphasized that modernizing rail operations is essential to sustaining the metroplex's surging population and economic expansion. By replacing four-decade-old mechanical components with computerized diagnostic systems and solid-state traction inverters, MARTA drastically cuts maintenance downtime and operational energy expenses.

The introduction of the Stadler CQ400 fleet and modernized transit hubs provides a compelling, world-class mass transit alternative to private automobile travel on Interstate 75/85 (Downtown Connector) and Interstate 285. In doing so, MARTA reinforces Atlanta’s commitment to regional equity, air quality improvement, and climate resilience for the decades ahead.