A newly installed sign for the SEC Center MARTA Station hangs in front of State Farm Arena. (Courtesy of MARTA)
Since the FIFA World Cup began in Atlanta, MARTA trains have been flooded with at least 200,000 riders heading downtown on match days.
That’s according to the transit authority’s police chief, Scott Kreher, who says there have been no major crime incidents reported since the World Cup kicked off in June.
Kreher tells WABE’s “Morning Edition” that when the new CQ400 fleet of railcars rolls out, MARTA officers will ride on individual trains. The new trains are built by the Swiss manufacturer Stadler and designed to replace MARTA’s aging cars, which date back to the 70s.
Though there have been some delays, dozens of new MARTA railcars are expected to be in service by 2030. Kreher says, unlike the old fleet, officers will be able to get on a new train and walk from one end to the other while it’s in service.
“Whereas, the old trains that are 50 years old, you can’t do that. You have to get off one car and get on another car. So an officer can ride the old train and never be seen by the passenger until they get off, whereas moving forward, we’ve committed to putting an officer on every one these new trains,” Kreher said.
“I think we’ve got about 7 or 8 that are awaiting final approval to go into service.”
Initially scheduled for June 4, the transit company announced that its CQ400 railcars would be postponed amid safety testing concerns.
The safety spotlight on MARTA comes in the wake of a federal investigation into a string of violent incidents at MARTA stations, including the fatal stabbing of 66-year-old Margaret Swan just a few days before the first FIFA match in Atlanta.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy swiftly launched an investigation into how MARTA spends its money on security and safety protocols, and overall risks to Atlanta riders and workers. In a June announcement, Duffy alleged that MARTA’s rate of assaults, robberies, and rapes for MARTA employees and riders is nearly twice the national average.
MARTA interim CEO and general manager Jonathan Hunt sent a letter to the FTA in response to the allegations and to the federal investigation. In a statement, Hunt and MARTA wrote that the transit agency welcomes the opportunity to share with federal officials the “significant investments in personnel, technology, and operational measures that MARTA has in place to support safety and security across our entire system.”
Kreher argues that officers have reduced violent crime by nearly 50% over the last five years. MARTA is also boosting its investment in its police department and working to increase the number of officers patrolling the trains and stations.
MARTA currently has 275 sworn officers, up from roughly 230 in 2025, according to Kreher.
“Our goal is to go well beyond 300. We’ve got several officers that are in some form of training right now, that will be released this year to increase those numbers,” Kreher said.
“And we’re going to continue hiring good quality police officers. Our goal is to reach that 400-level mark.”
