FORT WORTH, Texas — TEXRail, the newest element in the Dallas-Fort Worth area’s growing network of commuter and light rail, will make its debut on New Year’s Day, with regular service set to begin Jan. 5.
The New Year’s Day kickoff will feature officials from the cities along the route taking a celebratory ride, ending with music and refreshments at the airport, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. The newspaper’s primer on the new service, part of the Trinity Metro system, notes trains will run roughly 21 hours a day, seven days a week, with one-way tickets priced at $2.50. Day passes for bus and rail service within Tarrant County will be $5, while regional day passes, which also include Dallas Area Rapid Transit trains, will be $12.
The 27-mile line, connecting downtown Fort Worth to DFW International Airport, is projected to serve more than 8,000 daily riders at nine stations by the end of its first year of operation. It will use eight Stadler FLIRT3 diesel multiple unit trainsets, each with seats for 229 passengers.
Does this use the same line as the Tarantula Train for much of its route? If so, will the Tarantula Train be allowed to continue operation? I don’t see any competition for passengers because the Tarantula Train terminates at the Stockyards and TEXRail at downtown Ft. Worth. However, there might be competition for track space.