Detroit QLine: 11 Things To Know About New Streetcars

DETROIT, MI — Detroit residents will be able to hop on a QLine streetcar for free this weekend. Grand opening festivities for the Woodward Avenue trolley system get underway at 9 a.m. at Grand Circus Park station. Both Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and Detroit Mayor are among several dignitaries expected to attend.

Businesses along the 3.3-mile route will offer special deals throughout the weekend, and special events will be held at each of the 12 stations.

Here are 11 things to know about the streetcar taking passengers to downtown Detroit’s Campus Martius, Midtown and the New Center areas:

What does it cost? Fares are $1.50 for three hours (75 cents for senior citizens, disabled riders and Medicare cardholders); $3 for day passes; $30 for monthly passes; $285 for annual passes; 25 cents for transfers to and from DDOT buses; and 25 cents for transfers to and from SMART buses for full-fare and youth riders, and free for disabled and senior riders.

What are the hours of operation? Regular hours are 6 a.m.-11 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 6 a.m. to midnight Fridays; 8 a.m. to midnight Saturdays; and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays. Special holiday hours may apply.

What are the streetcars like? The three-section, articulated streetcars, which cost about $3 million each, have a sleek, modern shape and weigh about 87,000 pounds. They’re 66 feet long and and are 15 feet high, and each streetcar can accommodate 34 seated passengers and up to 125 who are standing. The entrance is level with the curb, meaning users won’t have to step up or down. It’s handicapped accessible, and all stations comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

How is the streetcar powered? The streetcars use 750-volt lithium-ion batteries as their power source and will operate 60 percent off wire

How does the streetcar turn around at the end of the line? It doesn’t. The front and back of the car look identical by design. The conductor simply walks to the other end of the car, pushes buttons and the streetcar is back in action, headed the opposite direction.

How many streetcars will be operating at a time? M-1 Rail, the nonprofit, public-private partnership formed in 2007 to develop the system, owns six streetcars and four should be operational most of the time, with some adjustments for peak times, special events and off-peak hours.

Is Wi-Fi access available? Go ahead and plan on posting a social media selfie of your first Qline ride or open your laptop. The cars are equipped with Wi-Fi, but you won’t be able to charge phones.

Do the streetcars accommodate bicycles? Yes, vertical storage racks are available for bicycles.
How are rowdy passengers handled? The same rules apply as on DDOT buses and the People Mover. M-1 Rail is contracting with the Detroit Transportation Corp., which operates the People Mover, for transit police, who will randomly ride the streetcars and top by stations. They’ll also have emergency call boxes if trouble erupts.

How fast is the QLine? The streetcars aren’t bullet trains. They run about 35 mph at top speed, but could move more slowly, depending on traffic.

Why is it called the QLine? Quicken Loans founder and CEO Dan Gilbert paid $5 million for the naming rights, picking QLine from several registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Other choices were Qlink, Quickline, Rocketrail and Qride.

For more on the grand opening festivities, click here.

Photo by A Healthier Michigan via Flickr Commons