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C Line
A C Line train near Union Station
Overview
Other name	Southwest Line
Owner	Regional Transportation District
Locale	Denver metropolitan area
Termini	Union Station Littleton–Mineral
Stations	12
Service
Type	Light rail
System	RTD Rail
Operator	Regional Transportation District
Rolling stock	Siemens SD100 & SD160
History
Opened	April 5, 2002 (2002-04-05)
Closed	January 10, 2021 (2021-01-10)
Reopened	June 7, 2026 (2026-06-07)
Technical
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification	Overhead line, 750 V DC
Route map C Line highlighted in orange Show interactive map Legend Amtrak California Zephyr Union Station Ball Arena–Elitch Gardens Empower Field at Mile High Auraria West 10th & Osage US 6 6th Avenue Freeway Alameda I-25 I-25 & Broadway Evans Bates (planned) Englewood Oxford–City of Sheridan Littleton–Downtown Littleton–Mineral SH 470 C-470 & Erickson (planned) C-470 & Castillo (planned) This diagram: view talk edit Show route diagram

The C Line is a Regional Transportation District (RTD) light rail line that serves stations in Denver, Englewood, Sheridan, and Littleton. The line began service on April 5, 2002, coinciding with the opening of the Central Platte Valley Spur.

The line did not operate between 2021 and 2026, when it was suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and then restored as a part of two separate RTD service changes which re-configured service on the Southwest Corridor.^[1]

Route

The C Line's northern terminus is at Union Station in downtown Denver, shared with the E and W Lines. South of Auraria West station, the W Line diverges toward Golden while the H Line joins from the downtown loop. The three lines travel together to I-25 & Broadway station. Immediately south of the station, the E and H lines depart to the southeast alongside Interstate 25, while the C Line continues southwest. It parallels U.S. Route 85 and the Colorado Joint Line to its southern terminus at Littleton-Mineral station.^[2]

The five stations comprising the Southwest Corridor - from Evans station to Littleton-Mineral - are exclusive to the C Line.

History

When it opened in 2002, C Line trains operated seven days a week but ran to Littleton–Mineral station only during peak hours and sporting events. At all other times, C Line service operated to between Union Station and I-25 & Broadway, with service to Littleton via the D Line. C Line trains would begin operating the full length of the line in 2003.

When the Southeast Corridor was opened in 2006, weekend C Line service was discontinued except for certain sporting events. Capacity between 10th & Osage station and Union Station was replaced by the E Line.

In 2009, the mid-day service pattern between Union Station and I-25/Broadway was resumed and evening service discontinued. Midday weekday service was discontinued in 2012 and was reinstated in 2014. When suspended, the route was served by the D and E Lines, with a transfer at I-25 & Broadway.

RTD suspended the C Line as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in its January 2021 service change.^[3] The line was officially eliminated in RTD's January 2023 service change.^[4] However, due to the Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project, the D Line's northern terminus was diverted to Union Station in the summers of 2024 and 2025, following the route of the C Line but retaining the D Line designation. In June 2026, the D Line was instead suspended - rather than diverted - following resumption of construction. As a result, the C Line designation was temporarily revived for trains using the Southwest Corridor to Union Station.^[5] This temporary service pattern became permanent in RTD's September 2026 service change, restoring the C Line and eliminating the D Line from service.^[6]

Stations

Station	Municipality	Opening date	Interchange
Union Station	Denver	April 5, 2002	California Zephyr 16th Street FreeRide
Ball Arena–Elitch Gardens
Empower Field at Mile High
Auraria West
10th & Osage		October 8, 1994
Alameda			Park and ride: 240 spaces
I-25 & Broadway			Park and ride: 1,248 spaces
Evans		July 14, 2000	Park and ride: 99 spaces
Bates	Englewood	—N/a
Englewood	Englewood	July 14, 2000	Park and ride: 910 spaces
Oxford–City of Sheridan	Sheridan
Littleton–Downtown	Littleton		Park and ride: 361 spaces
Littleton–Mineral			Park and ride: 1,227 spaces
C-470 & Erickson	Highlands Ranch	—N/a
C-470 & Castillo		—N/a

FasTracks

The 2004 voter approved FasTracks plan will add 2.5 mi (4.02 km) to the C Line. This will bring the line's southern terminus to a new station with 1,000 parking spots at C-470 and Kendrick Castillo Way in Highlands Ranch.^[7] An environmental evaluation for the station was completed in 2010.^[8] Plans for the design of this station were made along with the environmental evaluation, however station construction has not received funding and there is no timeline for the station's construction. Additionally, the 2010 evaluation suggested an intermediate station at C-470 and South Erickson Boulevard, which was not a part of the original FasTracks plan.

FasTracks also includes the addition of an infill station^[9] at West Bates Avenue in Englewood, between the existing Evans and Englewood stations. No progress on the station has been made since FasTracks' approval in 2004 and as with the Highlands Ranch extension, there is no timeline for the construction of the station.

References

External links

• RTD C Line Schedule