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Subway Cars Dive Deep: New Life as Artificial Reef
31 Oct
Summary
- Two retired Atlanta subway cars were sunk in the Atlantic.
- Seven months later, divers found coral and nine fish species.
- The cars now rest on Georgia's Artificial Reef L.
Two retired Atlanta subway cars, formerly part of MARTA's transit system, were repurposed as an artificial reef in the Atlantic Ocean in December 2023. Seven months later, in July 2024, a dive team surveyed the submerged vehicles. They reported a promising amount of soft coral growth and observed nine species of game fish.
The 72-foot-long train cars were retired by MARTA in 2022 and donated to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. After being cleared of hazardous substances, they were transported by barge and deployed onto Artificial Reef L, an area approximately 23 nautical miles off Ossabaw Island. This reef, established by Georgia in 1976, already hosted various objects like battle tanks and other subway cars.
Marine biologist Cameron Brinton noted the encouraging signs of marine activity and coral colonization. While one car's roof had collapsed, this is considered typical as the structures evolve into habitats for sea creatures, including sport fish and potentially sea turtles. Research indicates that artificial reefs can support fish populations comparable to natural reefs, though effectiveness can vary by location and materials used.
