Special thanks to James Greenhalgh for providing most of the photos on this page.

DART Rail currently operates three lines referred to by colour: Red, Blue, and Green. These three lines are interlined in downtown Dallas. The Red Line and Blue Line have an across-the-platform connection with TRE at Union Station, while the Green Line has a TRE connection at Victory Station. Current transit facilities to DFW are served by a short shuttle bus between the airport and the Centre Port/DFW Airport station on TRE.

Further expansion of the Green Line, both to the north and the south, and an eastern extension of the Blue Line are underway. A fourth line, the Orange Line, will interline with the Green Line north from Victory Station and will branch west to directly serve DFW airport. Both the Green and Orange Lines will also serve the Love Field Airport.

2-car train of 3-section LRVs

DART Rail predates low floor technology, so it uses high floor vehicles with steps to a low loading platform. Wheelchair/stroller access has been provided by a high-level platform and bridge located at the front of the train behind the operator's cab. The manufacturer has developed a new middle section that can be retro-fitted to provide low-level boarding. DART Rail does provide a good example of some ways that the ROW can be implemented:

• fenced-in surface ROW and elevated sections
• downtown transit mall
• short tunnel sections

Interior view from articulation towards end

Interior view from one end

Interior view from articulation towards low floor section

Fare collection:

Fares may be purchased from vending machines on platforms.

Current DART SLRT with "A", "C", and "B" sections:

Local single ride fares are US$1.75 for local service (bus and rail within DART's zone) and are good for 90 minutes of rail travel or a single bus ride.

A local day pass is US$4.00 within DART's zone.

A "system" fare includes TRE operations within DART's zone and costs $2.50 single or $5.00 for a day pass.

A "regional" fare (US$3.75 for single ride, US$7.50 for day pass) allows for travel in both DART's zone and The T's zone.

Older image of day pass

Random fare inspections take place on the LRT. Fare evaders are issued a citation that may be disposed of without a declaration of guilt if an "administrative fee" of US$100 is paid within 30 days. Otherwise, a Class C misdemeanor violation with a fine not to exceed US$500 may apply.

7-Day Passes are the cost of five days: US$20 for local, US$25 for system, or US$37.50 for regional.

A monthly pass is available for US$65 for local, US$75 for system, or US$105 for regional.

Most DART Rail stations have side platforms. Ten stations have a centre island platform. Six of the island platforms are at stations on the northern branch of the Red Line.

When parking is available at stations, it is free but overnight stays are not permitted.

Level boarding is now provided by new centre sections added to LRVs along with a slight raising of platform levels. Original accessible entry was and is provided by a small high-level platform to access the front door on the train.

Ramp and high level platform at West End station

Here is a description of the trip on the Red Line from Parker Road to Union Station that takes approximately 47 minutes:

LRVs on tail tracks north of Parker Road station

The northern terminus of the Red Line is Parker Road. This station is at-grade with an island platform and space for 1555 cars. Prior to the opening of DART Rail to this station, the site was known as the East Plano Transit Center. Note: the ticket scan above is of a ticket issued at this station, though it says "East Plano" on it.

The next three stations are all side platform stations. Downtown Plano has no parking space on its property, though parking facilities in downtown Plano are within walking distance. Bush Turnpike has 778 parking spaces and two bicycle racks, while Galatyn Park has no parking for cars, but two bicycle racks.

The next two stations have an island platform. Arapaho Center has space for 1100 cars, and Spring Valley has space for 403 cars. They both have one bicycle rack and two bicycle lockers.

Some images of Mockingbird station:

LBJ/Central station has side platforms and parking space for 568 cars. There is one bicycle rack and one locker.

The next three stations all have island platforms. Forest Lane has parking space for 271 cars, two bicycle lockers and one rack. Walnut Hill has 208 parking spaces, and one bicycle locker and one rack. Park Lane is an elevated station that has space for 1200 cars, and two bicycle lockers and one rack. The original Park Lane station that opened with the 1997 extension of the Red Line was an at-grade station. It was replaced by the current elevated station with a further extension in 2002.

The next station, Lovers Lane, has side platforms, no parking, four bicycle lockers and one rack.

Moving south, the Blue Line joins with the Red Line just before reaching Mockingbird station. It has a centre island platform and is located in a trench slightly below the surrounding grade. There is space for 708 cars along with six bicycle lockers and nine racks. This station has the highest population density within three miles of any mass transit station in Texas.

South of Mockingbird station, the line enters a tunnel and remains underground until just before reaching Pearl station downtown.

Cityplace station

Cityplace station is an infill station (i.e.: added to the line after it opened) and was the first public subway station in the southwestern USA. It is also the only DART Rail station where a transfer can be made to the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority's M-Line streetcar.

M-line Streetcar

The next station is Pearl, the original northern terminus of both the Red Line and the Blue Line. As this was a terminus at one time, it has a centre island platform.

The new Green Line joins this line between the tunnel and Pearl.

The next three stations are St. Paul, Akard, and West End.

Heading south, the West End station is the last station before the branch to Victory station, located next to the American Airlines Center. With the opening of the Green Line in September 2009, Victory station is now served full time by trains on that line.

When special events warrant service to Victory on the Red and Blue Lines, trains run with destination signs having a black background (rather than the colour of their line) displaying only "DART".

The Green Line will be extended north from Victory station. This station will also serve as the southern terminus of the Orange Lines when it opens. Victory is also served by TRE.

The next station to the south is Union Station. This is also served by Trinity Rail Express, Amtrak's Texas Eagle, and the Greyhound bus terminal. The LRT is served by side platforms, but the southbound platform is an island platform that also serves as the western terminus of TRE.

Passengers have easy across-the-platform access to TRE trains heading west to connect downtown Dallas with downtown Fort Worth. No additional fare is required to transfer between TRE and DART. However, a 2-zone fare is required if taking TRE beyond the fare boundary located between West Irving station and CentrePort/DFW Airport station.

The entire trip on the Blue Line from Downtown Garland to Ledbetter takes approximately 58 minutes. Here are some details from Downtown Garland to Mockingbird and from Union station to Ledbetter:

The Blue Line begins at Downtown Garland Station, northeast of Dallas. The station has a centre platform.

The route travels west and then southwest stopping at Forest/Jupiter, LBJ/Skillman and White Rock Station before interlining with the Red Line just before reaching Mockingbird Station. Half way between JBJ/Skillman and White Rock (a 5.6 km distance), a new station named Lake Highlands is currently under construction and is expected to be opened in 2010.

South of Union Station, the next station is Convention Center, which is within and beneath the Dallas Convention Center building. Following that is Cedars Station which is an at grade station just south of the downtown core.

Just past this point, the line turns southwest and crosses the Trinity River. Speeds on this bridge are as high as 65 mph (or 104 kph). The next station is 8th and Corinth where just past this point, the Blue line trains turn south.

The line follows an electrical utility corridor, stopping at Morrell and Illinois Station. Then a bridge takes the line over to the centre median of South Lancaster Road, stopping at Kiest and VA Medical Center Station. Kiest is one of only two stations on this branch that has a centre island platform.

Just south of East Ledbetter Drive, the line crosses the southbound Lancaster lanes to Ledbetter Station, located just west of the road. Ledbetter is the other station on this branch with a centre platform.

The entire trip on the Red Line from Parker Road to Westmoreland takes approximately 66 minutes. Here are some of the highlights southwest of 8th & Corinth:

From 8th & Corinth, the red line continues in a southwest direction through Oak Cliff to Dallas Zoo station.

Westmoreland station:
the southern end of the Red Line 

After Dallas Zoo, the next station is Tyler/Vernon, followed by Hampton.

The southern end of the Red Line is the next station, Westmoreland.

If anyone has any additional photos or description of DART Rail (especially the new Green Line), please send them here.

Besides the stations mentioned above, the other three island platform stations are:

• Downtown Garland, the northern terminus of the Blue Line

• Kiest, on the southern branch of the Blue Line

Send questions, comments, and photos here

This page last updated October 13, 2009