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Charlotte, North Carolina:
LYNX Light Rail

Description

On 24 November 2007, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) began operation of the 9.6-mile (15.5-km) LYNX Blue Line light rail, which had been under construction since February 2005. The line extends from central ("uptown") Charlotte southward to near the Interstate 485 expressway, running more or less parallel to South Boulevard and the Interstate 77 expressway. Part of it uses an abandoned Norfolk Southern Railroad right of way, and part runs alongside NS tracks that remain in freight service. The section of this right of way between central Charlotte and Tremont Avenue was previously used by the Charlotte Trolley, a heritage streetcar operation.

The LYNX fleet consists of sixteen articulated Avanto light-rail vehicles built by Siemens. This model is also used in Houston, Texas, and has been ordered by Portland, Oregon.

Other Sites

Pictures

Pictures marked [New] were added on 21 February 2010.

[picture] The 7th Street station is the northern terminal for light rail trains, which normally use the far track. The building behind it is a parking structure which has shops on the ground floor. The near track extends two blocks further to 9th Street. It was used by the Charlotte Trolley until July 2010. In this picture it is occupied by a test train which has stopped here briefly. (July 2009)

[picture] A northbound train arrives at the CTC/Arena station, which is next to the Charlotte Transportation Center (bus terminal) and the Time Warner Cable Arena, which hosts (among other things) Charlotte Bobcats basketball games. (July 2009)

[picture] A pair of trains meet at the 3rd Street station. The platform canopies, in different colors on the two sides of the station, are the public art for this station. (January 2008)

[picture] A southbound train crosses 2nd Street, just before entering the tunnel through the convention center (January 2008). Compare this view [picture] from about the same location in January 2002, when a single track through uptown was being laid for the Charlotte Trolley, and the tunnel had not yet been built.

[picture] A northbound train enters the tunnel, in a view from the Stonewall station which is just to the south. (January 2008)

[picture] A southbound train passes under the Morehead Street overpass, just south of the I-277 expressway (January 2008). Compare this with a similar view [picture] of the Charlotte Trolley almost four years earlier.

[picture] North of the Bland station, we get a good view of the Charlotte skyline. (November 2007)

[picture] Just north of the East/West Blvd. station, a train crosses East Boulevard. (November 2007)

[picture] A southbound train crosses Tremont Avenue, in a view looking down the Atherton Mill spur used by the Charlotte Trolley. CATS added a derail to this spur so the trolley couldn't enter the main line when it wasn't supposed to. (January 2008)

[picture] Two trains are parked outside the Light Rail Operations Center, a short distance south of the New Bern station. (January 2008)

[picture] Two of the Gomaco replica trolleys used by the Charlotte Trolley are parked outside the Light Rail Operations Center. (January 2008)

[picture] Several huge textured concrete discs are lined up next to the tracks, in the median of South Blvd. north of the Scaleybark station. This is one of the LYNX public art projects. (January 2008)

[picture] Looking north from the platform at Woodlawn, we can see the bridge that carries the light rail over Woodlawn Road. At the right is the end of the Norfolk Southern freight track that once extended into uptown Charlotte along the current light rail route. (November 2007)

[picture] Looking south from Woodlawn, we can watch some Norfolk Southern switching action, along with the light rail trains. (November 2007)

[picture #1] A northbound train approaches the Tyvola Road station on an elevated structure, then stops at the station which is itself elevated above Grover Road which passes underneath it [picture #2], and finally passes over Tyvola Road before descending to ground level [picture #3]. (July 2009)

[picture] Now we're on the platform at Tyvola Road, as a southbound train approaches. (July 2009)

[picture #1] | [picture #2] Underneath the elevated tracks at the Tyvola station is a large sculpture, Reconstructed Dwelling by Dennis Oppenheim, accompanied by a floor plan painted on the pavement. (July 2009)

[New] [picture] A southbound train descends to ground level from the elevated section south of the Tyvola station. (February 2010)

[New] [picture] The line briefly becomes elevated again at the Archdale station. (February 2010)

[New] [picture #1] | [picture #2] South of Archdale, the line returns to ground level as it runs alongside Old Pineville Road. (February 2010)

[picture] The Sharon Road West station features a pedestrian bridge which connects the station with South Blvd., crossing over the Norfolk Southern Railroad line that runs parallel to LYNX here. (January 2008)

[picture #1] | [picture #2] A southbound train arrives at Sharon Road West. (January 2008)

[picture #1] | [picture #2] The I-485/South Blvd. station at the end of the line has a large parking garage. The actual end of track is a bit further south, next to a restaurant parking lot. (July 2009)

More pictures

This page was last updated on 8 July 2010.

Presbyterian College > Academic Web Server > Jon Bell > Transit > (Cities | Types) > Charlotte > Light Rail

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