METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

After a 65-year hiatus, a trolley car returns to Charlotte

Refurbished trolley brings the service back to Charlotte.

June 1, 2004
1 min to read


In 1938, the last electric trolley car in the city of Charlotte, N.C., ran its final route. Now, more than 65 years later, a car remaining from that line has been refurbished and returned to the city with the opening of a new 2.1-mile trolley line through downtown Charlotte. In its first week of service after the reopening, the rebuilt trolley car, currently the only car on the line, carried more than 8,300 passengers. The trolley project, brought together by the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), Mayor Patrick McCrory, Charlotte Trolley Inc., Charlotte City Center Partners and Historic South End, expected three new replica trolley cars to arrive later this summer. “This trolley provides the city with a new historic cultural amenity and a transportation choice all rolled into one,” said McCrory at the reopening ceremony. Built in 1927, Car 85 was thought to be scrapped sometime in the 1930s when municipal buses began to replace streetcars. The car was discovered in 1987, and Charlotte Trolley Inc. was organized to rebuild and preserve the car. With 10 stations, the new trolley line runs from the city’s Historic South End to Center City Charlotte. McCrory estimated the value of private investments along the corridor at $400 million. In 2006, CATS is scheduled to begin operating the city’s first light rail line in the same corridor.

Topics:Management
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Management

An Amtrak Cascades Airo Trainset at a station.
Railby Alex RomanAugust 14, 2026

FRA Announces $5.3B in Rail Investments, Including $2B for Amtrak

Funding will support grade-crossing improvements, infrastructure upgrades, and new Amtrak equipment in 23 states.

Read More →
Finding the Right Balance: Optimizing Transit Maintenance
ManagementAugust 14, 2026

Finding the ‘Happy Medium’: Optimizing Maintenance Without Sacrificing Reliability

The key to maintenance optimization isn’t doing less work—it’s doing the right work at the right time on the right assets.

Read More →
Jonathan Hunt, GM/CEO at MARTA
Managementby Staff and News ReportsAugust 13, 2026

People Movement: MARTA Drops Interim Tag on GM/CEO Hunt and More

In this edition, METRO covers recent appointments and announcements at the FMCSA, HDR, SilverRide, and more, showcasing the individuals helping to shape the future of transportation.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A blue and white graphic with text reading "Via Metropolitan Transit Reports 2 Million Passenger Trips and More."
Managementby Elora HaynesAugust 12, 2026

VIA Metropolitan Transit Reports 2 Million More Passenger Trips as Better Bus Plan Gains Momentum

San Antonio's transit agency said accelerated service improvements are driving ridership growth, offering another example of how increased frequency and workforce investments can translate into stronger transit performance.

Read More →
ABAF Examines Motorcoach Insurance Crisis
Motorcoachby Alex RomanAugust 11, 2026

ABAF Study Reveals Growing Insurance Crisis for Motorcoach Operators

Preliminary findings show 98% of operators faced premium increases over the past five years, while shrinking insurer participation is putting added pressure on businesses and customers.

Read More →
PSTA employees clocking in.
Managementby Alex RomanAugust 10, 2026

PSTA Modernizes Workforce Management with Digital Bidding System

The award-winning Workforce Transit Modernization project replaced paper bidding with a transparent digital platform, cutting administrative effort while improving access for operators.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
APTA Comes to Chicago
Managementby Alex RomanAugust 10, 2026

Chicago to Host Public Transportation's Biggest Gathering at APTA TRANSform & EXPO 2026

North America’s largest public transportation gathering returns to Chicago, connecting transit decision-makers with the technologies, ideas, and partnerships driving the industry forward.

Read More →
An LA Metro bus and railcar.
New Mobilityby Alex RomanAugust 7, 2026

New Tricks for Old Bureaucracies: Joshua Schank on Making Transit Innovation Stick

Former LA Metro Chief Innovation Officer Joshua Schank discusses why good ideas aren't enough, how transit agencies can overcome resistance to change, and why today's challenges demand more innovation.

Read More →
A Community Transit Swift Green Line bus
Busby Staff and News ReportsAugust 7, 2026

Washington's Community Transit Sets Six-Year Roadmap for Growth, Expansion

Approved TDP targets more bus service, new mobility options, Swift BRT expansion, and a potential Everett Transit annexation.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An pink and white OKC streetcar moves down a street.
Managementby Alex RomanAugust 7, 2026

OKC Streetcar Makes Zero-Fare Service Permanent

Ridership increased an average of 71% compared with the same period a year earlier during the fare-free pilot.

Read More →