Media Relations Contact:
Morgan Lyons
Mark A. Ball
Joan Hunter, The T
November 6, 2008
Commuter line marks another ridership milestone
Trinity Railway Express celebrates 20 million passenger trips
Wayne Friesner, CEO of the Trinity Railway Express rides an early morning train with Tim Clark of Bedford, the 20 millionth customer of the 12-year old commuter line between Dallas and Fort Worth.
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Coming off a year of record-breaking ridership, the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) boarded its 20 millionth customer the morning of November 6 at CentrePort/DFW Airport Station, the mid-point of the 34-mile line connecting Dallas and Fort Worth.
The TRE is a joint service of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and The T in Fort Worth. It is operated for the two agencies by Herzog Transportation Services. The customer, chosen by TRE staff, boarded an eastbound train at CentrePort and was escorted to a reserved seat for the trip to Dallas. They were presented with a number of gifts to mark the occasion including a gift certificate to the Y. O. Ranch Steakhouse (courtesy Herzog), a gift certificate from Sundance Square merchants (courtesy Sundance Square), tickets to a Dallas Stars hockey game (courtesy Dallas Stars), and a model train set of TRE rail cars donated by Athearn, manufacturer of the models. Customers at CentrePort were treated with coffee and cookies through the morning rush hours.
Record TRE ridership in October
Fresh from a record-breaking fiscal year 2008 (2.7 million total trips, average weekday ridership of 10,309), the TRE notched its highest ridership month ever with 327,455 trips. This is the first time the TRE has delivered more than 300,000 trips in a single month. It also marks an increase of 24.1% over October 2007, the previous record-high month. October's average weekday ridership, 11,102, was the third-highest ever, and an 18% increase over October 2007. The highest weekday ridership for TRE was 11,234 set in August 2008.
"Wow, this is amazing!," Trinity Railway Express customer Tim Clark of Bedford told reporters after being recognized as the 20 millionth customer of the commuter rail line linking Dallas and Fort Worth. Clark rides daily to his teaching job in downtown Dallas.
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Trinity Railway Express customers at CentrePort/DFW Station were greeted with coffee and cookies to mark the 20 millionth passenger of the commuter line.
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