DART Advances Landmark 26-Mile $2.1 Billion Silver Line Connecting DFW Airport and Plano with Stadler FLIRT Fleet

A Transformative East-West Regional Transit Spine for North Texas

DALLAS, Texas — Marking a major turning point in regional mass transit mobility, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has accelerated comprehensive operational testing along the landmark 26-mile, $2.1 billion Silver Line Regional Rail corridor. Running along the historic Cotton Belt freight alignment, the passenger rail megaproject traverses seven North Texas municipalities across Collin, Dallas, and Tarrant counties: Grapevine, Coppell, Dallas, Carrollton, Addison, Richardson, and Plano. Designed to bridge the rapidly expanding northern suburbs directly with Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), the service introduces an east-west rapid transit alternative to heavily congested expressways including Interstate 635, President George Bush Turnpike, and State Highway 114.

Upon opening, the Silver Line will provide uninterrupted, predictable rail travel between its western terminus at DFW Airport Terminal B and its eastern terminus at Shiloh Road in Plano, completing the entire 26-mile journey in approximately 58 minutes. Passengers boarding along the alignment benefit from seamless transfers to DART's Red, Orange, and Green light rail lines, as well as Trinity Metro’s TEXRail service connecting directly to Downtown Fort Worth.

Ten Architecturally Modern Stations and Intermodal Suburban Hubs

The Silver Line corridor features ten brand-new, purpose-built passenger stations: DFW Airport Terminal B, DFW North, Cypress Waters, Downtown Carrollton, Addison, Knoll Trail, University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), CityLine/Bush, Downtown Plano, and Shiloh Road. Engineered with soaring aerodynamic canopies, step-free level boarding platforms, dynamic arrival display monitors, and integrated multi-modal bus connections, each facility functions as an anchor for surrounding transit-oriented commercial and residential development.

A crucial station milestone is the dedicated station serving the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) campus in Richardson, offering over 31,000 university students, research faculty, and staff direct, car-free transit access to employment hubs, residential communities, and the international airport. Station precincts incorporate expansive park-and-ride facilities, secure bicycle parking lockers, and pedestrian paths linked to municipal trail networks.

Fleet of European-Engineered Stadler FLIRT Trainsets with Quiet Zones

Passenger operations on the Silver Line are powered by a custom fleet of eight Stadler FLIRT (Fast Light Intercity and Regional Train) Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) vehicles. Assembled to stringent federal standards, each four-car articulated trainset accommodates up to 230 seated passengers and is outfitted with low-emission EPA Tier 4 final diesel-electric power modules that drastically reduce carbon emissions and particulate exhaust compared to conventional commuter locomotives.

Inside, the walkthrough train carriages feature modern low-floor passenger salons, wide panoramic windows, dedicated overhead luggage compartments, high-speed Wi-Fi, integrated USB power ports, and spacious multi-use spaces designed for wheelchairs and bicycles. Furthermore, the corridor incorporates federally certified Quiet Zones across residential municipalities, utilizing advanced four-quadrant automated crossing gate arms and trackside safety sensors to minimize train horn sounding while maintaining top-tier crossing safety.

Catalyzing North Texas Economic Expansion and Regional Connectivity

Civic leaders and regional economic development authorities throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex emphasized that the $2.1 billion Silver Line is already serving as a powerful magnet for corporate investment. Station areas in Addison, Carrollton, Richardson, and Plano have attracted billions in private capital, fostering high-density mixed-use retail centers, modern workforce housing, and corporate office parks within walking distance of platforms.

By seamlessly linking major corporate headquarters, premier higher education institutions, and the world’s third-busiest airport by aircraft movements, the DART Silver Line establishes a resilient mobility backbone that will accommodate projected North Texas population expansion for decades to come.