Black Mesa Transit System
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| Black Mesa Transit System | |
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| General information | |
| Destroyed |
200-, during the Black Mesa Incident |
| Location | |
| Usage | |
| Era(s) | |
| Faction | |
| Game information | |
| Map(s) |
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| Designer(s) | |
- "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.
Contents
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]
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]
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]
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]
Inside a typical tram in the Black Mesa Transit System.
Barney Calhoun knocking on the Area 3 Security Facilities door along the tracks.
The G-Man standing in a tram with a scientist.
The G-Man offering Gordon a choice in a tram.
Black Mesa advertisement.
Half-Life: Opposing Force[edit]
Early screenshot.
The same spot where the Loader is seen in Half-Life, now with the leak vaguely repaired.
Half-Life: Blue Shift[edit]
The East Personnel Entrance at Area 8 Topside Dormitories.
Barney Calhoun's ride to Sector C is hindered by a scientist.
The G-Man riding a tram between Sector C and G.
The bridge rises, allowing the G-Man to continue his journey uninterrupted.
The bridge lowers after the tram passes by.
Sector G Main Access Lift's Transit System station.
Half-Life: Decay[edit]
Transit System line near the primary dampening lock.
Ditto.
Transit System line near Level 3 Dormitories.
Ditto.
Ditto.
List of appearances[edit]
Main games[edit]
- Half-Life
- Half-Life: Opposing Force
- Half-Life: Blue Shift
- Half-Life: Decay
- Half-Life 2: Episode One (Mentioned only) (Game files only) (Non-canonical appearance)
Other[edit]
- Half-Life: Day One (First appearance)
- Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar
See also[edit]
References[edit]
| 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 |
