Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is preparing to open its Silver Line Regional Rail to passengers before the end of the year. But before it does, many of those future passengers will experience a quieter experience as the train makes its way across the tracks. 

DART partnered with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and six of the seven cities that the Silver Line traverses to establish a quiet zone ordinance along most of the 26-mile rail alignment. During testing, trains are required to sound their horns as they approach all rail crossings to alert motorists and pedestrians to the presence of the train.

These horns will begin to fall silent before the end of July, as quiet zones are expected to become active in Coppell on Wednesday, July 30. Addison and Dallas will look to activate their quiet zones on Friday, Aug. 1, with Carrollton, Richardson, and Plano’s quiet zone activation to follow on Friday, Aug. 22. All dates are tentative, pending FRA approval.  

“Safety has been one of our biggest priorities as we’ve pushed through on this project, so we want to thank everyone for their patience as we’ve worked through all the requirements needed with FRA officials to get these quiet zones active,” said Trey Walker, DART vice president of capital programs.  

Quiet Zone Impact  

Once quiet zones are activated, residents, motorists, and pedestrians will no longer consistently hear the train horn as the vehicles approach a rail crossing or station. Train horns will only be used when necessary for safety, such as an object on or near the track obstructing the train’s path forward.  

DART worked closely with city and FRA officials to verify that all areas along the rail alignment meet the necessary additional safety measures to establish quiet zones. The FRA requires these measures to ensure the public is aware of oncoming trains that will not consistently sound their horns. Safety additions along the Silver Line include fencing, quad gates at rail crossings, and unmountable curbs, which keep vehicles from driving around gates at crossings. Once activated, passenger and freight trains must adhere to all quiet zones.   

Silver Line is commuter rail, not light rail 

Manufactured in Salt Lake City by Stadler, the Silver Line vehicles are powered by electric diesel multiple-unit-powered (DMU) engines that meet strict Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. With seating for over 220 passengers and updated amenities like multidirectional seats, overhead storage, and internal closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, the trains more closely resemble Trinity Metro’s TexRail vehicles than DART’s existing light rail fleet operating on the Red, Blue, Orange, and Green Lines.  

The DART 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 regional rail line features 53 miles of a double-track alignment that crosses three counties (Collin, Dallas, and Tarrant) and will provide passengers with a safe, quiet, and comfortable ride while improving mobility and accessibility across the northern portion of the DART service area.   

For more information about the Silver Line, light rail, or bus transit, visit www.DART.org