Georgia Tech Students Break MARTA Rail System Record
Two university students attempted a record by traveling across the entire MARTA train system in Atlanta in just over three hours.
Georgia Tech student Andrew Zhang and his friend Ayush Maini announced they broke the record by visiting all 38 stations on the MARTA rail system in 3 hours, 7 minutes, and 37 seconds.
Details of the Record Attempt
Andrew Zhang, a sophomore at Georgia Tech, and his friend Ayush Maini set out to visit all 38 MARTA stations across the four lines in the shortest possible time.
Special Route Planning
To break the previous record set by a Chicago team in January, the duo developed a custom route solver using GTFS data, allowing them to plan their trips efficiently.
Challenges and Speed-Up Moments
Although they experienced minor setbacks during the journey, such as narrowly missing a train at the Airport station, they made up time by running at Ashby station and continued the race.
Completion of the Journey
Concluding the challenge at the Indian Creek station, the students recorded that they completed the system in 3 hours, 7 minutes, and 37 seconds.
Official Approval Process
It is expected to take a few months for Guinness World Records to officially verify and certify the achieved time.
Drawing Attention to Public Transit
Beyond this record attempt, the two friends aimed to raise awareness about public transit and encourage car-centric commuters to embrace public transportation.