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SEARCHActivation will silence train horns in six Texas cities as DART continues testing vehicles, crossings and track ahead of passenger service set to open by the end of the year.
During testing, DART Silver Line trains must sound their horns at all crossings under FRA regulations. However, quiet zones, beginning in Coppell on July 30, will soon silence these horns as part of a phased rollout.
Photo: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) in Texas will soon open its Silver Line Regional Rail to passengers before the end of 2025. Still, before it does, the agency is working to establish “quiet zones” along most of the 26-mile rail alignment.
The DART Silver Line is a commuter rail with EPA-compliant DMU trains connecting seven Texas cities to improve regional mobility.
DART partnered with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and six of the seven cities the Silver Line traverses to implement the ordinance. During testing, trains must sound their horns as they approach all rail crossings to alert motorists and pedestrians to the train’s presence.
However, 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. Additional zones and dates include:
Addison and Dallas will look to activate their quiet zones on Friday, Aug. 1.
Carrollton, Richardson, and Plano’s quiet zone activation is planned for Friday, Aug. 22.
All dates are tentative and 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.
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 when an object on or near the track obstructs the train’s path forward.
According to an agency release, 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.
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