DART’s new Silver Line train began testing this week, traveling from the Shiloh Road Station past the UT Dallas Station to Coit Road.
“The purpose of the testing is to allow train operators to check the trains’ on-board mechanisms and systems, while project engineers monitor the track and updated safety measures at each of the rail crossings,” reads a press release. The trains may even make stops at stations depending on the nature of the testing being done. However, passengers will not be allowed to ride the trains during the testing.
Trey Walker, vice president of capital design and construction, explained the purpose of the testing.
“We’ve been able to get exercise on the TRE tracks, but now it’s time for us to see how the trains operate on their home turf,” said Walker. “We want to ensure everything is operating as it should and be able to catch any little thing that can improve safety and performance. The goal is to get to where people can start buying tickets and ride the Silver Line as quickly and safely as possible.”
DART is testing to ensure that crossing signals match up with the timing of the trains. Workers with flags will also be on hand during the initial testing to ensure drivers know when they can safely cross the tracks.
The transit agency says that the Silver Line project is more than 65% complete. It has installed over 120,120 linear feet of new railroad tracks and completed over 75% of the work on each of the four Silver Line stations in Plano and Richardson.
The Silver Line is a 26-mile commuter rail that traverses seven North Texas cities (Grapevine, Coppell, Dallas, Carrollton, Addison, Richardson, Plano) between DFW Airport and Shiloh Road in Plano. The new project will cross three counties, Collin, Dallas, and Tarrant, and provide flexibility and mobility across North Texas.
Service is scheduled to begin on the Silver Line sometime between late 2025 and early 2026.