Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) will begin segmented testing within the Silver Line Regional Rail project’s western corridor, between DFW Airport and Carrollton, beginning in January 2025.

The move ensures that incoming travelers to the North Texas airport as well as residents and commuters in Carrollton, Coppell and Grapevine will see DART’s sleek new trains running on Silver Line tracks prior to the start of passengers boarding for revenue service by year’s end to early 2026.

Testing will begin Wednesday, January 22nd.

Segmented testing, which describes testing of the train and operating systems on a specific segment of the project’s new track, is necessary as construction progress varies across the 26-mile rail corridor. DART began testing the track, signals, operating systems, and rail crossings in November to prepare for the upcoming vehicle testing.

“We’re excited to get these new passenger trains running on a different track alignment and show people in the North Texas that are unfamiliar with this project how the Silver Line will operate,” said Trey Walker, vice president of capital design and construction at DART. “We’re applying lessons learned from our initial test run, from Plano to Richardson late last year, and are making great progress to testing the entire 26-mile corridor this summer.”

Silver Line trains will begin test runs Wednesday, Jan. 22, and , Thursday, Jan. 23, between 8 am and 8 pm from just east of the DFW Airport North Station to Interstate 35.Trains will sound horns while approaching crossings and flaggers will be present where necessary to inform the public of movement as lights, signals, crossing arms and track conditions will all be in test mode.

Beginning Sunday, Jan. 26, Silver Line trains will operate simulated test runs between DFW Airport’s Terminal B and the Cypress Waters Station from midnight to 4 am. Times for additional test runs reaching I-35 in Carrollton have not been set but are anticipated to occur between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. until mid-February. DART will communicate directly with cities and school districts once those schedules are set.

Similar Vehicle Testing Occurred in Q4 2024

In October, DART completed Silver Line segmented testing between the Shiloh Road Station in Plano and just past the University of Texas at Dallas Station in Richardson. Silver Line trains ran at different times and at various speeds, with DART testing to ensure signals and crossings matched up with the timing of the trains.

Testing in this segment will run from the Terminal B Station at DFW Airport to the end of the constructed track at Interstate 35 in Carrollton with simulated stops at the DFW Airport North Station in Grapevine and the Cypress Waters Station in Dallas, bordering Coppell. Simulated runs will not pick up passengers and each station is an active construction site.

Flaggers will be on hand, as needed, during the initial signal and crossing tests to ensure drivers know when they can safely cross the tracks.

Quiet Zones not set until Service Begins

Once in revenue service, the Silver Line will operate under a quiet zone ordinance throughout much of the 26-mile corridor. Quiet zones are established to limit noise, with trains only sounding their horns if there is something that will affect the vehicle’s passage on or near the tracks. During segmented testing, however, the trains will use their horns to warn of their passing at all rail crossings.  

DART is more than 85% complete with the Silver Line overall and has installed over 200,000 linear feet of new railroad track throughout the corridor. The project will add 10 new stations to DART’s existing rail system, with eight of them at 85% completion.

Designed and manufactured by Stadler in Salt Lake City, the Silver Line trains are powered by electric diesel multiple-unit-powered (DMU) engines that meet strict EPA standards. With seating for over 230 passengers and updated amenities like multidirectional seats, overhead storage and internal CCTV cameras, the trains are like Trinity Metro’s TEXRail vehicles, and will provide passengers a safe, quiet and comfortable ride.

The Silver Line is a 26-mile regional commuter rail that traverses seven North Texas cities (Grapevine, Coppell, Dallas, Carrollton, Addison, Richardson, Plano) between DFW Airport and Shiloh Road in Plano. The alignment crosses three counties (Collin, Dallas, Tarrant) and will provide service to improve mobility and accessibility across the northern portion of the DART service area.

To learn more about the Silver Line Regional Rail Project and to sign up for construction updates on the project, please visit DART.org/silverline.