Trolleys in Downtown Memphis could return as early as December

Downtown trolleys could return to Downtown Memphis' streets as early as mid December, Memphis Mayor Paul Young said in his weekly newsletter.

The trolleys have been out of service since August 2024

due to issues with their brake systems. In the more than two years since being pulled off line, a rubber-wheeled trolley, which does not require the rails stretching down Main Street to operate, has been in circulation.

But, in Young's weekly newsletter, the mayor said the target return date for the steel-wheeled trolleys is Dec. 15.

"Restoring trolley service is part of making Downtown a stronger connection point for the entire city," Young wrote. "Reliable transportation helps connect residents, workers, businesses, visitors, and attractions. It supports

a Downtown that is easier to access, more active, and better positioned for future investment."

Young added that there is "still work to complete before service resumes," but said the City of Memphis will provide updates as the date nears.

In August, during a Memphis City Council transportation committee meeting, Memphis Area Transit Authority trustee Rodrick Holmes told the council the trolley system was on track for a fall 2026 launch. The potential return of Downtown's trolleys has been delayed for months as MATA was working to have them certified.

"We want to make sure that when these trolleys get back out on the line, they are safe and they are reliable..." Holmes said during that Aug. 4 committee meeting. "We are certainly moving in the right direction."

Holmes said additional testing of the trolleys was being done, but four trolleys have had their brakes thoroughly tested. Those four trolleys, he said, are slated to return to the tracks eventually and MATA has notified the Tennessee Department of Transportation of its plans to restart trolley service.

Though Young announced the estimated launch date, MATA did not respond to a request for comment at the time of this article's publication.

Commercial Appeal government reporter Annie Goldman contributed to this report.

Lucas Finton covers crime, policing, jails, the courts and criminal justice policy for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached by phone or email: [phone] and [e-mail], and followed on X @LucasFinton.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Trolleys in Downtown Memphis could return as early as December