The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) board awarded Stadler a $500 million contract to equip the agency’s rail network with a new train control system. 

The replacement of the current system will improve train control, which in turn increases rail safety and on-time performance. 

“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,” said MARTA GM/CEO Collie Greenwood. “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.”

A Key Safety Feature

CBTC is an advanced train control system that uses wireless communication to precisely track trains at all times. Thanks to the real-time information on train positioning, trains can be operated more precisely, safely, and efficiently. 

“This order is a significant milestone and represents an international market breakthrough for us in the CBTC sector,” says 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. We look forward to working with MARTA, thank them for the trust they have placed in us and for now relying on our train control solution in addition to their trains.” 

Adding Stadler’s New Tech

The Stadler system will work seamlessly with MARTA’s new Stadler CQ400 railcars 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.

The vehicles will be equipped with the necessary hardware at the Stadler plant in Salt Lake City, 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. As the on-board and trackside components come from the same supplier, the project can be completed seamlessly. 

During a transition phase, trains will be able to run with both the old and the new system. As soon as the trackside components have been installed across the board, the transition process to the new system will be smooth and without any interruption to operations.