GDT > RTD Rider’s Guide > Routes > R Line
R is for Aurora…
The R Line is a light rail service operated by Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) that primarily serves Aurora and parts of Denver. Opened in February 2017, It is the only rail line to not serve Denver Union Station. Instead, the line starts off from Peoria station, which it shares with the A Line, and takes a route south either adjacent to or in the median of I-225 before connecting to the existing light rail network at Nine Mile Station. Trains then share tracks with E Line and H Line trains as far as Lincoln Station, for a total trip of 22 miles.
The R Line made it possible to travel directly between from Dayton to Belleview stations once again, something that hadn’t been possible since the G Line (former light rail version, not the current commuter rail incarnation) was abolished in May 2009.
R Line trains were extended 2.3 miles to RidgeGate Parkway in May 2019 with the opening of the Southeast Rail Line Extension, but were cut back to Lincoln in 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Map & Schedule
The R Line operates from 5:30am to 12am, 7 days a week. Frequency is 30 minutes at all times.
Vehicles Used
The R Line is operated by both Siemens SD-100 and Siemens SD-160 light rail vehicles, usually in one or two unit consists. It requires 5 trains to operate the 30 minute frequency service.
The line is electrified at 750V DC throughout.
Ridership
| Year | Total |
| 2018 | 1,835,000 |
| 2019 | 1,949,000 |
| 2020 | 1,049,000 |
| 2021 | 912,000 |
| 2022 | 1,097,000 |
| 2023 | 1,098,000 |
Reinstatement of RidgeGate Parkway Trains
RTD plans to extend R Line trains to RidgeGate Parkway Station again, although a timescale has not been specified.
More R Line Content…
