Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) on Oct. 25 celebrated the opening of its 26-mile (double-tracked), 10-station Silver Line, a regional rail service connecting seven North Texas cities (Plano, Richardson, Dallas, Addison, Carrollton, Coppell, Grapevine) and DFW International Airport.
The day kicked off with a progressive ribbon cutting, beginning at Cypress Waters Station in Dallas, then continuing through Downtown Carrollton, Addison Station, and finishing at CityLine/Bush Station in Richardson. Public celebrations were held at each of the line’s stations over three counties (Collin, Dallas, Tarrant), featuring live music, cultural performances, family-friendly activities, and community programming; rides were free and will remain so through Nov. 8.
The stations were designed with input from the cities along the rail corridor, “reflecting local character, community feedback, and accessibility features to ensure a safe and welcoming experience for all riders,” according to DART, which also operates light rail, Trinity Railway Express (TRE) TexRail commuter rail, bus routes, GoLink on-demand service, and paratransit, moving more than 220,000 passengers per day across a 700-square-mile region.
According to the transit agency, Silver Line will not only reduce congestion but also link residents to jobs and educational opportunities, including The University of Texas at Dallas, and expand travel options. The Silver Line operates from 4 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily with 30-minute headways during weekday peak hours and 60-minute headways during off-peak hours and on weekends. There are direct transfers to DART light rail, bus routes, DFW terminals, and TexRail service.
The Silver Line features DMUs (diesel multiple units) from Swiss manufacturer Stadler, which in 2019 was awarded an approximately $119 million contract for eight FLIRT DMUs, which were assembled at its Salt Lake City, Utah, plant. The FLIRT for DART meets both tier 4 EPA emissions standards and Federal Railroad Administration standards. Each unit comprises two cab cars, two coach cars, plus an engine module (power pack), according to Stadler, which noted that the setup includes four powered axles and eight unpowered axles. This puts each train at approximately 267 feet long. Each has seating for 235 riders. The equipment is similar to TexRail vehicles, also built by Stadler. The 27-mile, nine-station TexRail runs eight trains between Fort Worth and DFW Airport’s Terminal B.
The Silver Line also links to North Texas’ expanding trail network, allowing riders to combine transit with walking, biking, and recreation. Originating from the Cotton Belt Corridor plan, the rail line reflects years of planning to expand mobility, ease congestion, and prepare for future growth across the region, DART said.
“The Silver Line is a centerpiece of our Point B vision to make DART your first-in-mind mobility partner,” DART President and CEO Nadine Lee said the day prior to launch, “By connecting key employment centers, neighborhoods, and the world’s third-busiest airport, this project will be a catalyst for economic growth, provide access to opportunity, and a seamless mobility experience that helps our region thrive.”
“Our focus is on reliability and convenience,” DART Board Chairman Gary Slagel commented. “With predictable schedules, modern trains, and seamless connections, the Silver Line is built to meet the needs of both daily riders and occasional travelers. It’s another way DART is making North Texas more connected than ever.”
“Behind every successful rail service is a dedicated operations team,” DART Vice President Capital Programs Trey Walker wrote in a LinkedIn post. “For the Silver Line, that team is Herzog, bringing their experience in commuter rail operations and maintenance. As DART’s operating partner, Herzog will manage train operations, dispatching, and maintenance-of-way activities to ensure a safe, reliable, and customer-focused experience for all riders. The Herzog team has been deeply involved throughout startup preparations, beginning when vehicle deliveries started in late 2023. Over the past two years, they’ve helped move vehicles across three different facilities to meet project needs—from burning-in Silver Line trains on the TRE corridor during non-revenue days to conducting segmented testing on portions of the new alignment. Their commitment and flexibility have been essential in keeping the project on track for opening day. We’re grateful for Herzog’s partnership and look forward to continuing our collaboration as we welcome passengers aboard the Silver Line this weekend [Oct. 25-26].”
The USDOT’s Build America Bureau in 2021 provided a $908 million loan under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) program to DART for the Silver Line; it was a refinancing of the RRIF loan provided to DART for the same project by the Bureau in December 2018. The loan proceeds financed part of the approximately $2 billion construction cost of the project.
