Memphis, Tennessee: Main Street Trolley

Description

The Memphis Area Transit Authority operates the Main Street Trolley, a heritage-type streetcar system with two services:

• The Main Street & Riverfront Line is an elongated north-south loop parallel to the Mississippi River; the long sides run along Main Street and a former Illinois Central Railroad track that runs next to Riverside Drive, and the short sides run along Calhoun Street at the south end and a private right of way just north of Auction Street at the north end. Much of the Main Street portion runs along a car-free pedestrian/transit mall. Most of the Main Street portion is double track; the rest is single track.

• The Madison Line runs along Madison Street eastward from Main Street to the Medical Center area. This line is double track throughout its length.

The initial section on Main Street opened in 1993, and the rest of the loop opened in 1997. The Madison Line opened on 15 March 2005.

The system uses rehabilitated cars that once ran in Oporto, Portugal, and Melbourne, Australia, along with modern replicas built by Gomaco Trolley Company. Although the two lines connect at Main and Madison Streets, they are operated separately, with no through service.