MARTA To Improve Rail Network with New Stadler Train Control System

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has awarded Stadler a $500 million contract to equip its rail network with the CBCT train control system.

“We’re excited to embark on this transformative project that will prepare us for the future,” said MARTA General Manger and CEO Collie Greenwood. “This investment will enhance the safety and reliability of our rail network and allow our trains to operate with the highest safety standards, while still being monitored and controlled by skilled MARTA operators. The system will allow us to increase capacity, improve on-time performance, and optimize efficiency. By doing so, we’ll improve the customer experience and position MARTA as one of the most advanced transportation systems in the country.”

The Stadler system will work with MARTA’s new Stadler CQ400 rail cars being introduced in 2025. The resulting synergies between the on-board and trackside signaling components will allow for a smooth introduction of the system and increase operational performance while minimizing downtime. During a transition phase, trains will be able to run with both the old and the new system.

The vehicles will be equipped with the necessary hardware at the Stadler plant in Salt Lake City, UT, where the 56 new MARTA trains ordered in 2019 are being built. The trackside equipment will be installed, tested, and commissioned directly on the MARTA network.

“This order is a significant milestone and represents an international market breakthrough for us in the CBTC sector,” said Markus Bernsteiner, group CEO Stadler Rail. “MARTA and its passengers can look forward to a state-of-the-art train control system that will make Metro operations more punctual, safer, and more efficient.”