RAIL CAR REHABILITATION PROGRAM

What is being done to rehabilitate the rail cars?
The CQ310 and CQ311 rail vehicles have traveled well over a million miles each on the MARTA system. While MARTA is constantly performing preventative maintenance on its fleet, many systems on the cars have exceeded their useful design life and replacement parts have become increasingly difficult to find. To lower operating costs, increase reliability, and continue to provide quality customer service MARTA is cycling all 238 of its first- and second-generation rail cars through a mid-life overhaul program. Alstom is performing the work under contract to MARTA at their facility in Hornell, NY. The vehicles are being completely taken apart and rebuilt from the ground up using new components and incorporating many new designs. While this includes an interior makeover, many of the most important new features are not immediately visible; such as new propulsion systems, new and upgraded auxiliary electrical systems, new communications equipment, and a redesigned ergonomically enhanced operator’s cab.

Customer Service
The rehabilitation will provide many customer service benefits. The foremost benefit will be the increased reliability of the cars. Additionally, many modifications were made to enhance the MARTA customer experience:

• The flooring in the cars has been upgraded to special rubberized flooring. This easy to clean surface replaces the carpet that was harder to maintain.
• Mechanical door systems have been replaced to ensure high reliability.
• The climate control systems have been upgraded and replaced to provide maximum comfort to passengers and recover faster from the influx of outside air during station stops.
• Light fixtures have been upgraded and redesigned to provide better and more pleasant lighting.
• The interior features of the car have been redesigned and replaced. This updates the look of the cars and ensures a pleasant traveling environment.
• The Automatic Train Control (ATC) system has been upgraded and replaced to provide a smoother ride.
• Upgrades to the exterior include a new paint scheme, physical guides for visually disabled patrons, and improved destination signs.
• The Automatic Train Announcement System (ATAS) has been upgraded to announce the destination of the train in addition to station-stops.

CQ311 Class Railcars 275 and 276 Service History
Railcars 275 and 276 were delivered to MARTA in May of 1987 as part of the second generation of railcars (CQ311) purchased by the Authority. The CQ311 class was ordered to support the expansion of the rail system through the late 1980’s and the 1990’s and to accommodate growing traffic to the new Airport station that opened in 1988.

Cars 275 and 276 have supported many noteworthy events during their time with MARTA:

• Record ridership in 1991 for the parade honoring the Atlanta Braves as National League Champions
• The first Falcons game in 1992 in the new Georgia Dome; two-thirds of the attendees rode MARTA
• The 1994 Super Bowl
• The North Line expansion to Dunwoody in 1996
• The 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, a time when MARTA was moving over a million people per day
• The 2000 Super Bowl

In 2000 the North Springs extension opened and the cars had over one million miles logged of moving Atlanta and her visitors. In May of 2003 275 and 276 left Atlanta for Hornell, New York to be reinvigorated and restored for another twenty years of service back in Atlanta.

Meet The Fleet

The MARTA rail fleet is comprised of three generations of heavy rail rapid transit cars identified by purchase contract numbers. The three classes are known as the CQ310, CQ311 and CQ312 class cars. All of the CQ310 and CQ311 class are currently being cycled through a mid-life overhaul rehabilitation program scheduled to be completed by 2007.