Most platforms are marked
where doors are spotted:

Northbound H-Line LRT at I25-Broadway. This train consists of an SD-160 car and an SD-100 car:

RTD Light Rail predates low floor technology, so it uses high floor vehicles with steps to a low loading platform. Wheelchair/stroller access has been provided by a high-level platform and bridge located at the front of the train behind the operator's cab. RTD Light Rail does provide a good example of some ways that the ROW can be implemented:

• fenced-in surface ROW and elevated sections
• downtown streets in reserved lanes
• ROW paralleling railway ROW and expressways

Additionally, RTD Light Rail is an excellent example of interlining that provides a higher frequency of service and multiple destination choices for the majority of its riders.

The obvious difference (at this time) is the paint details. SD-160 were ordered for the southeast expansion that opened in 2006 and have the newer paint with the wide blue stripe.

The other difference is the SD-100 cars have bi-fold doors while the SD-160 cars have sliding plug doors.

SD-100 interior:

SD-160 interior is similar

Fare collection:

LRT operation is divided into circular fare zones around downtown, though current LRT lines extend southeast and southwest from downtown. A "Local" fare allows travel within two adjacent zones, an "Express" fare allows travel within three adjacent zones and a "Regional" fare allows travel within all zones.

Fares may be purchased from vending machines on platforms:

Single direction fares allow travel away from issuing station for a duration of approximately 80 minutes and may be used to board a bus at a Light Rail station. Local fare is US$1.75, an Express fare is US$3.00 and a Regional fare is US$4.00.

Return fare tickets allow travel to and from the issuing station for approximately six hours, but may not be used for transferring to a bus. Return fares are double the cost of single fares.

10-ride Ticketbooks are available: "Local" costs US$15.75, "Express" costs US$27, and "Regional" costs US$36

Monthly passes are also available: "Local" costs US$60, "Express" costs US$108, and "Regional" costs US$144

Rear of ticket:

Random fare inspections take place. The first-offence fine for being caught without a valid fare is US$36.50 if it is paid within a few weeks.

Late payment and repeat offences result in increased fines. A fourth repeat can result in being banned from the public transit system for a period of time, and breaking the ban can result in incarceration.

Providing a description of a trip on each line would repeat many portions since the network is well interlined. The descriptions will first cover the end-to-end trip on the D-Line, the trip on the C- and E-Lines over the Central Platte Valley spur (the branch to Union Station), the trip on the Southeast branch to Lincoln, and the I-225 branch to Nine Mile Station.

On most of Welton, the D-Line
operates in both directions over
a single track in the east lane:

F-Line LRT crossing 18th on
California - this street has a single
LRT track for northbound LRTs while
traffic lanes are southbound only:

The trip starts at 30th-Downing with a stub-end station with side platforms. The west platform is shared by buses and the east platform is a street sidewalk. When an LRT departs 30th-Downing, it curves to the right to head down Welton Street in reserved lanes. Within a block, the two tracks merge into a single track where it travels in the reserved east lane of Welton Street. The track splits back into two tracks at 24th Street.

D-Line LRTs at 30th-Downing. The LRT on the left is preparing for departure and has been spotted so its south end is positioned for the accessible ramp at its front door. The LRT on the right has just arrived and is spotted with its north end door at the north accessible ramp:

16th Street Mall is closed to automobile traffic;
Only pedestrians, horse carts, and MallRide buses are permitted.
Here a MallRide bus passes the LRT at Stout:


MallRide buses are special
CNG-Hybrid vehicles with three
sets of doors down each side.
There is no fare for this service.

The next station, 20th-Welton has a centre island platform. Between this station and Convention Center-Performing Arts, the line splits with opposite directions one block apart from each other. Southbound LRTs use the west lane of Stout (which is one-way northbound to traffic), and northbound LRTs use the east lane of California (which is one-way southbound to traffic). Both directions have stations at 18th (18th-California and 18th-Stout) and at 16th (16th-California and 16th-Stout). All of these four stations use the sidewalk to the right of the train for loading and unloading. Only the D-Line goes up to 30th-Downing, while the F- and H-Lines share the one-way street loop with the D-Line.

Between intersections, the LRT track is raised slightly above the road surface. LRTs use signals at intersections that display white horizontal bar (stop) and vertical bar (proceed) aspects. These separate signal aspects prevent confusion in motorists' red-yellow-green aspects. The design of having LRTs running opposite to one-way traffic was chosen as studies have shown that it increases safety by making motorists more aware of LRT movements.

The Convention Center was built over the off-street ROW of the LRT, so its station is covered by the building. This station has a centre island platform plus a west side platform, so southbound LRTs open both doors. There is an east side platform that is normally not used, but it has the accessible ramp for northbound LRTs. From here, LRTs run on a ROW that is on the north side of Colfax Avenue, stopping at Colfax at Auraria Station which has side platforms. The LRT ROW remains at grade as Colfax Avenue climbs to a bridge over the South Platte River, a railway ROW, and I-25. As the LRT curves southward, there is a full wye connection with the Central Platte Valley spur used by the C- and E-Lines. Tracks exist for connection from downtown to the spur, but are not used for revenue service.

Southbound E-Line LRT at 10th-Osage:

The first station along this part of the route is 10th-Osage which has a centre and east side platform - northbound LRTs open both sides. This is the most northern station shared by five lines. The next station is Alemeda and it has the same platform arrangement as 10th-Osage.

The next station, I25-Broadway, is the most southern station shared by five lines. To accomodate the split, the southbound track branches into two tracks just north of the station.

As the D-Line continues south, the southeast lines branch off just south of the station to the left. This junction as a full wye of track arrangements that includes connecting tracks between the southwest and southeast branches that are not used in revenue service. The ROW continues to follow the railway to its west side with some occasional short elevated sections.

At I25-Broadway, a northbound
E-Line LRT is on track 1:

Between Littleton-Downtown and Oxford, the ROW shifts from the west side of the railway ROW to the east side:

At Littleton-Downtown, there is an island platform and a west side platform allowing southbound LRTs to open both doors.

The final station on the line is Littleton-Mineral. This station has side platforms. Southbound arrivals unload on the west track, then pull beyond the station to change directions and return on the east track. The two tracks merge into a single track south of the station to cross over Mineral on a single track bridge. The single track splits into two tail tracks south of Mineral for LRT storage.

LRT south of Littleton-Mineral station to change ends for northbound operation:

D-Line LRT entering Littleton-Mineral after turning
back south of the station:

ACCESSIBILITY

RTD cars are not low floor, but platforms are low.

On April 5, 2002 the Central Platte Valley spur was opened branching off the D-Line's route just north of 10th-Osage station. This spur followed the railway right of way to Union station and is 2.9 km in length.

The C-Line began operation on that day, covering the same stations as the D-Line from Littleton/Mineral to 10th-Osage. The entire trip takes approximately 27 minutes. Here is a description of the northbound trip on the portion over the spur:

The doors immediately behind the driver's cab have fold-down platforms for wheel chair and stroller access.

C-Line LRT heading beyond Union Station to turn back.
Destination sign says "Lincoln" as it will
re-enter service on E-Line:

After departing 10th-Osage, the line proceeds straight through the junction where the D-, F-, and H-Lines head downtown. As this part of the line is close to a railway ROW, all road crossings are of the railway level crossing type with lights and gates.

After curving to the west, the line reaches Auraria West Campus station, a station with both an island platform and an east-side platform.

The next station is INVESCO Field at Mile High, serving the stadium. It has an island platform and both side platforms, so LRTs in both directions may open doors on both sides.

The next station is Pepsi Center-Six Flags Elitch Gardens where there are three tracks through the station with two island platforms and an east-side platform. Under normal operation, the west track is not used. Northbound trains use the east track, and southbound trains use the centre track.

The final station is Union Station: Lower Downtown (LoDo)-Coors Field- 16th Street Mall, and it has island and two side platforms.

On November 17, 2006 the southwest branch opened, adding 30.6 km of track and 13 new stations. Four new lines were added to the network, including the G-Line that runs between two suburbs without entering the downtown area. Louisiana-Pearl is the only station on the southwest branch to have no parking facilities. Parking is free at all stations that have facilities (throughout the system) and a number of the new stations have multi-level parking structures.

The E-Line shares its northern terminus with the C-Line and the F- and H-Lines use the downtown loop. These lines branch away from the C- and D-Lines at I25-Broadway. Trip time is about 41 minutes for the E- and F-Lines, 33 minutes for the H-Line, and 19 minutes for the G-Line.

Here is the description of the trip from there to Lincoln:

During operation, the leading door is spotted at the high-level ramp and the door is only opened if needed.

A northbound F-Line LRT arrives at I25-Broadway approaching the wheelchair/stroller platform where the front door will be spotted:

Northbound F-Line LRT at I25-Broadway:

As the line curves to the east immediately south of I25-Broadway, it climbs to an elevated structure that curves to the southeast as the ROW parallels I-25 on its west side. The line returns to grade level as it approaches Louisiana-Pearl station. This station has an island platform that is under cover of the intersection of two roads.

The line continues at grade to the University of Denver station with its island and west side platforms. Southbound trains open doors on both sides. The west side platform is shared with buses. About half way to the next station, the line passes through a short tunnel section. After the tunnel, the line remains in a cut where Colorado station with side platforms is located.

The next station is Yale. It is at grade with a centre and a west side platform. After that, Southmoor station is the most southern station before the H-Line branches to the east on the I-225 branch. This station has a centre platform and no exit to the east side of I-25. Exit is via a tunnel under I-25 to the west side.

At I25-Broadway, a southbound H-Line LRT
is on track 2:

A southbound F-Line LRT at University of Denver
where doors open on both sides:

South of Southmoor, the southbound track descends into a cut to provide a wye connection with the I-225 branch that avoids grade crossings with the wye connection for the northbound track.

The next station is Belleview with a centre and a west side platform. The west side platform is shared with buses. This is the most northern station where the G-Line shares the line with the E- and F-Lines.

Orchard Station

These stations in order are Orchard, Arapahoe at Village Centre, Dry Creek, and County Line. The pedestrian bridge at Dry Creek was not completed until the spring of 2007.

A northbound G-Line LRT awaits its departure time at Lincoln Station

County Line station is right across the street from the Park Meadows Mall, but passengers can’t directly access the mall from the station.

They have to take a pedestrian bridge across I-25 and catch a shuttle bus to the Mall. This will be rectified by a pedestrian bridge to the Mall scheduled to open in 2008.

This branch is located in the median of I-225 heading up into Aurora. The interchange is fairly elaborate, as a full wye exists with grade-separated crossings along with the highway interchange where I-225 ends with its junction with I-25. The stations on this branch are Dayton and Nine Mile. Both have a single island platform. LRTs are turned back beyond the platform at Nine Mile.

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This page last updated February 14, 2009