Train horns to go silent at most crossings starting Aug. 22, pending federal approval
Train horns along the DART Silver Line are expected to go quiet in Richardson beginning Friday, Aug. 22, as part of a new set of quiet zones being established across the 26-mile rail corridor.
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is working with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and other partner cities to implement the quiet zones. Once activated, train horns will no longer be routinely used at public crossings within the designated areas. Horns will still sound in limited cases where required for safety.
Quiet zones are being implemented in six of the seven cities along the Silver Line route, including Richardson. The changes are part of preparations for the start of Silver Line service, which DART plans to launch before the end of the year. Until quiet zones are active, trains will continue sounding horns at each crossing as part of system testing.
To meet FRA safety standards, each crossing includes added safety features such as fencing, quad gates, and unmountable curbs to help prevent vehicles from bypassing crossing arms. Once in effect, the quiet zone rules will apply to both passenger and freight trains.
The Silver Line is a 26-mile commuter rail connecting DFW Airport to Shiloh Road in Plano. It passes through Richardson and six other cities: Grapevine, Coppell, Dallas, Carrollton, Addison, and Plano. The Silver Line vehicles are diesel-electric, meet EPA standards, and are equipped with modern amenities including seating for more than 220 passengers and onboard CCTV cameras.
More information is available at www.dart.org/silverline.
