Check out the new track…quite an upgrade for the former Cotton Belt in Dallas, TX. DART Silver line. Charlie…note the proximity of the power lines in the first video…not atypical in Dallas.
…And…
1 Like
Here is where the DART Silver Line joins the CPKC line that runs through Plano. Note the sign for Freight Train speed limit in the video. DART branches to the left and CPKC continues straight:
1 Like
Nice equipment for a low passenger demand.
They are testing, nobody riding it yet. I posted earlier DFW has money to spend. They are not done building out yet for low passenger demand. After this is operational…onto the Red Line McKinney extension.
The capacity of the trainset pictured is pretty low.
According to DART, service on the Silver Line will begin October 25th. Passengers will be able to rider for free through November 8th.
1 Like
I read some loose comments somewhere from the Mayor of McKinney that once this Silver line was in operation DART would focus on Red Line extension to McKinney. The last I heard on that project was they did not want to use the current electrified light rail but instead wanted also use an alternate rail vehicle like a FLIRT or heavy rail like TRE. I think DART’s expectation is the Red line extension will end up in Dennison at the MKT Depot but in phases (massive multi-Billion housing development in Dennison projected). So I suspect DART views McKinney as only phase I of the extension. We’ll see what happens. McKinney is turning it’s Airport into a larger four gate regional airport that allegedly will see commercial air service in next few years. So there is going to be a lot of potential for passenger traffic North of Plano and it makes logical sense to go with a separate / cheaper rail vehicle but then there will need to be a cross platform transfer somewhere like the Denton A-line has.
They also have long-term plans to run trains on BNSF (ex-Frisco) from the Wye with the TRE to Prosper, TX but have not heard anything on those plans outside of the long-term North Texas rail plan. I saw BNSF was careful where it put it’s new facility on that line (intermodal or freight yard…forget which). North of Prosper somewhere.
2 Likes