It’s a Few Years Late, But Denver’s New Train Is Here

DENVER, CO— Bob Martin had a day off on Tuesday, so he decided to spend it riding back and forth on the city’s long-awaited new commuter rail service, the G Line. When I found him standing on a train platform in the Denver suburb of Arvada, he looked a little stunned. “That was like being in a Star Trek movie—so smooth,” he said of the new train. “I’ve lived in Denver all my life, and never thought I’d live long enough to see this happen.”

The G Line, which opened last weekend, connects downtown Denver with the northwest suburbs of Arvada, Adams County, and Wheat Ridge. Riding the 11-mile, seven-station line end-to-end takes 27 minutes. In its first year, Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) is hoping the G will carry 9,000 passengers a day, and by 2025, a projected 13,000. Starting May 11, it will cost $3 to ride, but until then, it’s free to try out.