MARTA suspends streetcar service over wheel issue

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority on Nov. 29 suspended all streetcar service after discovering a wheel degradation.

"MARTA noticed the slight wheel degradation and removed the streetcars from service in an abundance of caution. MARTA will work with Siemens to make the necessary repairs," said MARTA spokesperson Stephany Fisher in an email to Progressive Railroading.

During the suspension, which is slated to end by early spring 2023, the transit agency's mobility vehicles will replace streetcar service, Fisher said.

"We are communicating this to customers on all our social media platforms, website and apps. These vehicles will soon be wrapped in the streetcar colors and logo to make the service even more recognizable," Fisher said.

This week, the cars will be delivered to Siemens' manufacturing facility in Colorado for repairs, FOX5 Atlanta reported. Siemens Mobility built the streetcars in Sacramento, California. Each six-axle vehicle carries up to 194 riders and runs on a 2.7-mile loop with a dozen stop locations in downtown Atlanta. 

MARTA Deputy Chief Mechanical Officer Daniel Hecht discussed ongoing problems with the track switch during the MARTA board's Dec. 8 meeting. A problem with the wheel profile was identified in 2021, at which time MARTA began replacing the wheels on all streetcar vehicles. However, a wheel supply shortage and track inspection derailed the process, FOX5 reported.

Meanwhile, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) performed its triennial audit of MARTA rail services, which found "no major safety gaps or concerns," MARTA officials said in a press release. The audit evaluated heavy and light rail, including operations and maintenance, training and communications, and equipment, structures and signals.

The audit also evaluates MARTA's agency safety plan, which is required by the Federal Transit Administration.

The audit findings show "a significant improvement in safety practices in all areas, with only 20 deficiencies and 16 areas of concern identified, compared to 100 such findings during the previous audit in 2019," MARTA officials said. A deficiency is defined as an item that doesn't meet the established safety criteria according to GDOT, while an area of concern only partially meets the criteria.

The most pressing issues found include loose pavers on a Brookhaven rail station walkway; irregular monthly fire extinguisher inspections; and an unsecured parking lot panel access door at the Lindbergh rail station.

MARTA will review the audit findings and create a corrective action plan for each identified item needing attention, agency officials said.