How to Ride the Light Rail System

Online

 By Phone

Reach Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or 412-231-7007 for TTY.

Customer Service is open on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 and from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

In Person

Visit the Downtown Service Center at 623 Smithfield Street to pick up schedules, buy passes or talk to a Customer Service representative.

The Downtown Service Center is open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Reading a schedule is easier than you might think.

Don’t be intimidated at first glance by all the numbers and lines. Here are some basic tips to get you started planning your trip:

1. Know where you want to go and when you want to get there.

2. You can use the schedules found on this website or on paper schedules, which can be found at various locations throughout Allegheny County.

3. Find the schedule that includes your destination. By working your way backward from your desired arrival time, you’ll then know when you need to get on the bus. Please be aware that you may have to transfer from one bus to another if there is no direct route to your destination. 

4. Because there's limited space, not every stop along the route is listed in a schedule. If your stop location is between two timepoints, add a couple of minutes to the previous timepoint, and that is when you should expect the light rail vehicle to arrive at your stop.

5. If no arrival time or (–) is shown for a timepoint, then that particular vehicle does not stop there. Look at the lines above and below for a vehicle that does make that stop.

6. To plan your return trip, look at schedule for that route showing the reverse direction of travel and follow these same steps.

7. Keep in mind that Saturday and Sunday service is less frequent or operates fewer hours of the day than weekdays.

8. The most important thing to remember is that schedules are approximate – you should always get to your stop a few minutes early!

The light rail system has high-platform ADA accessible stations, and low-platform stations. Low-platform stations require the use of stairs to board the railcar, and are not ADA accessible.

Riders at high-platform stations board from the sliding doors that open directly to station platforms.

Riders at low-platform stations board at the front door of the first railcar.

Overhead signs next to the rail tracks indicate which direction the train is going. Signs and audio announcements on each train indicate the rail line and the final destination of that vehicle.

Yellow strips located next to the tracks indicate the safe waiting distance from the trains.

Stay behind the strips until the train comes to a complete stop. Once the train has stopped the doors open automatically.

Please allow other riders to exit the vehicle before boarding.

Riders disembarking at high-platform stations may use the first or second car of a two-car train.

Riders disembarking at low-platform station’s must board the first car.

Riders who are unsure whether the station at which they are disembarking is a high-platform station or a low-platform Station should board the first car.

We employ a “pay where you live” system for light rail.

Pay your fare before your ride when you're heading toward Downtown and after your ride when you’re heading away from Downtown. 

Keep in mind that stations between First Avenue and Allegheny are located inside the free fare zone. If you’re traveling only within the free zone, you do not have to pay. If you’re traveling beyond the free zone, you must pay. 

We offer a number of ways to pay your fare. For more information, visit Fares and Passes.

Stay alert so you know when your stop is approaching. If you're not sure when to get off the vehicle, sit close to the front and ask the driver to call out your stop. 

Signal the driver you want to get off the vehicle after the previous stop. You can signal the driver by one of the following methods:

The "Stop Requested" sign at the front of the vehicle will light up when you have activated the signal.

Your train will stop at every station along the route. To exit, the door will open automatically or push the "Open Door" button located near the door.