RTD Light Rail | Passenger Train around Denver Metro and Airport

Getting around the Mile High City is quick and easy thanks to the the Light Rail’s ten different passenger lines. The RTD Rail reaches south to Lone Tree, north to Denver west to Golden, and east to Aurora.

Passenger Train throughout Denver Metro & Airport

The Regional Transportation District was established in 1969 to serve as the regional authority in providing public transportation service in 8 counties, namely Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Jefferson, Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas and Weld. RTD’s Light Rail service did not take place until only 1994.

Aside from buses and rails, their services also cover shuttles, ADA paratransit services, Call-n-Ride, special event services, and vanpools. Today, it provides all the transportation needs of the nearly 3 million people residing within these counties.

Denver Light Rail Routes

A (Union Station to Denver International Airport) – the A Line serves 8 stations, which begin from the Union Station and ends with the Denver Airport. It has a total length of 23.5 miles. It is also known as the University of Colorado A Line. It’s also Denver’s first commuter rail line, which is heavier, faster and larger than the Light Rail.

B (Union Station to Westminster) – the B Line is only 6.2 miles in length and currently has only 2 stations, which are the Union Station and Westminster. There will be an additional 6 more stations, which will be in Church Ranch, Flatiron, Louisville, Boulder Junction, Gunbarrel and Downtown Longmont. It will become 41 miles in length once completed.

C (Union Station to Lone Tree) – the C Line has 12 stations which run between the Union Station and Littleton.

D (30th & Downing to Littleton) – the D Line has 12 stations that run between 18th & California (northbound) or 16th & Stout (southbound) and Littleton. The D Line was the first RTD rail line to be introduced when it opened in 1994.

E (Union Station to Lone Tree) – the E Line currently has 18 stations which run between the Union Station and Lincoln. 3 more stations are being planned to be added by 2019, which are Sky Ridge Medical Center, Lone Tree City Center and RidgeGate.

F (18th & California to Lone Tree) – the F Line currently has 18 stations which run between 18th California (northbound) or 18th & Stout (southbound) and Lincoln. 3 more stations are being planned to be added by 2019, which are Sky Ridge Medical Center, Lone Tree City Center and RidgeGate.

H (18th & California to Aurora) – the H Line has 16 stations which run between 18th & California (northbound) or 18th & Stout (southbound) and Florida.

L (Downtown Loop) – the L Line has 6 stations only which run between 30th & Downing and 16th & California (northbound) or 16th & Stout (southbound).

R (Peoria Station to Lincoln Station) – the R Line is RTD’s newest route, having been opened in Feb 2017. It currently has 16 stations which run between Peoria and Lincoln. 3 more stations are being planned to be constructed, which are Sky Ridge, Lone Tree and RidgeGate.

W (Union Station to Golden) – the W Line, also known as the West Rail Line, has 15 stations which run between Union Station and JeffCo Gov Center-Golden. It has a total length of 12.1 miles.

Fare payment options

One-way tickets, upgrades, and passes can be purchased from ticket vending machines available at every rail station. Various passes are available too, such as Day Pass (unlimited rides for a day), Monthly Pass (unlimited rides for a full calendar month), 10-Ride Ticket Books and Day Pass Books (5 Day Passes).

You can purchase an Airport Pass, which grants you 24 hours of access to all RTD bus and train lines, including Union Station to/from DIA. There is also the MyRide, which is a reloadable card that works as a payment simply by tapping prior to boarding the bus or train.

From Union Station you can also buy tickets on the Amtrak train. It can take you east to Chicago with a stop in Fort Morgan, Colo. Or west to California, with stops in Fraser, Granby, Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction.