New Orleans Streetcars, Louisiana
Trolley and streetcar museumTrain ridesOperating public transit; check the RTA for current fares and hours
New Orleans streetcars are rail history you can ride: the St. Charles Avenue line began in 1835 and is the oldest continuously operating street railway in the world, still carrying riders past the city's neighborhoods.
- St. Charles line began 1835
- Oldest continuously operating street railway
- Electric streetcars since 1893
- Run by the RTA today
- Five streetcar lines
New Orleans Streetcars at a glance
- Hours
- Lines run daily; check the RTA for current hours
- Admission
- Transit fare; check the RTA for current prices
- Train rides
- Streetcar rides on the St. Charles, Canal and other lines year round
- Plan for
- 1 to 2 hours for a round trip on St. Charles
- Best for
- Families, visitors and rail history fans
- Best ages
- All ages
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to New Orleans Streetcars? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to New Orleans.
Rally Takes the Train
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From steam dummies to green streetcars on St. Charles Avenue
Streetcars have been part of getting around New Orleans since the first half of the 1800s. The St. Charles Avenue line, the longest in the city, began operating in 1835, and it is recognized as the oldest continuously operating street railway in the world. It first ran on steam power. After the Civil War, horses took over pulling the cars, and after about 20 years of horsecar service, electric streetcars arrived in 1893.
In 1922 New Orleans Public Service Inc., known as NOPSI, took over operation of all of the city's streetcar lines. Through hurricanes, modernization and changing travel habits, the cars kept running. The old green cars on St. Charles are a national historic landmark, and today the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority operates the system, which now has five lines including St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street.
What you see from a streetcar seat
Riding is the whole experience. On St. Charles Avenue, the green cars roll through historic neighborhoods on the city's oldest line, while the Canal Street line runs along one of the city's main streets. Rides are part of everyday transit, so you share the car with commuters as well as visitors.
Don’t miss
- The St. Charles Avenue lineIn service since 1835, it is the oldest continuously operating street railway in the world.
- The green St. Charles carsThese classic cars are a national historic landmark as well as daily transit.
- The Canal Street lineA second major route that is easy to combine with a St. Charles ride.
A real rail ride for little travelers
For train-loving kids, a streetcar ride is a simple way to ride historic rail without a long drive or a big ticket. It is public transit, so plan for possible crowds, keep little ones seated and hold hands at stops. Check the RTA for current fares and accessibility before you go, since older cars may have steps.
Plan your visit: tips for New Orleans Streetcars
- Check the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority for fares and how to pay.
- Ride St. Charles for the oldest line and the classic green cars.
- Expect to share the car with commuters at busy times.
- The Union Passenger Terminal is about a mile away.
Who keeps the cars rolling
The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority runs the streetcar system today, with operators and maintenance crews keeping century-old routes in daily service. Visitors support it simply by riding and paying the fare.
More rail history in and around New Orleans
The New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal is about a mile away, and the Louisiana Steam Train Association, keepers of steam locomotive SP 745, has been based about 4 miles off. For a longer drive, the McComb Railroad Museum is about 93 miles north. Find more on our page of Louisiana train museums.
- New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal historic exhibitsNew Orleans, LA · about 1 mi
- Louisiana Steam Train AssociationNew Orleans area, LA · about 4 mi
- Louisiana Art & Science Museum historic railroad depotBaton Rouge, LA · about 75 mi
- Louisiana Railroad Heritage Trust / related preservation collectionsstatewide, LA · about 75 mi
- McComb Railroad MuseumMcComb, MS · about 93 mi
- Historic Hattiesburg Train DepotHattiesburg, MS · about 107 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
The St. Charles line has no tunnel, but it has carried riders since 1835, through steam, horses and electricity. That makes me think of the tunnel in our book: Rally rides into the dark, then a big bright light appears and everyone cheers. My kids cheer at that page every single time. If yours love rides like this, our list of train books for toddlers has more.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in Louisiana: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Louisiana
- Halloween train rides in Louisiana
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at New Orleans Streetcars?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
New Orleans streetcars: 20 questions riders ask
How old is the St. Charles streetcar in New Orleans?
The St. Charles Avenue line began operating in 1835, which makes it the oldest continuously operating street railway in the world. It first ran on steam, switched to horse-drawn cars after the Civil War, and became electric in 1893. It is still in daily service today.
Who operates the New Orleans streetcars?
The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority, known as the RTA, operates the streetcars today. Earlier, starting in 1922, New Orleans Public Service Inc., or NOPSI, ran all of the city's streetcar lines. For fares, schedules and service alerts, check the RTA directly.
How many streetcar lines does New Orleans have?
New Orleans currently has five streetcar lines. The best known are the St. Charles Avenue line, which is the oldest and longest, and the Canal Street line. Check the RTA's route map for the current lines and stops before you ride, since service patterns can change.
How much does it cost to ride a New Orleans streetcar?
Streetcars are public transit, so you pay a regular transit fare rather than a museum ticket. Current prices and payment options are set by the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority, so check its website or a visitor guide before you ride to see the latest fare and how to pay.
What are the New Orleans streetcar hours?
The streetcars run daily as part of the city's transit system, but hours vary by line and day. Check the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority for current schedules, especially if you plan to ride early in the morning or late at night.
Is the St. Charles streetcar a national historic landmark?
Yes. The St. Charles Avenue line's classic green streetcars are a national historic landmark. That makes a ride on them a chance to sit in a piece of preserved rail history that is still working every day, not just displayed in a museum.
When did New Orleans streetcars become electric?
Electric streetcars took over in 1893, after about 20 years of horsecar service. Before horses, the St. Charles line ran on steam power when it opened in 1835. The switch to electricity created the type of street railway the city still runs today.
Are New Orleans streetcars good for kids?
Yes. A streetcar ride is one of the easiest ways for train-loving kids to ride historic rail in Louisiana. Rides are short or long as you like, and kids can watch the city pass by the windows. Plan for crowds at busy times and keep little ones close at stops.
Are New Orleans streetcars wheelchair accessible?
Accessibility differs by line and car, and the historic St. Charles cars are older equipment. Check with the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority before you ride for current information on accessible cars, lifts and stops on the line you plan to use.
Can you bring a stroller on a New Orleans streetcar?
Streetcars are regular transit and can get crowded, so a compact, foldable stroller is the easiest choice. Rules on strollers are set by the RTA, so check its current guidance. Many families find a baby carrier simpler on the older St. Charles cars.
Where does the St. Charles streetcar go?
The St. Charles Avenue line runs along St. Charles Avenue through historic New Orleans neighborhoods and is the longest line in the system. Check the RTA's route map for the full route, current stops and any detours before you ride.
Where does the Canal Street streetcar go?
The Canal Street line runs along Canal Street, one of the city's main thoroughfares. It is a separate line from St. Charles, so it is easy to ride both on the same day. Check the RTA's map for current branches and stops.
How long does a ride on the St. Charles streetcar take?
It depends on how far you go and traffic, since the cars share the road. Plan on one to two hours for a round trip along St. Charles Avenue with time to look around. Check the RTA's schedule for current travel times.
Did New Orleans streetcars survive hurricanes?
Yes. Over the years the streetcars have come through hurricanes, modernization efforts and changes in how people travel, and they have kept running as part of daily life in the city. That resilience is part of why the St. Charles line still holds its record as the oldest continuously operating street railway.
Is there a streetcar museum in New Orleans?
The streetcars themselves are the main way to experience this history, since the cars and lines are still in service. For more rail history nearby, the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal is about a mile away, and the Louisiana Art & Science Museum in Baton Rouge occupies a historic depot.
What was NOPSI?
NOPSI stood for New Orleans Public Service Inc., which took over operation of all New Orleans streetcar lines in 1922. It ran the system for decades before today's New Orleans Regional Transit Authority. The name still comes up often in local streetcar history.
Are the streetcars good for rail fans visiting New Orleans?
Yes. Riding the St. Charles line means riding the oldest continuously operating street railway in the world, on cars that are a national historic landmark. Rail fans often combine it with the Canal line and a stop at the Union Passenger Terminal.
Can you take a streetcar to Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans?
The Union Passenger Terminal is about a mile from the heart of the streetcar network. Check the RTA's route map for the line and stop closest to the terminal on the day you travel, since routes and stops can change.
Are there Christmas or holiday streetcar rides in New Orleans?
The streetcars run as regular transit through the holidays, and a ride can be a fun part of a December outing. The RTA does not post a special holiday train here, so check its website for holiday schedules and any service changes before you go.
What other train sites are near the New Orleans streetcars?
The Union Passenger Terminal is about a mile away, and the Louisiana Steam Train Association, home of steam locomotive SP 745, has been based about 4 miles away. The Louisiana Art & Science Museum in Baton Rouge is about 75 miles, and the McComb Railroad Museum in Mississippi is about 93 miles.
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