This subject is related to the Black Mesa Incident era.

Black Mesa Transit System

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This subject is related to the Black Mesa Incident era.

For other uses, see Black Mesa (disambiguation).

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Tram interior.jpg
Black Mesa Transit System
General information
Destroyed

200-, during the Black Mesa Incident

Location

Black Mesa Research Facility

Usage
Era(s)

Black Mesa Incident

Faction

Black Mesa

Game information
Map(s)

Half-Life

  • c0a0
  • c0a0a
  • c0a0b
  • c0a0c
  • c0a0d
  • c0a0e

Half-Life: Blue Shift

  • ba_tram1
  • ba_tram2
  • ba_tram3
  • ba_security1
  • ba_maint
  • ba_elevator
Designer(s)

Steve Theodore[1]

"Good morning and welcome to the Black Mesa Transit System. This automated train is provided for the security and convenience of the Black Mesa Research Facility personnel."
― Black Mesa Transit System announcement[src]

The Black Mesa Transit System is a transit system featured in Half-Life and its expansions.

Overview[edit]

The Black Mesa Transit System is an extensive monorail system network linking the many different Sectors of the Black Mesa Research Facility and the primary form of transportation throughout the facility. Provided for the security, comfort and convenience of the Black Mesa personnel, residents and visitors,[2] it is managed by the Black Mesa Transit Authority.[3]

Each train consists of a single monorail car driven automatically. It includes seats, a wheelchair space, windows, speakers and an electric door. The network is equipped with an announcement system which is mounted on the trams to give general information about the facility and mention each stop with a prerecorded female voice.

The protagonists of the game use the Transit System before and after the Black Mesa Incident to get around the facility. Gordon Freeman and Barney Calhoun, for example, ride a tram to work from their dormitories shortly before the incident. Adrian Shephard also briefly hitches a ride on a damaged tram before being left behind by the military.

Lines and other areas[edit]

Black Mesa Transit System map.

The network is divided in four colored lines linking to particular areas of the seven main Sectors and other areas, and sub-lines. Each line serves three or four areas.[3]

Main colored lines[edit]

Red Line[edit]

Blue Line[edit]

Green Line[edit]

Yellow Line[edit]

Sub-lines[edit]

Each Sector has apparently its line, a sub-line to the overall network. Only three are seen/mentioned during the games:

Sector B Line[edit]

A medium-security line connected to the Area 9 Security Checkpoint.[3]

Sector C Line[edit]

Gordon Freeman riding along the Sector C Line.

A medium-security line, it is connected to Area 9 Security Checkpoint, Level 3 Dormitories, Area 3 Medium Security Facilities, and Test Labs. Gordon Freeman and Barney Calhoun take it to reach their respective workplaces on the day of the Black Mesa Incident, Barney from Area 9 Security Checkpoint, Gordon from Level 3 Dormitories.[2][3] Before the Test Labs stop, the line passes beside another, leading to Level A of Sector E Subsurface Transport, and taken by Adrian Shephard after leaving the Infirmary.[4]

Sector E Line[edit]

Connected to Area 9 Security Checkpoint, it is located below the Sector B Line and above the Sector C Line. Its directions are unknown.[3]

Sector E Subsurface Transport[edit]

Level A of this Black Mesa Transit System section can be accessed from Sector C Line, where the G-Man is first seen in Half-Life, and leads to an unnamed area where the first Shock Trooper and zombie security guards are encountered.[4]

Other[edit]

Central Transit Hub[edit]

Main article: Central Transit Hub

The Central Transit Hub is only mentioned and never actually visited. It is apparently the only Transit System station where high-security trains can be boarded. Area 9 Central Transit Hub is also the original final destination of the tram used by Barney Calhoun before it is rerouted to the Sector C Line. It is connected to the Blue Line of the Black Mesa Transit System.[5] The Central Transit Hub was originally intended to be visited in Half-Life: Decay, but the mission was cut from the final game.

Behind the scenes[edit]

The train entity used to create the tram sequences was added to the engine tools by programmer Jay Stelly. This led to the creation of the opening tram ride in the chapter Black Mesa Inbound as an amusement park-style train ride showcase, something other games at the time were only doing in prerecorded cutscenes.[6]

The announcement system is voiced by Kathy Levin, who also provided the voice of Gina Cross and her Holographic Assistant counterpart.

In an unused line in Half-Life 2: Episode One, Alyx Vance mentions that her father Eli once took her on a tram at Black Mesa.

Gallery[edit]

Half-Life[edit]

Half-Life: Opposing Force[edit]

Half-Life: Blue Shift[edit]

Half-Life: Decay[edit]

List of appearances[edit]

Main games[edit]

Other[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Black Mesa Transit System
Combine OverWiki has a list of quotes for Black Mesa Transit System.
Black Mesa Transit System
Combine OverWiki has more images related to Black Mesa Transit System.
Preceded by
N/A
Half-Life story arc journey (1) Succeeded by
Sector A
Preceded by
Sector A
Half-Life story arc journey (2) Succeeded by
Level 3 Dormitories
Preceded by
Level 3 Dormitories
Half-Life story arc journey (3) Succeeded by
Sector C
Preceded by
Black Mesa Medical Lab
Half-Life: Opposing Force story arc journey Succeeded by
Sector E Materials Transport
Preceded by
Area 8 Topside Dormitories
Half-Life: Blue Shift story arc journey Succeeded by
Area 3 Medium Security Facilities
Preceded by
Sector A
Half-Life: Decay story arc journey (1) Succeeded by
Level 3 Dormitories
Preceded by
Level 3 Dormitories
Half-Life: Decay story arc journey (2) Succeeded by
Black Mesa Air Control