ATLANTA – Following the National Championship, thousands of fans left Mercedes-Benz and flooded the nearby MARTA stations.
Social media erupted in anger as people were stranded on platforms as they dealt with delayed trains and overcrowding.
MARTA said the delays after the game on the north-south lines were caused by faults with their doors. In some cases, trains couldn't close their doors because the train was either overfilled or due to overcrowding on the platforms.
Delays were also prolonged by riders who pulled the emergency cord which would ultimately open the doors. In addition, two MARTA riders suffered medical emergencies at separate stations which further contributed to the delays.
While an exact number of riders won't be available for the next few days, MARTA estimated around 20 times more riders than a typical Monday. This was also around 30 percent higher than any other football game such as the SEC Championship and Falcons-Packers game.
“While longer wait times are inevitable during major events even with the higher service levels we put into place for such events, we deeply regret the additional inconvenience that many of our riders experienced last night,” MARTA said in a statement. “Each and every one of MARTA's 5,000 employees remain committed to getting it right.”
MARTA's next big test to 'get it right' will be when Atlanta hosts the Super Bowl next year.
“In anticipation of the next big event, we will look at ways to improve crowd control, rider education, and communication during events to ensure everything goes smoothly,” MARTA said in a statement.
