View source for QLine

{{Use mdy dates|date = July 2017}}
{{Infobox rail line
|box_width = auto
|name = QLine
|logo = QLINE Logo.svg
|logo_width = 150px
|image = Detroit July 2018 (QLine).jpg
|image_width = 300px
|caption = Car in front of the [[Detroit Historical Museum]] in July 2018
|type = [[Streetcar]]
|system = 
|locale = [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]
|start = {{stn|Grand Boulevard}}
|end = {{stn|Congress Street}}
|stations = 20 stops (12 locations)
|routes = 
|status = 
|planopen = 
|open = {{start date|May 12, 2017}}<ref name="freepress-2017may12"/>
|close = 
|owner = M-1 Rail
|operator = [[Transdev]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lawrence|first1=Eric D.|title=QLINE report card shows dozens of cars towed or ticketed since May|url=http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2017/07/28/qline-report-card-shows-dozens-cars-towed-ticketed-since-may/517339001/|accessdate=July 28, 2017|work=Detroit Free Press|date=July 28, 2017}}</ref>
|character = 
|stock = 6 [[Brookville Liberty Modern Streetcar]]s
|linelength = {{convert|3.3|mi|km|abbr=on}}<ref name="freepress-2017may12"/>
|tracklength = 
|tracks = 
|gauge = {{RailGauge|sg|al=on|allk=on|first=imp}}
|daily_ridership = 3,280 (2018)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pratt Dawsey |first1=Chastity |date = April 1, 2019 |title=QLine Well Short of Ridership Goals and Plagued by Delays in Detroit |url=https://www.bridgemi.com/detroit-journalism-cooperative/qline-well-short-ridership-goals-and-plagued-delays-detroit |website= Bridge Magazine |publisher=Center for Michigan |access-date= April 3, 2019}}</ref>
|electrification = overhead catenary, [[lithium-ion battery]]
|speed_mph = 30<ref name=FAQ>{{cite web |url=https://qlinedetroit.com/ride-guide/faq/ |title=FAQ - M1-rail |accessdate=May 13, 2017}}</ref>
|map_state = show
|map = {{QLine}}
|website = {{URL|qlinedetroit.com}}
}}

The '''QLine''' (stylized as '''QLINE'''), originally known as '''M-1 Rail''' by its developers and the '''Woodward Avenue Streetcar''' by the [[Michigan Department of Transportation]] (MDOT), is a [[streetcar]] system in [[Detroit]] in the U.S. state of Michigan. Opened on May 12, 2017, it runs along [[M-1 (Michigan highway)|M-1]] (Woodward Avenue).<ref name="freepress-2017may12">{{cite news |first1 = Eric D. |last1 = Lawrence |first2 = Robert |last2 = Allen |date = May 12, 2017 |url = http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2017/05/12/all-aboard-detroits-qline-open-streetcar-riders/319211001/ |title = All Aboard! Detroit's QLine Is Open for Streetcar Riders |newspaper = [[Detroit Free Press]] |access-date = May 13, 2017 }}</ref>

In December 2011, city and state leaders announced a plan to offer [[bus rapid transit]] service for the city and metropolitan area instead of light rail as had previously been proposed. Soon afterwards, M-1 Rail, a consortium of private and public businesses and institutions in the region, announced the plan for a {{convert|3.3|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} streetcar line along part of the same route as the cancelled light rail plan, connecting the downtown [[Detroit People Mover]] to the [[Detroit (Amtrak station)|Amtrak railway station]] in [[New Center]] and the proposed [[Ann Arbor–Detroit Regional Rail]] system. [[Quicken Loans]] bought the naming rights to the line, and announced the name in March 2016.<ref name="lawrence-2016-03-24">{{cite news |first = Eric D. |last = Lawrence |url = http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2016/03/24/m-1-rail-name-announcement/82205026/ |title = Detroit's M-1 Rail Line Now to Be Called the QLINE |date = March 24, 2016 |work = [[Detroit Free Press]] |access-date = March 24, 2016 }}</ref>

== History ==
=== Antecedents ===
==== 1863-1956 ====
{{main|Detroit United Railway}}
{{stack|[[File:Woodward_Ave_Detroit_1942.jpg|thumb|Woodward Avenue with streetcar lines, 1942]]}}
Detroit's first [[streetcar]] service began in 1863 with [[horsecar]]s. Electrification of the streetcar system followed, starting in 1886. Detroit's streetcar lines eventually saw their operations consolidated under the privately owned [[Detroit United Railway]]. Municipal takeover and control of the streetcar network by Detroit's [[Department of Street Railways]] followed in 1922.<ref name="schramm">{{cite book |first = Kenneth |last = Schramm |year = 2006 |title = Detroit's Street Railways |series = Images of Rail |publisher = Arcadia Publishing |location = Charleston, SC |pages = 7–8, 11–13 |isbn = 0-7385-4027-7 }}</ref> Detroit Mayor [[Hazen S. Pingree]] had led the charge years before to have the city take over operations. Since that gave the companies reason to believe the rail lines would be taken over, they were discouraged from maintaining the lines, which meant that Detroiters had "inherited a giant money pit" when the city eventually voted to buy them.<ref>{{cite web |last1 = Austin |first1 = Dan |title = How Metro Detroit Transit went from Best to Worst |url = http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/2015/02/06/michigan-detroit-public-transit/22926133/ |website = Detroit Free Press |accessdate = May 10, 2017}}</ref> That and the Department of Street Railways' introduction of buses from 1925 ultimately led to the demise of the original streetcar system in 1956.<ref name=schramm /><ref name="hour">{{cite journal |first = Mark |last = Kurlyandchik |date = May 2012 |url = http://www.hourdetroit.com/Hour-Detroit/May-2012/Back-on-Track/ |title = After 50+ Years, Streetcars Could Come Back to Woodward |journal = [[Hour Detroit]] |issn = 1098-9684 |access-date = August 20, 2012 |archive-url = https://www.webcitation.org/6A4iqClLg?url=http://www.hourdetroit.com/Hour-Detroit/May-2012/Back-on-Track/ |archive-date = August 21, 2012 |dead-url = no |df = mdy-all }}</ref>

==== Detroit Citizen’s Railway ====
A short {{convert|0.7|mi|km|adj=on}} “vintage” streetcar gauge line in {{RailGauge|900mm}} gauge opened in 1976 along [[Washington Boulevard (Detroit)|Washington Boulevard]], using seven former [[Trams in Lisbon|Lisbon]] tramcars and two from England and [[Vevey–Montreux–Chillon–Villeneuve tramway|Switzerland]], all built to early 20th century specs. The line was extended a further {{convert|0.3|mi|km|1|adj=off}} along [[Jefferson Avenue (Detroit)|Jefferson Avenue]] in 1980. It ended service in 2003.<ref name="RPR">{{cite web |url = http://www.railwaypreservation.com/vintagetrolley/detroit.htm |publisher = Railway Preservation Resources |title = U.S. Streetcar Systems- Michigan |access-date = February 12, 2019}}</ref>

=== M-1 Rail Line ===
{{stack|[[File:M-1 RAIL logo.png|thumb|Original M-1 Rail logo]]}}
In 2006 the [[Detroit Department of Transportation]] (DDOT) commissioned a study to determine expanded mass transit options along [[Woodward Avenue]].<ref name="WLR">{{cite web |url = http://www.woodwardlightrail.com/ProjectOverview.html |publisher = Woodward Light Rail |title = Project Overview |access-date = October 17, 2011 }}</ref> Concurrently, a private group of local business leaders decided to provide matching funds to government dollars to develop a $125&nbsp;million, {{convert|3.4|mi|km|adj=on}} line through central Detroit (similar to the [[Tacoma Link]]) called the M-1 Rail Line. After much wrangling between the private investors and the DDOT, the two groups decided to work in tandem on developing DDOT's {{convert|9.3|mi|km|adj=on}} line.

The proposed line ran {{convert|9.3|mi|km}} along Woodward Avenue from the Rosa Parks Transit Center to the old State Fairgrounds along [[8&nbsp;Mile Road]].<ref name=TRU/> The line would have had 19&nbsp;stops with 10&nbsp;cars running at a time in two-car trains; each train would carry 150&nbsp;people. The trains would run in a dedicated right-of-way in the median from 8&nbsp;Mile to Adams Street at the north end of downtown. South of Adams, the trains would run in traffic along the sides of the street.

The estimated cost for the proposed line was $500&nbsp;million.<ref name="TRU">{{cite web |url = http://www.detroittransit.org/cms.php?pageid=80 |title = Woodward Light Rail Project Cancelled, M-1 Streetcar Still in the Works |publisher = Detroit Transportation Riders United |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120720152848/http://www.detroittransit.org/cms.php?pageid=80 |archive-date = July 20, 2012 }}</ref> The Kresge Foundation awarded a $35&nbsp;million grant to the city for the project in March 2009.<ref>{{cite press release |url = http://www.michiganfoundations.org/s_cmf/doc.asp?CID=6017&DID=24282 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110615211512/http://www.michiganfoundations.org/s_cmf/doc.asp?CID=6017&DID=24282 |dead-url = yes |archive-date = June 15, 2011 |title = Kresge Foundation Awards Nearly $73 Million in Grants in the First Quarter of 2009 |date = March 9, 2009 |publisher = Council of Michigan Foundations }}</ref> It received $25&nbsp;million in funding from the [[United States Department of Transportation]] in February 2010.<ref name=RailwayGazette2013-08-02a/><ref name=RailwayGazette2013-08-02b/> The Detroit City Council approved the sale of $125&nbsp;million in bonds on April 11, 2011.<ref>{{cite news |title = City Council Approves Detroit Light Rail Project |date = April 12, 2011 |url = http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/04/12/city-council-approves-detroit-light-rail-project/ |location = Southfield, MI |publisher = [[WWJ-TV]] |access-date = }}</ref> The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the City of Detroit signed an environmental impact study on July 1, 2011.<ref name=WLR/> Finally, on August 31, 2011, the FTA signed a record of decision allowing the project to move forward.<ref>{{cite news |title = Detroit's Woodward Ave. Light Rail Project Moves Forward, but Still Has Long Road to Completion |url = http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2011/09/detroits_woodward_ave_light_ra.html |work = [[MLive.com]] |location = Detroit |publisher = [[Booth Newspapers]] |access-date = December 15, 2011 |archive-url = https://www.webcitation.org/63x9RbxHJ?url=http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2011/09/detroits_woodward_ave_light_ra.html |archive-date = December 15, 2011 |dead-url = no |date = September 6, 2011 |df = mdy-all }}</ref>

In December 2011 the federal government withdrew its support for the proposed line, in favor of a [[bus rapid transit]] system which would serve the city and suburbs.<ref name="BRT">{{cite news |last = Bing |first = Dave |date = December 18, 2011 |url = http://www.freep.com/article/20111218/OPINION05/112180413/Dave-Bing-Rapid-bus-system-is-a-win-for-metro-Detroit |title = Rapid Bus System Is a Win for Metro Detroit |work = Detroit Free Press |access-date = December 18, 2011 }}</ref> This decision arose out of discussions between federal Secretary of Transportation [[Ray LaHood]], Detroit Mayor [[Dave Bing]] and [[Governor of Michigan|Governor]] [[Rick Snyder]]. The private investors who had initially supported the smaller {{convert|3|mi|km|adj=on|spell=in}} M-1 Rail line to New Center stated that they would continue developing that project through the nonprofit M-1 Rail Consortium.<ref>{{cite news |title = Detroit Light-Rail Plan Is Dead: Buses Will Be Used Instead |work = Detroit Free Press |date = December 14, 2011 |last1 = Helms |first1 = Matt |first2 = Paul |last2 = Egan |first3 = John |last3 = Gallagher }}</ref> The cancelled {{convert|9.3|mi|km|adj=on}} proposal would have featured seven additional stops north of Grand Boulevard, where the QLine now ends.<ref>{{cite web |first = Kamau C. |last = Marable |first2 = Tim |last2 = Roseboom |first3 = Mark |last3 = Ryan |url = http://slideplayer.com/slide/4535668/ |title = Woodward Light Rail Transit Project |work = NAMC Detroit Transportation Symposium |date = September 15, 2011 |page = 4 |via = slideplayer.com}}</ref>

===Construction===
On January 18, 2013, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that M-1 Rail would receive $25 million in federal grant support for the streetcar project.<ref name=RailwayGazette2013-08-02a/><ref name=RailwayGazette2013-08-02b/><ref>{{cite news |last = Helms |first = Matt |title = Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Brings $25 Million in Federal Aid for M-1 Rail Project |url = http://www.freep.com/article/20130118/NEWS01/130118021/Ray-LaHood-brings-25M-in-federal-aid-for-M-1-rail-project |access-date = January 28, 2013 |newspaper = Detroit Free Press |date = January 18, 2013 }}</ref> He had previously committed to the funds on the condition that a regional transit authority was created for the Detroit area.<ref>{{cite news |first = Sarah |last = Cwiek |date = October 15, 2012 |title = LaHood: Metro Detroit, State Need to Move on Regional transit Authority |url = http://michiganradio.org/post/lahood-metro-detroit-state-need-move-regional-transit-authority#stream/0 |publisher = Michigan Radio |access-date = January 27, 2016 }}</ref> In late 2012, the [[Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan]] was created by state law,<ref name="Senate">{{cite web |title = Senate Bill No. 909 |url = http://www.semcog.org/uploadedFiles/Programs_and_Projects/Transportation/RTA%20Enrolled%20Senate%20Bill%20909.pdf |publisher = Michigan State Legislature |access-date = September 17, 2013 }}</ref> which enabled LaHood's approval.<ref>{{cite news |date = January 18, 2013 |title = M1 Rail: Ray LaHood, U.S. Transit Secretary, Announces $25 Million in Funding for Detroit Transit Plan |url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/18/m1-rail-ray-lahood-detroit-25-million-woodward_n_2502335.html |work = The Huffington Post |access-date = January 27, 2016 }}</ref>

On April 22, 2013, the project received final environmental clearance from the federal government, with construction expected to start in the fall.<ref>{{cite news |first = Matt |last = Helms |date = April 22, 2013 |title = M-1 Rail Project Gets Final OK from Federal Government |url = http://www.freep.com/article/20130422/NEWS/304220141/M1-Rail-streetcar-Detroit-Woodward |work = Detroit Free Press |access-date = October 21, 2013 }}</ref>

On December 20, 2013, M-1 Rail began underground utility relocation work along Woodward Avenue, the first step toward full-fledged construction activities of the {{convert|3.3|mi|km|adj=on}} streetcar line, with construction scheduled to start in mid-2014.<ref>{{cite press release |url = http://m-1rail.com/m-1-rail-begins-underground-utility-relocation-work-shutdown-woodward-avenue-required-utility-relocations-will-prevent-customer-access-businesses-woodward/ |title = M-1 Rail Begins Underground Utility Relocation Work, Shutdown of Woodward Avenue Is Not Required: Utility Relocations Will Not Prevent Customer Access to Businesses on Woodward |access-date = January 3, 2014 |publisher = M-1 Rail |date = December 2013 }}</ref> [[Stacy & Witbeck]] were formally awarded the contract to construct the M-1 Rail streetcar line on July 31, 2013.<ref name=RailwayGazette2013-08-02a/><ref name=RailwayGazette2013-08-02b/><ref name=RailwayAge2013/> M-1 Rail officials announced on July 3, 2014, that the Woodward Avenue overpasses for both I-75 and I-94 freeways will be demolished during construction of the rail line, and that new wider bridges will be built.<ref>{{cite news |first = Marlon A. |last = Walker |date = July 3, 2014 |work = Detroit Free Press |url = http://m-1rail.com/m-1-rail-construction-close-freeways-woodward-overpasses-rebuilt/ |title = M-1 Rail Construction to Close Freeways as Woodward Overpasses Are Rebuilt |access-date = July 11, 2014 |via = M-1 Rail }}</ref>

On July 20, 2014, the Ilitch family, owner of Olympia Development of Michigan, and major investor in M-1 Rail, announced that the streetcar line would include a stop at the new Little Caesars Arena in Midtown.<ref>{{cite news |first = Bill |last = Shea |date = July 20, 2014 |url = http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140720/NEWS03/140719845/%20m-rink-city-ilitches-grand-plan-to-supersize-the |title = Detroit Rink City: Ilitches' Grand Plan to Supersize the Entertainment District |work = [[Crain's Detroit Business]] |access-date = July 23, 2014 }}</ref>

M-1 Rail officially started construction on July 28, 2014.<ref name=RailwayGazette2014-07-28/> The streetcar line would stretch from downtown Detroit to Grand Boulevard in New Center. There would be 20 different stations serving 12 stops, with most of the stations being curbside on either side of Woodward Avenue going uptown or downtown, but changing to center road stations at the north and south ends of the system. At the time, the streetcar line was expected to be operational in late 2016.<ref>{{cite news |date = July 28, 2014 |title = Construction Starts on Detroit Rail |work = [[The Mining Journal]] |location = Marquette, MI |agency = [[Associated Press]] |page = 5A }}</ref>

During the planning of the service, Detroit businessman [[Dan Gilbert]] advocated strongly for a curb-running design. One participant said, "They were not looking for speed or reliability... their number one goal was the boost in property values."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2018/03/30/private-interests-steered-qline-plans-study-finds|title=Dan Gilbert, private interests steered QLine plans, study finds|first=Lee|last=DeVito|publisher=}}</ref>

On September 9, 2014, the US DOT announced that M-1 Rail would receive an additional $12.2 million in federal grant money to complete the financing of the M-1 Rail project.<ref>{{cite news |first1 = Todd |last1 = Spangler |first2 = John |last2 = Gallagher |lastauthoramp = yes |date = September 9, 2014 |url = http://www.freep.com/article/20140909/BUSINESS06/309090135/M-1-Rail-track-Detroit |title = Feds Give M-1 Rail $12.2&nbsp;Million |work = Detroit Free Press |access-date = September 11, 2014 |archive-date = September 11, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140911113846/http://www.freep.com/article/20140909/BUSINESS06/309090135/M-1-Rail-track-Detroit |dead-url = no }}</ref> [[US Transportation Secretary]] [[Anthony Foxx]] gave the keynote address at a rail signing ceremony on September 15, 2014 at [[Grand Circus Park]].<ref name=TheRepublic2014-09-15/><ref name=RailwayGazette2014-09-16/><ref name=ProgressiveRailroading2014-09-16/><ref name=MichiganChronicle2014-09-16/>
Local officials were in attendance as were executives of local businesses who were sponsoring stations near their places of business.
A new official map was made public.<ref name=DetroitFreePress2014-09-16/>

Approximately 60 percent of the line is not equipped with overhead electrical wires, and the streetcars are powered solely from [[Lithium-ion battery|lithium-ion batteries]] on that section.<ref name="detroit-news-2015jun"/>

On February 15, 2015, M-1 Rail reported that the Penske Tech Center was under construction in New Center. The $6.9 million, {{convert|19,000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} structure serves as the M-1 Rail headquarters, the operations center, and the streetcar maintenance facility. The tech center building is sited close to Woodward Avenue, and located between Bethune and Custer streets north and east of Grand Boulevard with the streetcar storage yard behind. The exterior is made of reddish brick to mimic the historical look and feel of the surrounding neighborhood,<ref>{{cite news |first = John |last = Gallagher |date = February 15, 2015 |url = http://www.freep.com/story/money/business/michigan/2015/02/15/rail-penske-streetcar/23362265/ |title = M-1 Rail's Tech Center Under Construction |work = Detroit Free Press |access-date = February 15, 2015 }}</ref> and was completed in May 2016.

In August 2015, M-1 Rail officials said that the opening of the line would be delayed until around mid 2017, partially because of new federal safety standards that are coming into effect, as well as a construction slowdown during the previous winter and delays in building the rolling stock.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2015/08/06-detroit-m1 |title = Detroit Streetcar Project M-1 Delayed through 2017 |work = [[Trains (magazine)|Trains]] |date = August 6, 2015 |access-date = August 16, 2015 }}</ref> QLine was announced as the official name for the line in March 2016, after [[Quicken Loans]] bought [[naming rights]], but the non-profit organization that is overseeing the project continues to be named M-1 Rail.<ref name="official name">{{cite web |title = QLINE announced as official name of Detroit’s modern streetcar |publisher = M-1 Rail |date = March 24, 2016 |url = http://m-1rail.com/qline-is-name-of-detroit-streetcar/ |access-date = December 14, 2016 }}</ref>

The first streetcar was delivered in September 2016.<ref name="streetcar arrives">{{cite news |last = Shea |first = Bill |title = First M-1 Rail streetcar arrives in Detroit |newspaper = Crain's Detroit Business |date = September 12, 2016 |url = http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20160912/NEWS/160919947/first-m-1-rail-streetcar-arrives-in-detroit |access-date = December 14, 2016 }}</ref> The first test move over the line took place on December 13, and the streetcar was initially towed<ref name="dfp-2016dec13">{{cite news |author = Detroit Free Press web team |title = See the Test of Detroit's New QLine Streetcar along Woodward Avenue |newspaper = Detroit Free Press |date = December 13, 2016 |url = http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2016/12/13/see-test-detroits-new-qline-streetcar-along-woodward-ave/95375022/ |access-date = December 14, 2016 }}</ref> (not yet run under its own power, except at the maintenance facility).<ref name="test run CDB">{{cite news |last = Shea |first = Bill |title = M-1 Rail Takes First QLine Streetcar out for a Test Run in Detroit |newspaper = Crain's Detroit Business |date = December 13, 2016 |url = http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20161213/NEWS/161219941/m-1-rail-takes-first-qline-streetcar-out-for-a-test-run-in-detroit |access-date = December 14, 2016 }}</ref>

The QLine opened for public use on May 12, 2017.<ref name="freepress-2017may12" /> Although initially slated to be free only for the first weekend, the streetcar's free period was later extended for a week, and later until July 1, and again until Labor Day 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailydetroit.com/2017/06/18/qline-love-need-talk/|title=QLINE, I Love You But We Need to Talk|date=June 18, 2017|work=Daily Detroit|access-date=September 19, 2017}}</ref> Ridership for the opening week was 50,000, with a peak of 8,300 during the weekend and 5,120 Monday through Thursday.<ref name="freepress-2017may19">{{cite news|url=http://www.freep.com/story/news/2017/05/19/qline-cost-detroit-free/333064001/|title=Amid Deluge of Riders, QLine Announces Free Rides until July 1|last=Lawrence|first=Eric D.|date=May 19, 2017<!--(print edition of May 20, p. 1A)-->|work=Detroit Free Press|access-date=May 19, 2017}}</ref> Daily ridership dropped to 3,000 when the payment service began on September 5, 2017 with 40% of riders paying fares.<ref name="crains-20170922">{{cite news|last1=Livengood|first1=Chad|title=40% of QLine riders paying as ridership falls|url=http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20170922/news/639976/40-of-qline-riders-paying-as-ridership-falls|accessdate=January 1, 2018|work=Crain's Detroit Business|date=September 22, 2017}}</ref>

==Rolling stock==
[[File:QLine streetcar side view, May 2017.jpg|thumb|left|A Brookville Liberty streetcar in current standard QLine livery, 2017]]
''[[Crain's Detroit Business]]'' reported that the line would cost $137&nbsp;million, including the purchase of six streetcar vehicles.<ref name="Crains-2013Oct14">{{cite news |url = http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20131014/NEWS/131019917/m-1-rail-to-bidders-contract-will-begin-dec-1-streetcar-service# |title = M-1 Rail to Bidders: Contract will begin Dec. 1; Streetcar Service will begin February 2016 |work = Crain's Detroit Business |first = Bill |last = Shea |date = October 14, 2013 |archive-url = https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crainsdetroit.com%2Farticle%2F20131014%2FNEWS%2F131019917%2Fm-1-rail-to-bidders-contract-will-begin-dec-1-streetcar-service%23&date=2014-02-12 |archive-date = February 12, 2014 |access-date = February 12, 2014 |dead-url = no }}</ref> Bids were expected to include low-floor, air-conditioned vehicles, capable of transporting passengers in wheelchairs. The vehicles have operator's controls at both ends—eliminating the need for the vehicles to turn around for their return trips.

On November 4, 2014, M-1 announced that [[Czech Republic|Czech]]-based [[Inekon Trams|Inekon]] had been awarded a $30&nbsp;million contract for six vehicles.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2014/11/detroit-streetcar-project-selects-inekon-to-supply-vehicles |title = Detroit Streetcar Project Selects Inekon to Supply Vehicles |work = Trains |date = November 4, 2014 |access-date = November 5, 2014 }}</ref> Upon that deal falling apart, M-1 Rail instead awarded a $32&nbsp;million contract to [[Pennsylvania]]-based [[Brookville Equipment Corporation]].<ref name="detroit-news-2015jun">{{cite news |last1 = Shepardson |first1 = David |title = M-1 Rail Buying 6 Off-Wire Streetcars for $32M |url = http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2015/06/08/rail-buying-wire-streetcars/28683317/ |access-date = June 11, 2015 |work = [[The Detroit News]] |date = June 8, 2015 }}</ref> The purchase includes six [[articulated tram|articulated]], three-section, {{convert|66|ft|m|2|adj=mid|-long}} cars, equipped with 750-volt rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for off-wire movement on sections of the line not equipped with overhead wire.<ref name="detroit-news-2015jun"/>

The first Brookville-built streetcar was delivered in September 2016,<ref name="streetcar arrives"/> with the last two of the six cars delivered in March 2017.<ref>{{Cite press release |author = Brookville Equipment Corporation |url = http://www.brookvillecorp.com/BROOKVILLE-Delivers-QLINE-Streetcars-Detroit.asp?news=news-streetcar.asp |title = Brookville Completes Delivery of Off-Wire Capable Liberty Streetcar Vehicles to Detroit for QLINE Ahead of Schedule |date = April 12, 2017|publisher = Brookville Equipment Corporation |access-date = May 17, 2018 }}</ref> The last car of Detroit's previous streetcar system was numbered 286, so it was decided to number the new cars 287–292, to pick up where the old number series had left off.<ref name="MLive-2016sep21">{{cite news |last = Raven |first = Benjamin |title = Take a peek inside Detroit's first QLine streetcar |work = [[MLive.com]] |date = September 21, 2016 |url = http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2016/09/take_a_peak_inside_detroits_fi.html |access-date = December 14, 2016 }}</ref>{{clear}}

==Operation==
===Route===
The QLine traverses Woodward Avenue in its entirely from downtown through Midtown to New Center. The line begins at the southern terminus at Congress Street in the median before tracks swing to the curbside for most of its length. (Some parts of the line have tracks running down the middle travel lane of Woodward in downtown.) After traveling in the curbside travel lane, the line swings back into the inside travel lane (median) at Amsterdam all the way to the line's northern terminus at Grand Boulevard. Non-revenue tracks continue two blocks to the M-1 Rail Penske Tech Center, which serves as headquarters for the QLine and the garage for the streetcars.

===List of stations===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Stop
!Neighborhood(s)
!Connections
|-
|[[Congress Street station|Congress Street]] || [[Downtown Detroit|Downtown]], [[Detroit Financial District|Financial District]] ||
|-
|[[Campus Martius station|Campus Martius]] || Downtown || 
|-
|[[Grand Circus Park station|Grand Circus Park]] || Downtown, [[Grand Circus Park Historic District|Grand Circus Park]] || [[Detroit People Mover]]
|-
| [[Montcalm Street station|Montcalm Street]] || Downtown, Foxtown || 
|-
| [[Sproat Street/Adelaide Street station|Sproat Street/Adelaide Street]] || [[Midtown Detroit|Midtown]], [[Brush Park]], [[Cass Park Historic District|Cass Park]] ||
|-
|[[Martin Luther King Boulevard/Mack Avenue station|Martin Luther King Boulevard / Mack Avenue]] || Midtown, Brush Park, [[Cass Corridor]] ||
|-
| [[Canfield Street station|Canfield Street]] || Midtown, [[Detroit Medical Center|Medical Center]] || 
|-
| [[Warren Avenue station|Warren Avenue]] || Midtown, [[Cultural Center Historic District (Detroit, Michigan)|Cultural Center]], [[Wayne State University]] || [[Detroit Department of Transportation|DDOT]] Crosstown (route 14)
|-
| [[Ferry Street station|Ferry Street]] || Midtown, Cultural Center, [[East Ferry Avenue Historic District|East Ferry]] ||
|-
| [[Amsterdam Street station|Amsterdam Street]] || [[New Center, Detroit|New Center]] ||
|-
| [[Detroit station|Baltimore Street]] || New Center || [[Amtrak]] at the Detroit station
|-
| [[Grand Boulevard station|Grand Boulevard]] || New Center || [[Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation|SMART]]
|}

===Hours===
The QLine operates seven days a week.  Service begins at 6 a.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays.  Service ends at midnight Monday through Thursday, 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturday nights (early Saturday and Sunday) and at 11 p.m. Sundays.<ref>https://qlinedetroit.com/ride-guide/faq/ FAQ - QLINE Detroit</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Trams|Michigan}}

*[[Light rail in the United States]]
*[[List of streetcar systems in the United States]]
*[[Streetcars in North America]]
*[[Transportation in metropolitan Detroit]]

==References==
{{Reflist|
30em|
refs=
<ref name=TheRepublic2014-09-15>
{{cite news |url = http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/9efe5c7580294aeb8294363433d101e1/MI--Detroit-Light-Rail |title = Officials participate in track signing ceremony celebrating Detroit streetcar project |work = [[The Republic (Columbus, Indiana)|The Republic]] |author =  |date = September 15, 2014 |page =  |location = Columbus, IN |agency = Associated Press |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140917012113/http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/9efe5c7580294aeb8294363433d101e1/MI--Detroit-Light-Rail |archive-date = September 17, 2014 |access-date = September 16, 2014 |dead-url = yes |df = mdy-all }}
</ref>
<ref name=ProgressiveRailroading2014-09-16>
{{cite news |url = http://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/USDOTs-Foxx-Detroit-officials-sign-ceremonial-track-for-M1-Rail-streetcar--41884 |title = USDOT's Foxx, Detroit officials sign ceremonial track for M-1 Rail streetcar |work = Progressive Railroading |author =  |date = September 16, 2014 |page =  |location =  |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140917012253/http://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/USDOTs-Foxx-Detroit-officials-sign-ceremonial-track-for-M1-Rail-streetcar--41884 |archive-date = September 17, 2014 |access-date = September 16, 2014 |dead-url = yes |df = mdy-all }}
</ref>
<ref name=RailwayGazette2014-07-28>
{{cite news |url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/urban/single-view/view/detroit-streetcar-breaks-ground.html |title = Detroit Streetcar Breaks Ground |work = Railway Gazette |date = July 28, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140809041817/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/urban/single-view/view/detroit-streetcar-breaks-ground.html |archive-date = August 9, 2014 |access-date = September 5, 2014 |dead-url = no }}
</ref>
<ref name=RailwayGazette2013-08-02a>
{{cite news |url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/detroit-streetcar-construction-contract-awarded.html |title = Detroit Streetcar Construction Contract Awarded |work = [[Railway Gazette]] |date = August 2, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131109231246/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/detroit-streetcar-construction-contract-awarded.html |archive-date = November 9, 2013 |access-date = September 5, 2014 |dead-url = no }}
</ref>
<ref name=RailwayGazette2013-08-02b>
{{cite news |url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/urban/single-view/view/detroit-light-rail-project-gets-grant.html |title = Detroit Light Rail Project Gets Grant |work = Railway Gazette |date = February 22, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130827075057/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/urban/single-view/view/detroit-light-rail-project-gets-grant.html |archive-date = August 27, 2013 |access-date = September 5, 2014 |dead-url = no }}
</ref>
<ref name=RailwayAge2013>
{{cite news |url = http://railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/light-rail/stacy-and-witbeck-win-detroit-m1-contract.html |title = Stacy and Witbeck win Detroit M1 contract |work = [[Railway Age]] |first = Douglas John |last = Bowen |date = July 31, 2013 |page =  |location =  |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130819051926/http://railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/light-rail/stacy-and-witbeck-win-detroit-m1-contract.html |archive-date = August 19, 2013 |access-date = September 6, 2014 |dead-url = no }}
</ref>
<ref name=RailwayGazette2014-09-16>
{{cite news |url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/detroit-light-rail-receives-more-tiger-funding.html |title = Detroit light rail receives more TIGER funding |work = [[Railway Gazette]] |author =  |date = September 16, 2014 |page =  |location =  |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140917004436/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/detroit-light-rail-receives-more-tiger-funding.html |archive-date = September 17, 2014 |access-date = September 16, 2014 |dead-url = no }}
</ref>
<ref name=DetroitFreePress2014-09-16>{{cite news |url = http://www.freep.com/story/money/business/columnists/tom-walsh/2014/09/16/tom-walsh-m-1-rail-makes-noise-as-new-donors-push-streetcar-line-ahead/15694057/ |title = Tom Walsh: M-1 Rail Makes Noise as New Donors Push Line Ahead |work = [[Detroit Free Press]] |first = Tom |last = Walsh |date = September 16, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140916111553/http://www.freep.com/story/money/business/columnists/tom-walsh/2014/09/16/tom-walsh-m-1-rail-makes-noise-as-new-donors-push-streetcar-line-ahead/15694057/ |archive-date = September 16, 2014 |dead-url = no }}</ref>
<ref name=MichiganChronicle2014-09-16>
{{cite news |url = http://michronicleonline.com/2014/09/16/u-s-dot-secretary-foxx-announces-12-2-million-for-m-1-rail-in-detroit/ |title = U.S. DOT Secretary Foxx Announces $12.2 Million for M-1 RAIL in Detroit |work = [[Michigan Chronicle]] |first = AJ |last = Williams |date = September 16, 2014 |page =  |location = Detroit |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140917011752/http://michronicleonline.com/2014/09/16/u-s-dot-secretary-foxx-announces-12-2-million-for-m-1-rail-in-detroit/ |archive-date = September 17, 2014 |access-date = September 16, 2014 |dead-url = yes |df = mdy-all }}
</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Attached KML |display=title,inline}}
*[https://qlinedetroit.com QLine Detroit]
*[http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9621_11058_62342---,00.html Woodward Avenue Streetcar]

{{USLightRail}}
{{Modern Streetcars}}
{{Michigan railroads}}

[[Category:QLINE| 01]]
[[Category:Downtown Detroit]]
[[Category:Transportation in Detroit]]
[[Category:Rapid transit in Michigan]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 2017]]
[[Category:2017 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:750 V DC railway electrification]]