Atlanta Train Map: How to Read and Use Atlanta’s Rail System

Atlanta’s “train map” usually means the MARTA rail map plus the city’s growing commuter and intercity rail options. If you know how the lines connect and where the major transfer points are, you can move around Atlanta surprisingly easily without a car.

Below is a clear breakdown of Atlanta’s train routes, key stations, and how to read an Atlanta train map like a local.

The Core: MARTA Rail Map at a Glance

MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) runs the main passenger train network in Atlanta. On any Atlanta train map, you’ll see four color-coded MARTA rail lines:

*Exact endpoints can change for late-night/short-turn service, but these are the standard terminals.

What the colors mean:
Each color is a separate route, but the lines share tracks through downtown. That’s why downtown stations are some of the busiest and most important transfer points.

Understanding the MARTA Train Map

On a printed or digital Atlanta train map, you’ll notice:

• Straight colored lines = MARTA rail routes
• White circles = regular stations
• Larger circles or icons = major transfer hubs or key destinations (like the airport)
• Letters/numbers next to stations = sometimes used on schedules, but most riders navigate by station names and line colors

North–South Trunk (Red & Gold Lines)

Through central Atlanta, the Red Line and Gold Line share tracks. From North Avenue down through Five Points to the Airport, the map will show both colors on the same line.

Key stations you’ll see on the map along this corridor:

• North Springs (Red) – Northern terminal for Red Line in Sandy Springs
• Sandy Springs / Dunwoody / Medical Center – Access to offices, hospitals, Perimeter Center
• Buckhead – Near Lenox Road, commercial and shopping areas
• Lindbergh Center – Major transfer point to buses, mixed-use developments
• Midtown – Access to Midtown business district, arts venues, and Georgia Tech (via bus/Tech Trolley)
• North Avenue – Near Georgia Tech and Midtown offices
• Civic Center / Peachtree Center – Access to downtown hotels, offices, attractions
• Five Points – Central transfer hub for all rail lines
• Garnett – Close to Greyhound and Megabus stops (long-distance buses)
• West End – Historic neighborhood, strong bus connections
• Lakewood/Fort McPherson / College Park – Park-and-ride and bus connections
• Airport – MARTA station inside Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Difference between Red and Gold:

• Red Line goes North Springs ↔ Airport
• Gold Line goes Doraville ↔ Airport

Both lines head south to the Airport; the north branches split at Lindbergh Center on the map.

East–West Trunk (Blue & Green Lines)

The Blue Line runs fully east–west. The shorter Green Line shares part of the track but only covers the western stretch.

Stations you’ll see from west to east:

• H. E. Holmes (Blue) – Western terminal for the Blue Line
• West Lake / Ashby – Westside neighborhoods, access to buses
• Vine City – Closest stop to Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Dome/GWCC/College Football Hall of Fame/State Farm Arena – Downtown sports and convention district
• Five Points – Transfer hub to Red, Gold, and all bus routes
• Georgia State – Near Georgia State University and government buildings
• King Memorial – Close to historic neighborhoods and Oakland Cemetery
• Inman Park/Reynoldstown – Popular for BeltLine Eastside Trail access (via short walk or scooter)
• Edgewood/Candler Park – Transfer point where Blue and Green lines split
• Bankhead (Green) – Western terminal of the Green Line
• East Lake / Decatur – Access to City of Decatur and Agnes Scott College
• Avondale – Park-and-ride and bus connections
• Kensington – Eastside suburbs, bus transfer
• Indian Creek (Blue) – Eastern terminal of the Blue Line

On the map, Green Line service usually appears only from Bankhead ↔ Edgewood/Candler Park (or sometimes onward), while the Blue Line continues all the way to Indian Creek.

Five Points: The Center of the Atlanta Rail Map

On almost every Atlanta train map, Five Points Station is the central “X” where all four MARTA rail lines cross. It’s in the heart of downtown.

At Five Points, you can:

• Transfer between Red/Gold and Blue/Green lines
• Connect to a large number of MARTA bus routes
• Walk to nearby government buildings, offices, and downtown attractions

If you’re planning a rail trip across the city, Five Points is usually the fastest transfer point and the main “anchor” on the map.

How to Use the Train Map for Common Trips

Getting to and from the Airport

On the map, the Airport Station is the southern end of the Red and Gold lines.

• From Midtown, Downtown, or Buckhead:
  • Take any southbound Red or Gold Line train labeled “Airport”.
• From Decatur or Eastside:
  • Take the Blue or Green Line to Five Points, then transfer to a southbound Red or Gold.

The map makes this simple: find your origin station, trace the colored line(s) to Airport. Any station on the Red/Gold shared trunk goes directly there.

Reaching Popular Areas by Train

Using the rail map:

• Downtown Atlanta –
  • Peachtree Center, Five Points, Georgia State, GWCC/Dome/Vine City
• Midtown & Arts District –
  • Midtown station (Red/Gold), plus Arts Center station for the High Museum and Alliance Theatre
• Buckhead & Lenox –
  • Buckhead, Lenox, Brookhaven/Oglethorpe stations on the Red/Gold north branch
• Decatur –
  • Decatur station on the Blue Line
• Westside (Bankhead / West Midtown area) –
  • Bankhead station (Green Line), plus buses or rideshare from there

Most Atlanta train maps highlight these stations or show icon markers for stadiums, universities, and major attractions.

Where to Find a Current Atlanta Train Map

While this article explains the structure, it still helps to look at an actual map before you ride.

You can usually find a current MARTA train map:

• At station entrances and platforms – Posted on walls, near fare machines, and on rail platforms
• Inside train cars – Above the doors, showing your current line and major stations
• At major bus transfer points – Large printed system maps with rail and key bus routes

For in-person help, MARTA’s main administrative location is:

• MARTA Headquarters
  2424 Piedmont Road NE
  Atlanta, GA 30324
  Main information line: (404) 848-5000

Most riders rely on station maps and digital trip planners, but having the color layout and main transfer points in your head makes navigating easier.

Beyond MARTA: Other Rail on the Atlanta Map

When people say “Atlanta train map,” they sometimes also mean other passenger rail options that appear on broader transportation maps.

Amtrak (Intercity Rail)

Atlanta is served by Amtrak’s Crescent route, which runs New York–Atlanta–New Orleans.

• Amtrak Station (Atlanta Peachtree Station)
  1688 Peachtree Street NW
  Atlanta, GA 30309
  Phone (general Amtrak information): 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245)

This station is not directly on MARTA rail, but on some regional maps you’ll see it shown relative to Arts Center or Midtown. Riders usually use:

• MARTA (get off at Arts Center or Midtown, then bus or rideshare), or
• Direct rideshare/taxi to the Amtrak station

Commuter Rail (Potential Future Service)

As of the latest commonly available information, there is no full-scale commuter rail system yet in Atlanta like you might see in some other major metros. Regional plans have considered commuter rail corridors, and you might see proposed or future lines on planning maps, but these are distinct from the current, in-service MARTA rail map.

When you’re looking up an “Atlanta train map” for travel today, focus on:

• MARTA Red, Gold, Blue, Green lines (primary urban transit)
• Amtrak only if you’re traveling between cities

Reading Symbols and Features on an Atlanta Train Map

Most official MARTA maps use a consistent set of symbols:

• Colored lines – The rail lines themselves
• Circle markers – Stations along the lines
• Solid circle with border or larger icon – Major transfer or park-and-ride station
• Wheelchair icons – ADA-accessible stations
• Airplane icon – Airport station
• Bus symbol – Stations with significant bus connections

Some printed maps also show:

• Fare zones or airport zone (depending on the version)
• Major roads and highways (I-75/85, I-20, I-285) for orientation
• Key landmarks (stadiums, universities, civic centers)

If you’re new to the system, start by identifying:

1. Your origin station
2. Your destination station
3. Whether they’re on the same color line
4. If not, where you’ll transfer (usually Five Points or Lindbergh Center)

Practical Tips for Using the Atlanta Train Network

• Check the direction labels – Trains are signed by endpoint (for example, “Airport,” “North Springs,” “Doraville,” “Indian Creek,” “H. E. Holmes”). Match the endpoint on the platform sign to the direction you see on the map.
• Use Five Points for cross-city moves – Most north–south to east–west transfers are fastest through Five Points.
• Mind late-night and weekend variations – Headways (time between trains) and line endpoints can be different at night; schedules posted at stations usually note this.
• Look for bus connections on the map – Many maps show major bus routes that start at MARTA rail stations, which is important if your final destination isn’t right at a station.
• Park-and-ride lots – Suburban stations like Doraville, North Springs, College Park, Kensington, Indian Creek and others typically have parking, often shown with a “P” or parking icon on the map.

Key Atlanta Rail Stations to Know (Cheat Sheet)

Here’s a quick reference list of stations that often matter most to residents and visitors:

• Airport – Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Red/Gold)
• Five Points – Main transfer hub; downtown core
• Peachtree Center – Downtown hotels, offices, and attractions
• GWCC/Dome/State Farm Arena/Vine City – Stadiums, events, and convention center
• Midtown – Midtown business district; access to Georgia Tech area
• Arts Center – Museums, arts venues, and North Midtown/Lindbergh connections
• Buckhead / Lenox – Buckhead business and shopping districts
• Decatur – Walkable downtown Decatur, restaurants, and shopping
• Bankhead – Access point to Westside neighborhoods (Green Line)
• North Springs / Doraville / Indian Creek / H. E. Holmes – Outer terminals often used by commuters and park-and-ride users

Keeping these names and their line colors in mind will help you interpret almost any Atlanta train map quickly and confidently.