Transit Briefs: DART, HART, Caltrain, San Diego MTS, VRE, Amtrak

DART

DART’s new regional rail service, Silver Line, will start Oct. 25, 2025, with free rides through Nov. 8, the transit agency reported Oct. 8. Public celebrations will be held at each of the 10 stations on opening day, featuring live music, cultural performances, family-friendly activities, and community programming.

Spanning 26 miles in North Texas, the Silver Line will connect Plano, Richardson, Dallas, Addison, Carrollton, Coppell, Grapevine, and DFW International Airport. According to the transit agency, it will not only reduce congestion but also link residents to jobs and educational opportunities, and expand travel options. The Silver Line will run 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 will be direct transfers to DART light rail, bus routes, DFW terminals, and Trinity Metro TexRail service.

The Silver Line will feature 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 DMU comprises two cab cars, two coach cars, plus a 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 Trinity Metro’s TexRail commuter rail vehicles, also built by Stadler. The 27-mile, nine-station TexRail runs eight trains between Fort Worth and DFW Airport’s Terminal B.

According to DART, each of the Silver Line’s 10 fully accessible stations was 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.”

“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. “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,” added Gary Slagel, DART Chairman of the Board. “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.”

The Silver Line project includes the adjacent Cotton Belt Regional Hike & Bike Trail. The trail is a part of the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) Mobility 2045 Regional Veloweb Trail network, with phases being built in conjunction with the Silver Line through a partnership with NCTCOG and the cities within the corridor. NCTCOG is responsible for the cost and construction of the trail, and cities within the trail system will be responsible for the maintenance.

HART

Skyline’s second segment will open Oct. 16. Running 5.2 miles from Aloha Stadium to Middle Street, it will serve employment centers, the airport, and Pearl Harbor. Hawaii Public Radio recently conducted an interview with Honolulu Department of Transportation Services Deputy Director Jon Nouchi, who provided a preview of the new service. Highlights of his comments are included below:

“We’re absolutely excited to add on another 5 miles and another four stations,” Nouchi told the media outlet. “And it seems a little short, but this is extremely significant in that it’ll connect the other 11 miles and nine stations to major job centers in this 5-mile, four-station extension [see map above]. … In this case, you’ll go out to the Skyline station at the airport and find that Skyline goes west. It’s for the benefit of our own people right now who live everywhere west of the airport.” Before the launch, “we’re deploying a lot of manpower to just go out and make sure people know where they’re going, know what stations to get on and off at, and how their ride is going to change.” Following the launch, he said, riders will have “a free weekend on the 19th and 20th, the immediate next weekend, and that is with a HOLO card. Anybody can ride free on Skyline and TheBus, and that’s important. I want people to get out there and go explore, go see how these stations can work for them, especially the airport station. It’s good to be able to figure out how to get to the terminals, and we have land bridges and all these new connections at the airport. Our partners with HDOT (Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation) have been so good to work with in integrating the station right inside the airport. It’s not like in other cities, where it’s like a side afterthought, where we pushed it off to where they had space. It is smack dab in the middle of our airport. And that’s a tremendous feat.”

Segment 1 included the first nine stations and 10.75 miles of guideway. On June 9, 2023, HART transferred the guideway, stations, 43-acre Rail Operations Center, and 12 four-car trains to Honolulu’s Department of Transportation Services (DTS). The rail system, officially named Skyline, opened to the public June 30, 2023.

Segment 3—including three miles of elevated guideway and six stations at Kalihi, Honolulu Community College-Kapālama, Iwilei, Chinatown, Downtown, and Civic Center—is expected to wrap up in 2030, with the transfer to DTS by 2031. A groundbreaking ceremony took place in August.

Further Reading:

• Delivering a Hawaii Transit Megaproject
• Tutor Perini Lands $1.66B Skyline Contract
• Hitachi Rail Sues HART for $325MM
• Watch: Happy Birthday, Skyline!
• HART Takes Delivery of Final Trainset, $125MM in Federal Funding

Caltrain

Caltrain on Oct. 8 reported that it will be compensated for the power its new electric trains return to the grid through regenerative braking, thanks to policy changes by its clean energy partners Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE) and San Jose Clean Energy (SJCE). The regional/commuter rail system runs on 100% renewable energy supplied by PCE and SJCE, mostly solar and wind. Caltrain said it currently returns approximately 23% of the power it uses back to the power grid, providing power to residents and businesses along its corridor serving the San Francisco Peninsula and the Santa Clara Valley in California.

Starting April 2026, SJCE and PCE will allow Caltrain to qualify for a Net Billing Rate, which will enable Caltrain to receive approximately $1 million annually in compensation for the clean power it sends back to the grid, the railroad reported.

“Caltrain’s new electric trains don’t just use electricity—they also give some back,” said Lori Mitchell, Director of SJCE. “Our Green Transportation program is the first in the state and one of the few in the country to give credit to public transit systems like Caltrain for the energy they return to the grid, helping them save money and reduce pollution.”

“Our partnership with Caltrain and its bold move to all-renewable and carbon-free electric rail service have already improved the quality of life for our communities and illustrates how powerful local, community-driven leadership can be in better meeting customer needs,” added PCE CEO Shawn Marshall. “And now with the new regenerative braking, their cleaner, quieter and more efficient travel will send even more emission-free power back to the larger regional grid.”

According to Caltrain, California Assemblymember Diane Papan authored AB 1372 to include the regenerative braking from electric trains as a renewable electrical generation facility, which would require power providers to compensate railroads that return power to the grid. “Now that Caltrain’s clean energy suppliers approved net billing, the passage of this bill would likely result in Caltrain receiving an additional 20% in compensation from its energy distributor PG&E,” according to the railroad.

“I’m pleased to see that the renewable energy that Caltrain is sending back to the grid is being recognized and fairly compensated,” Assemblymember Papan said. “This is the right thing for supporting public transit and highlighting the incredible benefits from electrification.”

“Caltrain running train service on 100% renewable energy for the first time in 161 years is a victory in and of itself,” Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard noted. “But now that our partners at PCE and SJCE have agreed to compensate us for the power we return to the grid, we have yet another reason to celebrate our transition to the electric fleet. I thank PCE and SJCE for their dedication to both public transit and clean power, and Assemblymember Papan for leading the charge on this issue. We’ll all be breathing easier because of their efforts.”

Originally estimated to cost approximately $19.5 million annually, Caltrain said its electricity use since the launch of electric service in 2024 averages 207 MWh on weekdays and 175 MWh on weekends, revising cost estimates to $15.3 million. PCE and SJCE 100% renewable energy products also allow Caltrain to generate revenues from the California Low Carbon Fuel standards program, further lowering Caltrain’s electric fuel costs, according to the railroad.

Caltrain’s electrified service arrived two years later than planned. The regional/commuter railroad’s $2.4 billion Electrification Project upgraded and electrified its double-track system from the 4th and King Station in San Francisco to the Tamien Station in San Jose and replaced trains. Caltrain awarded Stadler a $551 million contract to supply 16 six-car EMUs in August 2016 with an option to extend these sets to seven-car trains exercised in December 2018. The 110-mph-capable trainsets were built at the manufacturer’s plant in Salt Lake City, and there are options worth $385 million under the original contract to supply up to 96 additional railcars. The EMUs replaced trains powered by F40 diesel locomotives—approximately 75% of Caltrain’s diesel fleet—which entered service in 1985. Its newer locomotives have been retained to operate the non-electrified Dumbarton extension and services south of Tamien.

Further Reading:

• Caltrain Celebrates First Anniversary of Electrified Service
• Caltrain Installs Digital Displays at South Santa Clara County Stations
• BLET, Caltrain Ratify New Contract

San Diego MTS

San Diego MTS on Oct. 8 reported that it has seen a 24% drop in crime across its network. The reduction in crime comes less than two years after the transit agency launched a comprehensive security initiative to increase safety, according to the transit agency, which operates 92 bus routes and four Trolley lines in 10 cities and unincorporated areas of San Diego, Calif.

Data shows that from January through August 2025, 969 crimes were reported on San Diego MTS services—76% of the 1,274 incidents reported during the same period in 2024, the agency noted.

Breaking down the numbers by transit mode, crimes on the Trolley network decreased 14.6%, while bus routes saw a 53.1% reduction.

In early 2024, MTS rolled out several security measures to help grow ridership, including:

• “Better Coverage: Increasing the number of Code Compliance Inspectors by 60% to add more visibility and coverage to the system.
• “Fare Compliance: Getting better fare compliance from riders by implementing a stricter fare enforcement policy.
• “Faster Response: Consolidated the 24/7 security hotline into a single number for texting and calling, and improved technology behind the scenes so incoming calls can be managed more efficiently.
• “Better Visibility: Increased security ‘train teams’ on Trolley lines from 5-6 teams per shift to 8-10 teams per shift, which led to more frequent interactions between officers and riders, along with an increase in calls and text messages to MTS.
• “More Patrols on Buses: Doubled the Bus Enforcement security team to help extend security presence beyond major transit centers and Trolley lines.
• “Expanding Coverage: Added security outposts at busy transit centers like San Ysidro, 12th & Imperial and El Cajon so officers spend more time on the system and less time traveling to/from headquarters.”

The agency’s 2024 security initiative followed a 2022 customer survey that showed riders wanted a stronger security presence on the transit system, San Diego MTS reported. In response, the MTS Board approved a $4.2 million increase to the security budget in 2023.

“On the 2024 Customer Satisfaction Survey, conducted after the security initiatives were in place, 71% of bus riders and 63% of Trolley riders reported feeling safe on board—well above the national averages of 42% for both modes,” San Diego MTS said. “Riders were also five times more likely to say their satisfaction has improved compared to a year ago.”

Beyond staffing, San Diego MTS is also continuing to expand lighting infrastructure. Three lighting projects are under way along the Orange Line Trolley between Lemon Grove and Barrio Logan; at an underpass near Beyer Blvd Trolley Stations; and a new solar lighting project at bus stops.

Recognizing its efforts to maintain a safe and secure transit system, San Diego MTS earned the Gold Standard Award from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration, one of only two transit agencies nationwide to receive this distinction for 2024 and awarded in summer 2025, according to the agency.

“Taking a comprehensive look at passenger safety over the past several years has been our top priority, and these results show the impact of our ongoing efforts to make MTS a secure and welcoming transit system for all riders,” said Monica Montgomery Steppe, San Diego MTS Board Chair Pro Tem and San Diego County Supervisor, District 4. “We’re committed to building on this progress by working closely with MTS staff and the community to ensure all riders feel secure and supported on our buses and Trolleys.”

“We’ve been intentional with our improvements on a lot of fronts, and the results are beginning to show,” added MTS Chief Executive Officer Sharon Cooney. “We have been listening to our riders for a few years now through customer feedback, surveys and research that the top priority for riders is feeling safe while using the system. Ridership grew 7% last year and a big factor in that can be attributed to this reduction in crime.”

Further Reading:

• San Diego MTS Ridership Surges in FY25
• San Diego MTS Earns ‘Perfect Score’ in Federal Triennial Review
• San Diego MTS Board Greenlights FY26 Budget

VRE

On Oct. 6, VRE reached a milestone of 100 million total riders since operations began in 1992. The nation’s 13th largest commuter rail service connects Central and Northern Virginia with the District of Columbia. Its two lines, Manassas and Fredericksburg, serve 19 stations, including two—L’Enfant and Union Station—in D.C.

To commemorate the occasion, VRE said it will celebrate with riders on board trains following the conclusion of the federal government shutdown. Event details will be shared on VRE’s social media channels.

Like many transit agencies across the country, VRE said that it faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, but has since experienced a strong ridership rebound. In recent months, ridership growth has accelerated, with more than 100,000 more passengers traveling in July 2025 compared with the same month the previous year, it reported.

“This [Oct. 6] is a proud day for VRE,” said VRE Acting CEO Dallas Richards. “Reaching 100 million riders is a powerful reminder of how vital regional rail has become for daily life, mobility, and sustainability across our service area. We are humbled by the confidence placed in us, and we recommit to delivering safe, reliable, and rider-focused service into the future.”

“We have reached the 100 million riders milestone at the start of a new chapter for VRE,” said VRE Operations Board Chair and City of Alexandria Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley. “Our region is changing, and so are the ways people travel. VRE has and will continue to grow with our communities while delivering the safe, sustainable, and high-quality service riders deserve and have come to expect from VRE.”

While Oct. 6 marks an important chapter in VRE’s history, the organization said it remains focused on the future. “Alongside the Commonwealth of Virginia’s monumental investments in rail infrastructure through Transforming Rail in Virginia, planned capacity enhancements, additional rolling stock, and continued station modernization projects will allow VRE to serve a growing population with greater reliability and convenience,” the commuter railroad said. “The recently adopted System Plan 2050 outlines a long-term vision for the future of commuter rail in the region, including increased service frequency, longer operating hours, and strategic investments to accommodate future population and employment growth.”

Amtrak / MoDOT

KCTV5 on Oct. 7 reported that the Missouri Department of Transportation will fund and add a “third daily service to the Missouri River Runner … between St. Louis and Kansas City to accommodate increased travel demand during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”

It will begin next April and run through June 2026, according to the media outlet, which noted that MoDOT expects it to handle heavy demand during the international soccer tournament.