A-train (Texas)

The A-train is a 21-mile (34 km) hybrid rail (light rail with some features similar to commuter rail) line in Denton County, Texas, United States. It is the fourth-busiest commuter rail line in Texas and thirty-first in the United States. It runs parallel to Interstate 35E between Denton and Carrollton and acts as an extension with the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Green Line at Trinity Mills Station in Carrollton. It is operated by First Transit under the authority of the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) and serves Denton County. It opened on June 20, 2011.^[3] In 2022, the line had a ridership of 184,600, or about 800 as of the second quarter of 2023.

A-train
A-train diesel multiple unit train at the Downtown Denton Transit Center
Overview
Owner	Denton County Transportation Authority
Locale	Denton County, Texas
Termini	Downtown Denton Transit Center Trinity Mills Station
Stations	6
Website	dcta.net/a-train
Service
Type	Hybrid rail
System	Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA)
Operator(s)	First Transit (operations), Rio Grande Pacific Corporation (dispatching)
Rolling stock	11 Stadler GTW 2/6
Daily ridership	800 (weekdays, Q2 2023)^[1]
Ridership	184,600 (2022)^[2]
History
Opened	June 20, 2011
Technical
Line length	21 mi (33.80 km)
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed	79 mph (127 km/h)
Route map Legend Downtown Denton Transit Center Loop 288 MedPark Lewisville Lake Highland Village/Lewisville Lake Old Town Rail Operations and Maintenance Facility Hebron North Carrollton/Frankford (DART) Pres. George Bush Turnpike Trinity Mills   Green Line to Buckner

History

The right of way was established by the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad. Eight miles (13 km) of the disused line was purchased by the city of Denton in 1993, with a rail trail opening in 2001.^[4]

A formal Alternatives Analysis study conducted in 2004–2005, which included extensive community and citizen involvement, identified the proposed rail line as the best and most cost-effective mobility solution for Denton County and the region. It cited the impacts of projected population growth, growing safety, traffic congestion and air quality concerns, as well as the need to improve access to Denton County's vital health care facilities and three major college and university campuses.

In May 2005, the DCTA Board of Directors approved the study's recommendation to construct the rail alignment on east side of I-35E using an existing railroad corridor. The DCTA worked closely with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to meet the Federal and local regulatory requirements. In March 2008, the DCTA Board of Directors approved the Final Environmental Impact Determination that detailed the proposed measures to mitigate the environmental impacts of the rail project and the Regional Transportation Council approved funding of in August 2008.^{[citation needed]} Federal funds were not used in the construction of the rail link.^[5]

On April 4, 2011, the DCTA began tests of railcars, communications systems and signals on track between Carrollton and Lewisville Lake, with tests on the remainder of the route projected to begin later in the month,^[6] though this date was later pushed back to mid-May.^[7]

The A-train was opened on June 20, 2011, with celebrations at five train stations.^[8]

First Transit signed an agreement with the DCTA on July 20, 2016, to operate the A-train from October 1, 2016.^[9] The contract is for nine years with five additional option years.^[9]

Future

The North Central Texas Council of Governments Mobility 2045 plan calls for the A-train to be extended south to interchange with the DART Silver Line.^[10] As of April 2021^[update], DCTA is in discussions with DART to extend the A-train to Downtown Carrollton as part of an agreement in which DCTA would host a DART Silver Line maintenance center at the existing A-Train Operations and Maintenance Facility, including track upgrades and a new A-train station at Downtown Carrollton.^[11]

Operation

Fares

Fares are fully integrated with the rest of the DCTA system, with single rides costing $1.50. Two free transit zones exist on the system: between Downtown Denton Transit Center and MedPark, as well as Hebron Station to Trinity Mills.

Services

Since September 7, 2021, the A-train operates with a 30 minute headway during rush hours and interpeak every weekday, while on Saturdays the service runs every 60 minutes. There is no service on Sundays and major holidays. Interchanges with the DART Green Line are irregularly timed.^[12]

Stations

All stations have a park and ride lot and are fully accessible.

Station		Address	Municipality	Points of interest and connections
	Downtown Denton Transit Center	604 E. Hickory Street	Denton	Historic downtown Denton   Connect Bus: 3, 6, 7 GoZone: Denton
	MedPark	3220 MedPark Drive		Denton Regional Medical Center GoZone: Denton
	Highland Village/Lewisville Lake	2998 N. Stemmons Freeway	Lewisville	Lewisville Lake recreational area GoZone: Lewisville/Highland Village
	Old Town	617 E. Main Street		Historic downtown Lewisville GoZone: Lewisville/Highland Village
	Hebron	952 Lakeside Circle		GoZone: Lewisville/Highland Village
	Trinity Mills	2525 Blanton Drive	Carrollton	Green Line   DART Bus: 232 GoLink: Keller Springs

Rolling stock

DCTA placed an order for 11 Stadler GTW 2/6 DMUs in 2010. The first of the new trains were delivered in late 2011 for testing prior to their entry into service.^[13] The full order was fulfilled by August 2012, and in September 2012 the new units replaced the Budd DMUs leased from TRE.^[14] The line uses diesel-electric hybrid motive power.^[15]

Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Inventory	Unit Numbers	Built
			mph	km/h
Stadler GTW 2/6		Diesel Multiple Unit	60	100	11	101-111	2010–2012

The A-Train began operations using 10 Budd RDC-1s leased from Trinity Railway Express, which were used until DCTA's own purpose-built fleet was delivered.

References

1. "Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
2. "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2022" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
3. Peterson, Matt (June 20, 2011). . The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on July 1, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
4. "Denton, DCTA sorting out A-train issues". The Dallas Morning News. November 30, 2009. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
5. . Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2011.
6. "DCTA to begin testing signal, communications equipment on A-train corridor". Progressive Railroading. April 4, 2011. from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
7. . Railway Gazette International. May 16, 2011. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
8. . Pegasus News. Archived from the original on March 26, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2011.
9. "FirstGroup signs first US commuter rail contract".
10. "Mobility 2045: Maps" (PDF). Mobility 2045. North Central Texas Council of Governments. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
11. "DCTA April 2021 Board Packet" (PDF). DCTA. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
12. "A-train". DCTA. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
13. BJ Lewis (August 21, 2011). "New rail cars in testing phase". Denton Record-Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
14. . MYA Train. July 27, 2010. Archived from the original on May 10, 2010.
15. "Denton's new A-train cars may help expand regional rail". The Dallas Morning News. January 29, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2019.

External links

Template:Attached KML/A-train (Denton County Transportation Authority)

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