Red Line (RTA Rapid Transit)

Red Line
A Red Line train at Hopkins Airport
Overview
OwnerCleveland Transit System (1955–1975)
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (1975–present)
LocaleCleveland and East Cleveland, Ohio
Termini
Stations18[1]
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemRTA Rapid Transit
Rolling stock40 Tokyu HRVs
Daily ridership10,000 (weekdays, Q2 2024)[2]
Ridership3,469,100 (2023)[3]
History
OpenedMarch 15, 1955; 69 years ago (1955-03-15)[4]
Technical
Line length19 mi (31 km)[5]
Number of tracks2
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
ElectrificationOverhead line600 V DC[6]
Operating speed60 mph (97 km/h)
Route map
Map Red Line highlighted in red
Airport Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Brookpark
Puritas–West 150th
West Park
Triskett
West 117th–Madison
West Boulevard–Cudell
West 65th–Lorain
West 25th–Ohio City
Cuyahoga Viaduct (Cuyahoga River)
Tower City
Tri-C–Campus District
East 55th
East 79th
East 105th–Quincy
Cedar–University
Little Italy–University Circle
Superior
Louis Stokes Station at Windermere

The Red Line (formerly and internally known as Route 66, also known as the Airport–Windermere Line) is a rapid transit line of the RTA Rapid Transit system in Cleveland, Ohio, running from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport northeast to Tower City in downtown Cleveland, then east and northeast to Windermere. 2.6 miles (4.2 km) of track, including two stations (Tri-C–Campus District and East 55th), are shared with the light rail Blue and Green Lines; the stations have high platforms for the Red Line and low platforms for the Blue and Green Lines. The whole Red Line is built next to former freight railroads. It follows former intercity passenger rail as well, using the pre-1930 right-of-way of the New York Central from Brookpark to West 117th, the Nickel Plate from West 98th to West 65th, and the post-1930 NYC right-of-way from West 25th to Windermere. The Red Line uses overhead lines and pantographs to draw power and trains operate using one-person operation. In 2023, the line had a ridership of 3,469,100, or about 10,000 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

  1. ^ "RTA Rapid Transit & Connecting Bus Routes – System Map" (PDF). Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  3. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  4. ^ "History of public transit in Greater Cleveland". Cleveland, Ohio: Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  5. ^ "Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority 2014 Annual Report". Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  6. ^ "Catalog of "Common Use" Rail Corridors" (PDF). Office of Research and Development, Federal Railroad Administration, United States Department of Transportation. April 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 16, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.