DART awards streetcar vehicle contract
Brookville Equipment Corp. vehicles will operate along a four-stop, 1.6-mile track that provides access for citizens of Dallas' urban core to the downtown Union Station hub, which connects to DART's Red/Blue/Green light rail lines and the Trinity Railway Express with service to Fort Worth.


The Brookville Liberty Streetcars will operate along a four-stop, 1.6-mile track that provides access for citizens of Dallas' urban core to the downtown Union Station hub, which connects to DART's Red/Blue/Green light rail lines and the Trinity Railway Express with service to Fort Worth.
The streetcars will utilize an innovative battery energy storage system (ESS) to power the car's four traction motors when off-wire. Approximately one mile of the 1.6-mile track will require ESS power, allowing the LRV to cross the city's Houston Street Viaduct over the Trinity River without the use of catenary.
Featuring three passenger compartments, the 66.5 foot-long, eight foot-wide cars will include more than 70% low-floor area, providing accessible seating for passengers. The streetcars will run on standard 56.5-inch track gauge and utilize Brookville’s soft ride trucks powered by four 99 kW AC traction motors while traveling at a maximum speed of 44 mph.
The contract between Brookville and DART is authorized for up to $9.4 million and the extension project includes funding from a Federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) I grant of $23 million. The downtown Union Station to Oak Cliff extension is being funded through various grants totaling $56.8 million, with collaborative agency support between the City of Dallas, North Central Texas Council of Governments and DART.
The Oak Cliff streetcar extension is slated for a late 2014 completion and will provide enhanced accessibility to downtown Dallas for residents in adjacent neighborhoods.
More Rail

New York MTA Advances Final Contract for Second Avenue Subway Expansion
Contract Four is the largest in the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project and includes construction of station infrastructure, tracks, and signals for the subway expansion, MTA officials said. Work on Contract Four will begin in 2027.
Read More →
San Diego MTS Breaks Monthly Trolley Ridership Record
Agency officials said July’s ridership indicates MTS’s continued recovery from the pandemic.
Read More →
Report Examines NJ TRANSIT Reliability, Funding Challenges
The Garden State Initiative analysis examines the roles of Amtrak infrastructure, fleet management, and agency operations while recommending a more performance-based approach to improving reliability.
Read More →
Stadler, CapMetro Sign Long-Term Rail Fleet Support Agreement
Beginning in 2027, Stadler will provide on-site technical expertise, spare parts support, training, and obsolescence management to help extend the reliability and longevity of CapMetro’s GTW fleet.
Read More →
Biz Briefs: Alstom Lands Canadian Contract, LYT to Supply California TSP, and More
In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at recent news from Complete Coach Works, Beep, FlixBus, and more partnerships making headlines across the transportation sector.
Read More →
CATS Gold Line Marks 5 Years of Service, 2.8M Passenger Trips
With a six-mile expansion planned, the Charlotte streetcar is positioned to connect more neighborhoods and major transit hubs across the region.
Read More →
Why Simulating Pedestrian Movement Has Become Essential for Modern Rail Stations
Pedestrian microsimulation is helping rail planners identify bottlenecks, test station designs, and prepare complex transit hubs for growing passenger volumes.
Read More →
Amtrak Begins Major Construction at New York’s Sunnyside Yard
The new maintenance facility will support Amtrak’s Airo trainsets while improving maintenance efficiency and turnaround times in New York.
Read More →
Chicago Leaders Unveil Plans for O’Hare Airport Express Train
The privately developed project would offer a 15-minute trip between downtown and O’Hare’s Terminal 2, with trains operating every 15 minutes on a dedicated track. The service would use battery-electric trains and three existing freight rail rights-of-way.
Read More →
OCTA Maps Out 30-Year Strategy to Protect Coastal Rail Corridor
The draft feasibility report identifies strategies to protect the coastal rail line for decades as the agency continues near-term stabilization and sand placement efforts.
Read More →