The Riverfront Streetcar Line opened on August 14, 1988, becoming the first new streetcar line in New Orleans since 1926. To equip the line, the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) repurchased and refurbished two former
Perley Thomas streetcars, originally retired from the Canal line in 1964, and imported two W2-class streetcars from
Melbourne, Australia. The Melbourne cars allowed for level boarding and wheelchair access, making the Riverfront line the first in the city to meet modern
accessibility standards. By contrast, the historic status of the
St. Charles Streetcar Line prohibited modifications to its older cars. Initially, the line operated as a
single track with one
passing siding, using track. Due to high ridership, the line was temporarily closed in 1990 to install a second track. Two additional streetcars—one more Perley Thomas and another ex-Melbourne car—were added at that time, bringing the fleet to six. The Perley Thomas cars were renumbered 450, 451, and 456 (formerly 924, 919, and 952), while the Melbourne W2 cars became 452, 454, and 455 (formerly 626, 478, and 331). all seven were eventually outfitted with modern trucks and controls from the Czech manufacturer
ČKD Tatra. Concurrent with the fleet modernization, the Riverfront line was
regauged in 1997 to Pennsylvania trolley gauge, matching the gauge used on the St. Charles line. A connecting track was also constructed along Canal Street to enable vehicle transfers between the lines and to allow Riverfront cars to be serviced at the Carrollton Shops. The final day of standard-gauge operation was September 6, 1997, after which the older Perley Thomas and Melbourne cars were retired. The Melbourne cars were later transferred to the
Memphis Area Transit Authority for use on that city's
Main Street Trolley line, while one Perley Thomas car was sent to the
San Francisco Municipal Railway and the others were stored. The Riverfront line reopened on December 13, 1997, operating with the new broad-gauge cars.
Closure and rerouting On July 29, 2018, the section between Canal Street and John Churchill Chase was closed due to redevelopment of the former
World Trade Center New Orleans building into the
Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences New Orleans. Service was temporarily reduced to operate between French Market and Canal Street. On October 12, 2019, a portion of the
Hard Rock Hotel under construction at Canal Street and North Rampart Street collapsed, disrupting Streetcar service systemwide. After the collapse, the Riverfront line was rerouted through the Central Business District, operating via Canal Street to Carondelet Street. As tracks were cleared and repaired, service was extended to Union Passenger Terminal via Loyola Avenue. This rerouting was designated the 49
Loyola/Riverfront line.
Reopening Full Riverfront service between French Market and Julia Street resumed on June 1, 2025. At that time, the line inherited the Route 49 designation, and the Loyola/Riverfront line was discontinued. Full service also resumed on the
Rampart/Loyola line. == Service description ==