Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Significant Dates in Trinity Railway Express History

• December 30, 1996 -- DART opened the first commuter rail line in the southwestern United States. The first segment of the Trinity Railway Express follows a 10-mile rail line linking downtown's Union Station, the Medical/Market Center Station, and the South Irving Transit Center. More than 4,000 people rode the train during its first day of operation.
  
  
• December 15, 1997 -- The Trinity Railway Express commuter rail line debuts an expanded schedule featuring midday and evening service. The new schedule allows DART to offer 50 trips each weekday on the Trinity Railway Express, up from the 30 previously provided.
  
  
• December 5, 1998 -- The Trinity Railway Express commuter rail line adds Saturday service to its schedule.
  
  
• March 12, 1999 -- The Trinity Railway Express carries its one-millionth customer.
  
  
• September 16, 2000 -- Trinity Railway Express service extends west to four new stations at West Irving, CentrePort, Hurst/Bell and Richland Hills. Revenue service begins September 18. More than 5,700 people ride the first day.
  
  
• December 3, 2001 -- Service extends to the Intermodal Transit Center and T & P Stations in downtown Fort Worth. This completes the rail connection between Dallas and Fort Worth.
  
  
• January 14, 2002 -- Trinity Railway Express dedicates the Intermodal Transportation Center accommodating TRE, the T, Amtrak Passenger Service, and retail opportunities.

Trinity Railway Express Ridership by Fiscal Year

1996  10-mile system opens December 30, 1996

1997  175,969

1998  455,515

1999  587,519

2000  688,486 (service extended to Tarrant County, September 2000)

2001  1.32 million (service extended to Fort Worth, completing TRE system, December 2001)

2002  2.13 million

2003  2.29 million

2004  2.16 million

2005  2.15 million

2006  2.4 million

2007  2.5 million

Trinity Railway Express Rail Diesel Cars (RDC)

Trinity Railway Express Rail Diesel Cars View more TRE images

• DART purchased 13 RDCs from VIA Rail Canada in 1993. The Budd Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally built the RDCs in the 1950s. They were used by VIA Rail throughout Canada in intercity service.
  
  
• The RDCs were completely stripped down to their stainless steel shell and remanufactured by GEC Alsthom Transport, Inc. at their Montreal facility. All new interiors were provided, including new seats, floors, ceilings, walls, windows, and lighting.
  
  
• The makeover took 20 months. Upon completion, the RDCs were shipped as part of a freight train to Dallas.
  
  
• Once the RDCs arrived in Dallas, each car had its interior installation completed including major components mounted, wired and plumbed, and then were tested for 3-5 days prior to being put into service.
  
  
• Each RDC has 92 passenger seats plus 4 mobility impaired areas. Wheelchair access is through a manually deployed bridgeplate from the side doors to a "high block" on the station platform. Each car is 85 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 14 feet high. Empty, each car weights 135,000 pounds. Its design speed is 85 mph, but travels at a maximum speed of 60 mph while in service. Each car has 2 doors on each side.
  
  
• The RDCs are powered by 2 diesel engines, each generating 300 horsepower. Each car has dual cabs to allow bi-directional operation just like DART's light rail vehicles (LRV).
  
  
• Rail Diesel Car Technical Specifications
  
  

  Vehicle Type:	Dual-cab, diesel propulsion rail vehicle
  Vehicle Height:	14 feet, 8 inches
  Vehicle Width:	10 feet
  Vehicle Length:	85 feet
  Vehicle Weight:	135,000 pounds each
  Passenger Capacity:	96 seated
  Average speed:	45 mph
  Body:	Stainless steel
  Interior:	Redesigned and refurbished to accommodate longer distance commuting. Deluxe high-back seating with armrests; luggage racks; non-skid rubber flooring
  Cooling/Heating:	Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system
  Special Features:	Accessible/accommodations for four wheelchairs per vehicle
  Vehicle Cost:	$1.8 million each (cost includes engineering, shipment, etc.)

Trinity Railway Express Locomotives, Bi-Level Coaches, Cab Cars

Trinity Railway Express Locomotive View more TRE images

Fleet configuration
6 locomotives
10 bi-level coaches
7 cab cars

TRE F-59 PH Locomotive Technical Specifications

• Originally Go Transit units purchased by TRE. Amtrak installed Cab HVAC, repainted car bodies, and converted HEP to 480V U.S. style. First used in service at TRE late 2000.
• Road numbers: 565 thru 568
• Locomotive manufacturer: EMD
• Locomotive type: (B-B) 0440
• Locomotive horsepower: 3100
• Years built: 1994
• Vehicle height: 15' 8"
• Vehicle width: 10' 6"
• Vehicle length: 58' 2"
• Vehicle weight: 260,000 lbs.
• Maximum speed: 83 mph

TRE F-59 PHI Locomotive Technical Specifications

• Purchased new from EMD, some electrical, and pre-delivery work done by Alsthom. First used by TRE in 2001.
• Road numbers: 569 & 570
• Locomotive manufacturer: EMD
• Locomotive type: (B-B) 0440
• Locomotive horsepower: 3000
• Years built: 2001
• Vehicle height: 15' 11.5"
• Vehicle width: 10' 6.5"
• Vehicle length: 58' 2"
• Vehicle weight: 268,000 lbs.
• Maximum speed: 83 mph

TRE Bi-Level Cab & Coach Equipment

• Road numbers: 1000 and 1001 Cab Cars, 1050 thru 1059 Coaches
• Car manufacturer: Hawker-Siddeley
• Originally built: 1976 thru 1977, rebuilt by Amtrak 2000 thru 2001
• Originally owned and operated by: GO Transit, Canada
  
  
• Road numbers: 1002 and 1003 Cab Cars
• Car manufacturer: Bombardier
• Years built: 2000
• Purchased new by: TRE
  
  
• Road numbers: 1004, 1005 and 1006 Cab Cars
• Car manufacturer: Bombardier
• Years built: 2003
• Purchased new by: TRE
  
  
• Seating capacity for cab and coach cars: 123 to 152 depending on configuration of car
• Maximum customer capacity: 399 to 428 depending on exact configuration of car
• Height: 15' 11"
• Width: 9' 10"
• Length: 85'
• Maximum design speed: 95 mph
• Empty weight: 122,000 lbs.
• Climate control: Full heating, air conditioning and ventilation
• Customer amenities: workstation tables, bicycle racks, luggage racks, cup holders
• Accessibility: Wheelchair access and interior spaces
• Cars equipped with restrooms: 1000, 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005, 1006, and 1053

Trinity Railway Express Commuter Rail Stations

Union Station (DART Rail and commuter rail service)
400 S. Houston St.

Medical/Market Center Station
1419 Motor St. (between Stemmons Freeway & Harry Hines Boulevard)

South Irving Transit Center
115 Rock Island Road, east of O'Connor Rd., Irving

West Irving Station
4200 Jackson St.

CentrePort/DFW Airport Station
14470 Statler Blvd. (southeast of Trinity Boulevard and SH 360, Fort Worth)

Hurst/Bell Station
3232 Bell Spur Dr. (at Trinity Boulevard, Fort Worth)

Richland Hills Station
7225 Burns St., Richland Hills (Handley-Ederville Road at SH 121)

Intermodal Transit Center
1001 Jones St., Fort Worth (9th and Jones)

Texas & Pacific Station
1600 Throckmorton St., Fort Worth

Trinity Railway Express News Media Contacts

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)

Morgan Lyons
Manager of Media Relations
Phone: 214/749-2662
Email: mlyons@DART.org

Jeff Hampton
Media Representative
Phone: 214/749-3249
Email: jhampton@DART.org

The T

Joan Hunter
Director of Communications
Phone: 817/215-8973
Email: jhunter@the-t.com

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