The new fleet of MARTA rail cars was set to debut on June 4 with an inaugural “first ride,” but the ceremony has been postponed due to ongoing testing and safety checks.
In an email to Rough Draft, MARTA Senior Director of Communications Stephany Fisher confirmed that the transit agency postponed the launch event. “While testing of the new CQ400 railcars continues to progress, the trains will not be ready to enter revenue service by the planned event date,” Fisher said in the email.
“The safety of our employees and riders is always our priority,” Fisher continued “We are committed to ensuring all testing and safety certifications are complete before the railcars begin serving riders.”
MARTA and the City of Atlanta had hoped to have the new rail cars in service before global visitors arrive for the eight FIFA World Cup matches taking place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium from June 15 to July 15.
Under state policy, MARTA is required to notify the Georgia Department of Transportation that the trains are safe and ready for passengers 30 days before they plan to begin service, according to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. With less than two weeks until the World Cup, it appears the new rail cars will not be in service when the matches begin.
First unveiled on Jan. 30, the state-of-the-art CQ400 trains have repeatedly hit setbacks and safety clearance delays, causing terse debates between MARTA, city officials, and the manufacturer.
The inaugural ride was set to depart Avondale Station and end at Georgia State — the same route taken during the first MARTA ride in 1979. The passengers slated to be onboard were Mayor Andre Dickens, MARTA Interim CEO Jonathan Hunt, Stadler CEO Martin Ritter, and other metro-Atlanta officials and chairmen.
Stadler, a global rail vehicle construction company, built the CQ400 railcars. Deemed “the most technologically advanced in the country,” the new MARTA fleet boasts multiple features like open gangways, spacious and comfortable seating, improved accessibility, CCTV camera systems, phone charging stations, and space to store luggage under the seats.
Residents and riders are also concerned about public safety on MARTA. In 2026, there have been six violent attacks at MARTA stations or aboard trains, two of them resulting in fatalities. On Saturday, a 66-year-old woman was randomly stabbed to death by a man on a train headed to Oakland City Station.
Along with open gangways and CCTV, the new trains will have microphones that signal loud noises to the operator, more emergency call buttons, and new LED lighting. However, some MARTA riders are calling for more preventative measures, such as increased police presence.
Fisher said in the statement, “We remain focused on supporting customers and employees in our ongoing response following this weekend’s tragic incident on our system.”
