MARTA railcars deployed into Atlantic Ocean in collaboration with DNR

ATLANTA — Two retired MARTA railcars were released into the Atlantic Ocean after they were repurposed as artificial reefs on Thursday, according to the transportation service. 

11Alive first brought viewers this story in September. The partnership is with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Reef Project as part of an eco-friendly initiative. MARTA said the two older railcars were cleaned and prepared for their underwater mission.

“It was thrilling to be part of repurposing two of our original railcars in this environmentally responsible way,” said MARTA Board of Directors Chair Thomas Worthy. “We hope to provide more retired railcars for reef deployment, as well as find other inventive ways to reuse decommissioned railcars as we make room for the new CQ400 trains, the first of which arrives in Atlanta for testing next year.”

The first railcar was transported from MARTA's South Yard on the morning of Sept. 7. It was taken to Savannah where a ceremony took place to mark the strategic geographic location.

Cameron Brinton, a marine biologist with DNR, said that the more reef and sponges will start to get established on the railcars in the spring and summer.

He added that within the next five to six years at least six to seven inches of coral would be established on the cars with fish using them as shelter from currents and predators.

“This project has been a long time in the works, and we are so glad to have these MARTA railcars offshore now to provide essential fish habitat, diving opportunities, and another great offshore fishing location,” said Cameron Brinton, a marine biologist DNR’s Coastal Resources Division, which oversees artificial reef creation on Georgia’s coast.

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