METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Denton County 'A-train' begins final testing

Vehicle and equipment testing and crew qualifying are the first phase of operations in preparation for revenue service and began in April in the southern segment between Lewisville and Carrollton. System testing of the segment north of Lewisville Lake will begin in mid-May.

April 28, 2011
2 min to read


Texas' Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) continues to make progress on the A-train and expects to launch service on June 20, 2011. In anticipation of the opening, the agency has begun testing in order to finalize its operating schedule and be ready to host a community-wide celebration on June 18.

Construction for the A-train project is largely complete with minor work continuing in Denton at the stations and intersections. Vehicle and equipment testing and crew qualifying are the first phase of operations in preparation for revenue service and began in April in the southern segment between Lewisville and Carrollton. System testing of the segment north of Lewisville Lake will begin in mid-May.

Ad Loading...

Since testing has begun and a portion of the system is now active, DCTA has increased its efforts to discourage trespassing along the rail corridor. DCTA has a full-time Denton County Sherriff's Deputy patrolling the corridor and is working with municipal police to enforce the "no trespassing" signage.

While DCTA has not finalized its rail schedule and will not do so until run times between stations are tested with trains, the Authority has outlined service parameters and operating hours. Pre-revenue testing will begin in late May and a detailed schedule will be released to the public in early June.

DCTA will optimize its schedule to meet as many Green Line trains at the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Trinity Mills station. DCTA will operate at a 25-minute frequency during peak periods and 60-80 minute frequencies during the off-peak.

More Rail

Graphic from Amtrak promoting the B&P Tunnel Replacement and Frederick Douglass Tunnel project, featuring the Amtrak logo, project title and an illustration of a high-speed train near the West Baltimore MARC Station.
Railby News/Media ReleaseMarch 17, 2026

Amtrak Announces Community Grants for Projects Near Baltimore’s New Frederick Douglass Tunnel

Amtrak will open grant applications March 23 for community projects near the Frederick Douglass Tunnel alignment in Baltimore as part of a $50 million investment tied to the B&P Tunnel Replacement Program.

Read More →
Amtrak train with logo
Railby StaffMarch 16, 2026

Amtrak Marks Restoration of Two South Carolina Stations

The Denmark Station $2.3 million construction investment project includes a new 280-foot concrete boarding platform, built eight inches above the top of rail, for improved accessibility for passengers with disabilities and families with small children and much more.

Read More →
A view looking down the rail across the new Portal North Bridge.
Railby Staff and News ReportsMarch 13, 2026

NJ Transit, Amtrak Prepare to Open First Track on New Portal North Bridge

The new bridge will begin carrying passenger trains on March 16, replacing a 116-year-old swing bridge that has long caused delays.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Caltrain trains on tracks
Railby StaffMarch 6, 2026

Caltrain Adopts Corridor-Wide Right-of-Way Safety Strategy

Caltrain and its partners have implemented safety improvements at specific locations in response to known risk conditions, operational needs, and available funding since the agency’s founding.

Read More →
A photo of rail tracks in Ottawa, Canada

Building a National Framework for Transit Safety and Consistency

On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.

Read More →
Stairs in a New York rail station with text reading "USDOT Invests $686 Million to Modernize Aging Rail Stations."
Railby StaffMarch 2, 2026

FTA Invests $686M to Modernize Aging Rail Stations

Competitive FTA grants will support accessibility upgrades, family-friendly improvements, and cost-efficient capital projects at some of the nation’s oldest and busiest transit hubs.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A purple MBTA train at a Mansfield Station platform.
Railby StaffFebruary 27, 2026

MBTA Updates Rail Modernization Plan to Expand Reliability and Accessibility

The strategy outlines near- and long-term upgrades to ease congestion, support housing growth, and advance statewide climate goals.

Read More →
LA Metro underground station with vehicle
Railby StaffFebruary 27, 2026

LA Metro Sets D Line Subway Extension Launch Date

The 3.92-mile addition will soon take riders west beyond its current Wilshire and Western station in Koreatown, continuing under Wilshire Boulevard through neighborhoods and communities including Hancock Park, Windsor Square, the Fairfax District, and Carthay Circle into Beverly Hills.

Read More →
MBTA railcars
Railby StaffFebruary 26, 2026

Boston's MBTA Marks Progress in Regional Rail Modernization

The procurement advances the agency's broader efforts to modernize its rail fleet and position Regional Rail for long-term improvement.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An Amtrak Acela
Railby StaffFebruary 26, 2026

Amtrak Sets New Course for Long-Distance Fleet Renewal

Under the plan, all long-distance routes will transition to a universal single-level fleet, replacing today’s mix of bi-level and single-level equipment.

Read More →