Dallas Area Rapid Transit-Stations of the Orange Line Ep#109 4K

Dallas Area Rapid Transit ("DART") owns and operates a Light Rail network in the Dallas, Texas region. In this video we explore their Orange Line, its longest route running from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Grapevine through Downtown Dallas to Plano, Texas. The Orange Line runs 37.0 rail miles and takes about 1 hour 33 minutes (1.55 hours) to ride end to end including stops. The average speed is about 24 mph including stops, the top speed 70 mph (capable). The Orange Line carried 4,027,660 passengers (FY2024) (Weekdays only). It runs 439 in each direction per week (878 combined) trains per week, 45,656 trains total per year averaging 88 passengers per train onboard at some point on the route. On Time Performance is about 85.3% (3/2026). DART does not use schedules train numbers. There are 31 stations on the Orange Line. Trains operate 4:30 AM until 12:30 AM. The tracks are Standard Gauge 4' 8.5" and DART own its own tracks. DART does not have Reporting Marks, as it is not connected to the North American Rail Network. Pricing for a 3-hour Pass is $3.00, any distance; a 24-Hour Pass runs $6.00 for "Local" and $9.00 "for "Regional". The DART Orange Lines operates with Kinki Sharyo 3-section articulated Super Light Rail Vehicles (SLRV), circa 2010, with "Super" meaning Extended Length, not light in weight. The lead and trailing cars are powered; the center car is not. Up to 3 vehicles can be coupled together. These vehicles are electrically powered using overhead wire 750VDC by pantograph and bow collector on the center car. There are 163 of these vehicles in the systemwide pool. DART is looking to replace them by 2029. DART started out in 1964 as the Dallas Transit System ("DTS") a bus-oriented public transit service operated by the City of Dallas, Texas. DART was created in 1983 to replace DRT and expand it into a regional transit service. There were 14 City and 1 County member partners. DART took over operation from DRT in 1984. In 1988 DART buys 34 miles of right-of-way from Southern Pacific Railroad to begin what will be built into the Light Rail network. DART adds more Southern Pacific right-of-way in 1990. Groundbreaking for DART Light Rail occurred in October 1990. The first Light Rail vehicles arrived at the DART Service & Testing Center in 1995. DART Light Rail began service began in June 1996 and initial ridership exceeded all expectations. DART opened the first segment of the Trinity Railway Express Commuter Rail line which eventually linked Dallas, Irving and Fort Worth. The DART Light Rail system has the 7th highest ridership for Light Rail systems in the United States. The DART organization is comprised of member cities Addison, Carrollton, Cockrell Hill, Dallas, Farmers Branch, Garland, Glenn Heights, Highland Park, Irving, Plano, Richardson, Rowlett and University Park, plus Dallas County. DART’s governance includes representation from each member city, with recent reforms ensuring that no single city, including Dallas, holds a majority on the board, promoting equitable decision-making across the region. The member cities collaborate on funding, transit planning, and service expansion to maintain a seamless regional transit system. There are disputes led by Addison, Highland Park and University Park who will vote on a measure to withdraw from DART. Recently, DART's CEO resigned over political in-fighting.