# Riverfront Loop

The Riverfront Loop is a line of the Memphis Area Transit Authority trolley system. It began operation in 1997, as the second line in the system. It runs for 4.1 mi (6.6 km) through downtown Memphis and along the Mississippi riverfront, with 18 stops along the way. It is the longest of the system's three lines, though it is concurrent with the Main Street Line for about half of its length. Part of the line offers panoramic views of the Mississippi River from atop to the Chickasaw Bluffs.
Trolley service on this line has been suspended since June 2014, after two trolley cars caught fire within a span of about six months. Buses have been serving the Riverfront Loop since then, but MATA plans to restore trolley operation to the line eventually. In September 2021, MATA was predicting that the line would reopen in late 2022, but as of December 2022 the service remained suspended, with no predicted date for the planned reopening.

## Route description

As the line functions as a "loop" it does not have any termini. Running counterclockwise, from Amtrak's Central Station in the South Main Arts District, it runs north along the eastern track of the Main Street Line. After following this line for 1.8 mi (2.9 km), it splits off to the west just past A.W. Willis Avenue (formerly Auction Avenue). Passing over Front Street, it turns south and switches onto the western Illinois Central (IC) track toward the Pyramid Arena. The loop goes under the Interstate 40 bridge, emerging in front of the Cook Convention Center along the waterfront. Continuing along the IC tracks, it follows the riverfront until the tracks overlay Tennessee Street. Here, the loop continues along Tennessee eventually turning east onto GE Patterson Avenue. The loop is completed when it travels under the IC tracks in front of Central Station, and turns back onto South Main Street.

## List of trolley stops

between North End Terminal and Central Station counterclockwise Note: Trolley service on the Riverfront Loop is temporarily suspended indefinitely; route is on detour using transit buses.
| Stop | Notes |
| North End | North End Terminal transit center |
| Pyramid | Memphis Pyramid, Bass Pro Shops megastore |
| Jefferson Street | Mud Island River Park and Amphitheater (linked by monorail, Mississippi River Park, Memphis Park |
| Union Avenue | Cobblestone Landing, Cossitt Library, University of Memphis Law School |
| Beale Street Landing | Beale Street, Beale Street Landing, Cotton Exchange Museum |
| Tom Lee Park | Tennessee Brewery, Tom Lee Park |
| Central Station | Connects with Amtrak Transit Center |
| Butler | South Main Arts District, Blues Hall of Fame |
| Huling | South Main Arts District, National Civil Rights Museum |
| Dr. ML King Jr. | Formerly "Linden" for the cross street FedExForum, Halloran Center |
| Beale Street | Beale Street, Elvis Presley Plaza, Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum, Orpheum Theatre |
| Peabody Place | Peabody Place, Belz Museum |
| Union | 88 Union Tower, AutoZone Park, One Commerce Square |
| Madison | Brinkley Place, Toyota Center |
| Court | North Court (northbound), South Court (southbound) Court Square, Falls Building, Fire Museum, Raymond James Tower |
| Civic Center Plaza | City Hall, Shelby County Courthouse |
| Convention Center | Cannon Center, Memphis-Cook Convention Center |
| Overton | Pinch District |
| North End | North End Terminal transit center |