If you get on a Red or Green Line train, you might hear the operator say something like “operating single-track today.”
The Simple Answer
On weekends, holidays, and other special days, MARTA shuts down part of the tracks for maintenance and repair. When they do this, the Red and Green Lines run shorter routes than usual. During these times, the Red Line runs from North Springs to Lindbergh Center; the Green Line runs from Bankhead to King Memorial.
To get further down the line, you’ll need to transfer to the Gold or Blue Line train at Lindbergh Center or King Memorial.
The More Complicated Answer
If you don’t ride regularly, this can be very confusing. A lot of the time, the operator doesn’t announce clearly or the speakers don’t work in the cars. There should be a sandwich board in front of the gates on the Red and Green Lines telling you the trains are running single-track.
The trains are timed fairly well for the transfers. You’ll only have to wait about 5 minutes for the longer-running train to show up.
Don’t leave the platform unless you want to pay for another trip. Just stick around on the platform.
The Details
The Red and Green Lines do a reversing switch right after their temporary end stations. It’s interesting to watch if you’re a railfan.
A lot of people don’t pay attention or don’t understand what’s happening, so MARTA police clear the train when it goes out of service. Don’t freak out when you see some cops hanging out on the platform.
Running single-track means a more-limited schedule. Instead of every 12 or 15 minutes, you may see a train every 20 or 26. This is the same or similar schedule that the trains run daily after 9pm.