Dallas Area Rapid Transit Advances Intensive Fleet Testing on 26-Mile Silver Line Commuter Rail Corridor to DFW Airport

Regional 26-Mile East-West Corridor Bridges Collin, Dallas, and Tarrant Counties

DALLAS, Texas — In a transformational leap for cross-county public transit across North Texas, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has entered advanced operational testing and system-wide commissioning on the landmark $2+ billion Silver Line Regional Rail Project. Spanning 26 miles along the historic Cotton Belt freight corridor, the high-capacity commuter rail line links seven major municipalities across Collin, Dallas, and Tarrant counties—connecting Plano, Richardson, North Dallas, Addison, Carrollton, Coppell, and Grapevine directly to terminal gates at Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport.

Engineered to deliver rapid, reliable east-west connectivity across the booming northern sector of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, the Silver Line represents DART’s largest single rail investment in over a decade. By offering a direct rail bypass around congested highway arteries including the President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT), Interstate 635 (LBJ Freeway), and State Highway 121, the corridor establishes a vital arterial spine for regional economic development and suburban job mobility.

Ten Modern Multimodal Stations Integrating Regional Rail and Bus Networks

The 26-mile alignment incorporates ten strategically situated passenger stations engineered to optimize regional transfers:

• DFW Airport Terminal B Station: Positioned adjacent to terminal check-in gates, delivering direct seamless passenger transfers to DFW International Airport and Trinity Metro’s TEXRail service to downtown Fort Worth.
• DFW North & Cypress Waters Stations: Anchoring major corporate campus developments and regional logistics corridors near Coppell and northwest Dallas.
• Downtown Carrollton Station: Creating a crucial multimodal transfer hub linking Silver Line commuter trains directly with DART’s light rail Green Line.
• Addison Transit Center: Anchoring future high-density mixed-use transit-oriented developments (TOD) in the heart of Addison’s commercial district.
• Knoll Trail & UT Dallas Stations: Providing dedicated rapid transit access to the University of Texas at Dallas campus in Richardson, serving over 30,000 students, faculty, and research personnel.
• CityLine / Bush & Downtown Plano Stations: Connecting passengers directly with DART’s Red and Orange light rail lines, unlocking bi-directional commuting between North Texas suburbs and downtown Dallas.

Advanced Stadler FLIRT Rolling Stock and High-Frequency Digital Signaling

Commercial passenger services on the Silver Line are operated by a bespoke fleet of eight Stadler FLIRT (Fast Light Intercity and Regional Train) Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs). Manufactured with lightweight aluminum car bodies, these modern low-floor trainsets offer level boarding at all platforms, wide walk-through gangways, high-efficiency HVAC climate controls, and dedicated onboard luggage racks tailored for international air travelers.

The trainsets are powered by quiet, fuel-efficient Tier 4 Final ultra-low emission power modules that significantly cut carbon emissions and acoustic footprints compared to conventional diesel locomotives. During testing phases, DART technicians and engineering teams are validating positive train control (PTC), automated highway-rail crossing warning gates, fiber-optic communications systems, and station passenger information displays along the entire double-track alignment.

Decarbonizing Regional Commutes and Driving Sustainable Economic Growth

Regional transportation planners project the Silver Line will remove thousands of daily single-occupancy vehicles from North Texas highways, substantially reducing regional greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality across the Dallas-Fort Worth airshed.

By connecting three of the state's most dynamic economic counties with rapid rail transit to the world's third-busiest airport, the Silver Line establishes an enduring foundation for transit-oriented corporate investment, job creation, and sustainable suburban growth across Greater Dallas.