EL PASO, Texas — After offering limited free operation during its grand opening weekend, the 4.8-mile El Paso Streetcar system begins full operation today.
The streetcar system debuted Friday at 5 p.m., and through the weekend offered free rides from six stops along its route. Today, service begins to all 27 stops on the two loops that make up its route, with tickets costing $1.50 each Monday through Thursday. Rides are free on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Jan. 6, 2019.
The system uses six vintage streetcars that ran in El Paso from the 1950s through 1974, restored to one of three paint schemes used during that period. The cars had been stored for decades at El Paso’s airport. Restored and upgraded by Brookville Equipment Corp. as part of the $97-million project to bring streetcar service back to the city, the cars feature air conditioning and onboard wi-fi, meet ADA accessibility standards, and have bike racks.The
The cars run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturdays, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. For more information, visit the streetcar website.
These are new tracks. The previous streetcar line went from downtown to the border then looped thru Ciudad Juarez. Was cut back to a loop on the river.
It helps being in a semi arid location. Little rain to corrode metal.
Pretty cool! I assume they rebuilt or relaid the tracks? Were they paved over in the interim?
Been a few interesting things happening in El Paso lately that I’ve noticed. It seems like a city on the rise.
It would be interesting if a builder designed a retro/deco update of the PCC a la the Beetle, Mini, or Tipolino.
BRAVO El Paso! Stored instead of sold or scrapped! A pity more cities didn’t follow suit. The limited free ride operation during the grand opening weekend was a great PR move to re-introduce streetcar service to citizens. Likewise, Tampa Trolley (Florida), is offering free rides over the course of the next three years in much the same way.
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