There's a saying that "West End is the best End." I'm not sure if that extends to the MARTA station…read morebut the area is very underrated though. Let's dive into it. West End has a parking lot - probably the biggest parking lot too within the proximity of Downton Atlanta. I occasionally park at West End MARTA to attend sporting events. West End is also one of the stations my local bus stops at. So I'm more likely to frequent it for that reason as well. Especially if I have a North/Southbound journey to make. West End Station is local to West End Mall, Lee+White mixed use development, Wren's Nest (an underrated Atlanta landmark and staple), the Westside Beltline, and the Atlanta University Center to name a few. The station itself isn't the cleanest. I've witnessed people handle their business is various ways around the West End property. The smell is a dead give away as well. But that's neither here nor there. Generally speaking, safety is ok at West End. A few pan handlers and gray market salesman may approach but none of them usually mean any harm. Lighting in the parking lots could be better overall. The lighting is dim in the area further away from station. There is a farmer's market every now and then at the station. I've bought a few things. But I usually find myself on the way to work or not heading home so I don't typically buy stuff at the market. There's also a soccer field on the Southside of the station. It looks like an artificial grass surface that's roughly the size of a basketball court. Don't usually see people playing on it though. Last thing. The view looking north while on the boarding platform is nice. One of the best views of the football stadium and south part of Downtown Atlanta.

This station is one of the ones that the train goes above ground which makes it great when there's…read moregood time because it doesn't have that depressing effect. It's a really big station and a lot of lights at night. No screens to have an idea of when the next train is coming. The wall sculpture is outside in the south entrance and very original and different from other stations.

Marta is SMARTA. I was attending a conference that had a…read moretour from Buckhead to midtown... Traffic & parking costs said to me... Take Marta. Originated at College Park and is was faster than anticipated, cleaner than expected, and utilized by all walks of life So glad Atlanta & the State of GA invested in a rail system. Just wished it went to more destinations... Not a plus sign, but like a wheel

It's nice to have a train to traverse the city. I've been to Atlanta several times, and I have…read moreridden the Marta plenty. This station wasn't that crowded. You do see some sketch people, but I didn't feel unsafe. I do recommend traveling with companions if you can. We came when it was out, so they have cooling fans around the stations. Some areas are definitely not clean. I recommend not touching things if you can help it.

This was our home station while in Atlanta and it was pretty convenient all around…read more The station is pretty large but there is a lot of signage to ensure you are getting to where you are going in the most efficient way. When we first got off the train, we didn't look at the signs and just exited to the street so we ended up walking a lot more the first day but once you realize all the demarcations, you'll be fine. We actually found an exit closer to our hotel, without having to walk up hill. SCORE!!! The station looks clean and feels pretty safe. I agree that it's a bit dark but I kind of think it adds to the charm a bit. I love the monitors that let you know when the next train is coming. The escalators are interesting to say the least. They do take forever but they are very long and better than having to walk up 4 flights of stairs, especially with baggage. And once we found the exit that didn't involve a hill, the escalator in that area was a bit shorter.

If nothing else, this is the coolest MARTA station. It is carved out of granite and is deep…read moreunderground. I was meeting a friend nearby so I got off the train here. There were a lot of people wandering by the exit asking for money. There was also a wandering street lunatic who seemed potentially dangerous. Don't linger around the exit. The signage here was good for alerting you about inbound trains. I had purchased a round trip ticket earlier, so I did not have to deal with ticket vending machines here. My earlier experience was confusing, mostly due to the machine's UI.

Five Points MARTA Station is the only station where MARTA riders can transfer from the trains going…read morein the north/south directions to the east/west directions and vice versa. Because of this, it's the busiest train station, based on entries and exits, in the MARTA system. Employees try to keep this station clean, but with so many train riders passing through, the station is sometimes dirty. I personally have been in this station only to transfer to another train going in a different direction, and have never physically entered or exited the station using the gates. In this station, the north/south trains of the Red line and the north-east/south trains of the Gold line run on the tracks in the lower level. The east/west trains of the Green and the Blue lines run on the tracks in the upper level. Multiple escalators, stairways and elevators allow MARTA customers to move from one level to the other. Just a word of caution: If you're slow moving and you're transferring to another level, wait until most of the crowd gets ahead of you. Otherwise, you may get pushed and jostled by people hurrying to get by you. This is especially true if you're transferring to another train either before or after an event at either State Farm Arena, Mercedes-Benz Stadium or Georgia World Congress Center. Signage is accurate and helpful, but you have to know in which direction you want to travel to prevent confusion. Electronic signs in the stations let riders know the approximate remaining wait times for the arriving trains. A PA announcement lets everyone in the station which train is arriving. Both levels in this station are well lit, and there are few concrete benches to sit on while waiting for trains to arrive. Just like in every train station, MARTA customers need to ensure their safety by being aware of their surroundings and not stand too close to the train tracks.

It's been over a decade since I've ridden Marta and I was impressed how they've kept the prices…read morelow. It's only $2.50 per ride plus $1 for the ticket. You can go from any point A to point B for the same fare. It's very clean unlike other subway systems in the country (e.g. NYC) and the rules posted discourage any bad behavior. I took Marta most places while I was in Atlanta and never felt unsafe. It is a super-efficient and cost effective way to get around.

Atlanta has a streetcar that goes from downtown to Sweet Auburn. It gives you a nice tour of the…read morehistoric district. You can also go to Centennial Olympic Park. Convenient and cheap. The only bad thing is that it's slow. Good way for a tourist to get around. It isn't so much for a commuter. This can be incredibly slow. Because it follows tracks it can't change lanes if there's an obstruction. The drivers also often stop for long breaks, so don't be in a hurry to get somewhere. If you're just visiting for leisure it's good for looking around. It goes to many of the important places. This is also cheap so it's pretty okay for tourists.

This streetcar is not named desire, but then you can't have everything. Unless you really want…read moreeverything. Do you? OK we'll talk about it later. This cute streetcar wanders around Atlanta and is a little bit more for tourists than it is for locals. Nevertheless it's a really nice addition and reminds me of the South because I've seen similar things in Charlotte and other places. I'd give it a 3 star rating except that it's only a dollar and that's cool. So 4.

Conveniently located. Air conditioning may not be working so they have industrial fans…read more Not much seating if waiting for your train so I recommend watching the train times.

I rode the train to the airport this morning and a one way ticket is $3.50 like the previous time I…read morerode the train. There was some old lady making a nuisance of herself by the gates and the lone staff member on duty was trying to ignore her. As I passed through the gate the lady slipped through behind me and I said she should probably buy a ticket and she told me to mind my own damn business. I would have, if she didn't use me to skip paying for the train fare. I bet her plan was to follow someone else out at her stop because you need to use your ticket to enter and exit the stations. When we got on the train the lady was babbling to herself the entire time. I don't think she was all there in the head. At least this train didn't smell like pee. There was no ventilation so it was very stuffy despite the cooler temperatures of the early morning.

marta service is worse than 1, try 0. there is no one at marta that gives a damn, and when you…read morelodge a complaint it falls on death ears. i was listening to the comments on the sight about reach, they were all white, is there another marta that only carters to the white cliente in this city? i thought this was an equal opportunity, but i guess not. after being on hold for over an hour, they hang-up!!!!! marta needs to be dismantled and reconstructed with people who know and understand what a transportation company does. i don't know how the hell you have stayed in business, but you carter to whites and they will always stand up for you!

Called this number to find out what time train started to airport to no avail. No humans answer…read morephone and can't get senior discounts.

I love MARTA! I was living in Atlanta when the system was built. It made a huge difference in the…read moreamount of time it took to navigate the city known for its traffic congestion. The difficulty of driving the combined I-85/75 through the midst of town at high rates of speed is dreaded & avoided by most out of towners. In the midst of 80mph bumper to bumper traffic, it's difficult for those not familiar with the correct exit lane. When my middle aged son, who has lived in NYC for decades, had a business trip to Atlanta he rented a car. On his return trip to the airport I asked if he planned to go through the middle of town or around the perimeter highway. He responded "the middle of town". I chuckled mentally waiting to hear his reaction. When I finally asked, the NYC driver responded "They go fast.....REALLY fast!" With MARTA you avoid this. There was controversy before construction regarding the counties that would participate in MARTA. In the beginning only Atlanta/Fulton County participated. My 2nd apartment complex on Piedmont Road was new when my roommates and I moved in during 1972. The complex was demolished to build the Lindbergh MARTA station. By that time I was living in East Cobb. But old pictures still provide remembrances of that place in its earlier time. The system has created such easy and fast access, avoiding the traffic congestion that had always been a part of Atlanta. Park & Ride lots provide for riders who aren't in walking distance. Decades after I moved to Coastal Virginia I took my then teenage son to see a musical theatre production at the gorgeous Fox Theater. I chose a hotel close to the Fox. We were able to get onto MARTA inside the airport and exit within a block of our hotel. We walked to the Fox and nearby restaurants. We took MARTA to my longtime shopping center of choice, Lenox Square. Treating him to a hot dog at the legendary Varsity Restaurant was easy with MARTA. Navigating around Atlanta was so easy without a vehicle. It's been over a decade since I last visited the place in which I spent my early adulthood. Still dear to my heart, I'd love to see the expansion of the MARTA line and the conveniences it has added.

This is specifically for the MARTA train. I've ridden from North Springs to the airport and back 6…read moretimes so that's my perspective. Pros- inexpensive fare and no traffic. Easy to pay using a credit card at the turnstile. Relatively clean for public transportation. Cons- obvious old train cars. Very questionable riders the closer you get to downtown. Smell of marijuana and body odor on at least half the rides. Homeless or at least homeless looking people on every ride who smell. Loud music frequently. I saw a police officer only once who removed a sleeping person who appeared to be living on the train. Last trip I had the delight of seeing a guy with his loud, cursing female friend who were sprawled out on a bench while massaging her feet. Gross! We didn't know there would be food and drink service, but later that same trip there was a fellow making the rounds with his cooler and bag snacks for sale. Keep in mind eating and drinking is prohibited. If Atlanta traffic didn't suck so bad I would never ride the ghetto train. I get that it's public transportation and it's used for shelter by many as well but I believe it could be so much better if there was more police presence and enforcement of the rules. It's so awkward when the good people who just want to get somewhere have to sit in silence because they're afraid of upsetting the uneducated, loud, inconsiderate barbarians. I don't know how those people can survive in society if this is how they act in public. It's such a shame that people aren't brought up with manners. Anyway, I haven't seen any violence yet so that's a plus. Just know that you will be exposed to some of the rudest and barely functional people in society when riding the Marta train. Hopefully there will be a few normal folks on your ride who are just trying to get to work or families going to the airport.

What a shit-show! They never have a plan for major events downtown. Tonight there was a record…read morebreaking attendance soccer game AND a WNBA game and the escalators at the Dome Station didn't work. We had to walk all the way up to Peachtree Station. Most incompetently run city rail system in the nation. EMBARRASSING!!!

Marta is hit-or-miss. Recently I'm finding that they have "mechanical issues" quite often, which…read morehave been resulting in long delays and subsequently, overcrowded train cars. I'm not sure if their due for system-wide maintenance or what, but these frequent inconveniences are no bueno. A few mitigating factors, however, make MARTA a pretty decent experience for the most part: Namely, the customer service reps actually answer the phone! It's refreshing to be able to speak to a live person when I have a concern. Additionally, it's definitely an effective alternative to having to deal with Atlanta's infamous traffic issue, as long as where you're going is near a station or bus stop. All in all, its ok... not the worst, not the best.