Loyola–Riverfront Streetcar Line
The Loyola–Riverfront Streetcar Line was a historic streetcar line in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was operated by the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority. Utilizing trackage from the Rampart–Loyola Streetcar Line, Canal Streetcar Line, and Riverfront Streetcar Line, it ran for a total length of. The line was officially designated Route 49 and was denoted with a light blue color on most RTA publications.
History
A similar service pattern was implemented upon the opening of the Loyola-UPT Streetcar Line in 2013;however, the line would only terminate at French Market on the weekends and would normally terminate at the foot of Canal Street.This service pattern was abandoned in 2016 as the Loyola-UPT line was extended to become the Rampart-St. Claude Streetcar Line.
This service pattern was revived in 2021 when NORTA, as a result of the Hard Rock Hotel collapse, combined the Loyola-UPT portion of the Rampart-St. Claude Streetcar Line and part of the Riverfront Streetcar Line to create the UPT-Riverfront Line. It inherited the former route number of the Rampart-St. Claude Streetcar Line. However, unlike the service pattern in 2013, it terminated at French Market at all times. Following the reopening of the Rampart Streetcar Line, it was renamed the Loyola–Riverfront Streetcar Line, numbered 49, while the Rampart-St. Claude Streetcar Line was renamed to the Rampart-Loyola Streetcar Line—renumbered 46.
On December 16, 2024, the line was shut down due to needed maintenance work on one of the substations. This work was needed after the suspects stole copper wiring from the substation. The line resumed service on 6 January 2025.
The line was discontinued on May 30, 2025, with Rampart/UPT and Riverfront lines returning to service next day. The Riverfront line inherited the line's route number of 49.