Black Mesa Transit System

"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 Announcement System

The Black Mesa Transit System is the extensive monorail network linking the many different Sectors of the Black Mesa Research Facility. The Transit System is the primary form of transportation throughout the facility, which uses the monorail system, a transportation system based on a single beam. Provided for the security, comfort and convenience of the Black Mesa personnel, residents and visitors, it is managed by the Black Mesa Transit Authority.

Overview

 * Each train consists of a single monorail car driven automatically. It includes seats, a wheelchair space, windows, speakers and an electric door.


 * The Transit System is prominently featured in Half-Life and its expansions. Black Mesa employees use it to travel from their dormitories to their workplace, do their laundry, entertain themselves in recreation areas, or eat in food courts.


 * 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 an immobilized tram before being left behind by the army.


 * The Black Mesa Transit System should not be confused with the Sector E Materials Transport, the dilapidated freight monorail network.

Lines and other areas


The network is divided in four colored lines linking the seven main Sectors, as well as other areas, and sub-lines. Each line serves three or four areas.

Red Line

 * Level 3 Dormitories
 * Sector G Hydro Electric
 * Area 3 Medium Security Facilities
 * Freight Yard

Blue Line

 * Sector C Test Labs
 * Sector B Coolant Reserve
 * Area 9 Central Transit Hub

Green Line

 * Level 1 Main Facility Entrance
 * Sector E Biodome Complex
 * Area 7 Recreational Facilities
 * Sector A Training Facility

Yellow Line

 * Sector D Administration
 * High Altitude Launch Center
 * Sector F Lambda Complex

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

Sector B Line
A medium-security line where can be found the Area 9 Security Checkpoint, it is the line taken by Barney Calhoun from Area 8 Topside Dormitories through the East Personnel Entrance, and leading to Area 9 Central Transit Hub. Along Sector B Line can be seen a fast food outlet, a lab, and a lavomat.

East Personnel Entrance
Connects Area 8 Topside Dormitories to the rest of the facility through the Transit System. Above it floats an orange flag of Black Mesa. Its name suggests there are other such entrances.

Area 9 Security Checkpoint
Likely located not far from Area 9 Central Transit Hub, Area 9 Security Checkpoint is first seen during Barney Calhoun's tram ride at the start of Blue Shift. There Barney Calhoun leaves the line he took at Area 8 Topside Dormitories to the Sector C Line. Area 9 Security Checkpoint apparently acts as one of the many transit security checkpoints throughout the Transit System. Trams that pass through that checkpoint can be rerouted to the Sector B, C and E Lines.

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. 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.

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

Sector E Subsurface Transport
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 a zombie security guards are encountered.

Area 9 Central Transit Hub
Also named "Area 9 Transit Hub", Area 9 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 through Sector B Line, before it is rerouted to Sector C Line. It is connected to the Blue Line of the Black Mesa Transit System.

Behind the scenes
Half-Life and Blue Shift start on a tram that the player cannot leave before reaching the intended destination. This obligatory ride is mostly used to slowly immerse the player into the universe. The path from the City 17 Trainstation and Kleiner's Lab in Half-Life 2 has a similar purpose, although in that case it was made so that the story would unfold at the player's own speed rather than on a fixed rail.

List of appearances

 * Half-Life
 * Half-Life: Opposing Force
 * Half-Life: Blue Shift
 * Half-Life: Decay
 * Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar