A Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) train caught fire in a tunnel Tuesday afternoon, injuring 15 people and sending six to the hospital.
The incident occurred on July 30 near Ross Avenue and North Central Expressway, close to the Pearl/Arts District Station, where trains emerge from an underground tunnel. According to DART spokesperson Laura Varela, approximately 40 people were evacuated — 30 from the trains and 10 from the surrounding area.
Dallas Fire-Rescue treated nine people at the scene and transported six others to local hospitals with “non-life-threatening injuries,” Varela said.
“All DART Rail passengers may experience significant delays,” she added. “We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we work to resolve the issue safely and as quickly as possible.”
DART is currently providing shuttle buses between the following stations:
- Victory
- EBJ Union
- West End
- Akard
- St. Paul
- Pearl/Arts District
- Deep Ellum
- Cityplace/Uptown
- SMU/Mockingbird
Images from Fox 4 show fire damage to several train cars and emergency crews responding at the scene. The fire reportedly stemmed from a mechanical issue involving the train’s connection to overhead power lines.
The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
DART has faced repeated maintenance challenges in recent months, with employees citing mechanical failures, poor vehicle conditions, and delayed repairs, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.