Category: News Release

The new home of TEXRail trains will be on display at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 22. The Equipment Maintenance Facility (EMF), located at 3137 E. Long Ave., is celebrating the grand opening with tours of the facility – and tours of a TEXRail train.

“Watching this facility come together has been very gratifying,” said Paul J Ballard, president and chief executive officer of Trinity Metro. “The craftsmanship and quality of the equipment maintenance facility lay the groundwork for efficient TEXRail operations and maintenance.”

Located on a 27-acre site, the EMF building is a 53,000 square-foot-facility that includes three maintenance pits (two indoor and one outdoor) and a train washing area. All eight TEXRail train sets will be housed and maintained at the EMF. The site also includes offices, a warehouse for parts and dispatch operations.

“TEXRail will be a premium commuter rail that will transform how people view train service,” said Bob Baulsir, senior vice president, who oversees rail construction for Trinity Metro. “These trains have a European design that is very sleek and modern. What might surprise riders and residents is how quiet TEXRail is.”

About EMF Operations

TEXRail and the Trinity Railway Express will both be dispatched from the EMF. Dispatchers will control movements for all trains on Trinity Metro’s lines, including Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Union Pacific, Dallas Garland Northeastern, Fort Worth and Western Railroad, Grapevine Vintage Railroad and Amtrak.

About the TEXRail Train

The FLIRT 3 (Fast Light Innovative Regional Train) vehicles, which are built by Stadler Bussnang AG of Switzerland, are assembled in Utah as part of the Buy America program. Two TEXRail train sets are in Fort Worth and a third will be arriving in Texas later this month. All eight train sets will be delivered by the end of the year.

The diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains are configured with an operator cab at either end for bidirectional movement. At the center of the train is a power pack with two diesel engines. This style of train is much quieter than traditional commuter rail. TEXRail amenities include a quiet car, work tables, lap trays, level boarding, bike racks and overhead storage for bags.

Tarrant County College (TCC) students will soon have a free option for getting around town. Thanks to an agreement between TCC and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority, students will be able to ride any of the 38 bus routes in Tarrant County and TCC will pick up the tab. The transit agency, formerly known as The T, recently rebranded as Trinity Metro.

Starting May 15, TCC students will be able to use their student identification cards to access any of the bus routes in Trinity Metro’s system. The rides will then be paid by TCC.

As part of the EasyRide agreement, Trinity Metro will provide new bus service to TCC Northeast and TCC Southeast campuses beginning in August, prior to the start of the fall semester. Trinity Metro currently serves TCC’s other locations: Trinity River Campus, South Campus, Northwest Campus and the Erma C. Johnson Hadley Northwest Center of Excellence for Aviation, Transportation and Logistics.

“This agreement exemplifies a partnership designed for the future of Tarrant County,” said Paul Ballard, president/CEO of Trinity Metro. “Having an educated workforce strengthens the roots of a community and helps it grow and prosper in the future. Transportation is essential to the economic growth of our region. We are delighted to continue our partnership with Chancellor Giovannini and TCC as we help students achieve their goals by increasing their mobility in Tarrant County.”

Students enrolled in TCC’s 2018 summer term will be among the first students eligible for the EasyRide Program. Students issued TCC identification cards after May 15 will be automatically activated with EasyRide eligibility. Students with TCC identification cards issued prior to May 15 must have their cards activated for the EasyRide program. They will need to take their ID card to a TCC Copy Center for activation.

“Our students report that access to transportation is one of the greatest barriers they face when achieving their educational goals,” said Tarrant County College Chancellor Eugene Giovannini. “By partnering with Trinity Metro to cover the cost of a student’s transportation to campus, TCC is continuing to fulfill its mission of providing affordable and open access to quality teaching and learning.”

For more information, contact:

Laura J. Hanna
Director of Communications
Trinity Metro
801 Cherry Street, Suite 850
Fort Worth, TX – 76102
(817) 215-8973 – Office
(817) 721-0734 – Cell
Laura.Hanna@ridetm.org

Rita L.B. ParsonDistrict Manager of Public Relations| Communications, PR & Marketing
Tarrant County College| Trinity River Campus |TREF 3326 B
300 Trinity Campus Circle |Fort Worth, TX 76102
817-515-1543 | Fax 817-515-0817
rita.parson@tccd.edu | www.tccd.edu

Fort Worth residents and visitors will now be able to ride around downtown for free on Trinity Metro’s Molly the Trolley, thanks to subsidies from the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau, Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. and Sundance Square. Downtown hotels are also helping pay for the service, including the Omni, Worthington Renaissance, Sheraton, Hilton, Embassy Suites and Blackstone Courtyard. The fare-free service begins Thursday, March 1.

“We are excited to provide Molly service at no cost to customers, and we appreciate the participation of our community partners to make that happen,” said Paul Ballard, president and CEO of Trinity Metro. “Molly has always been a popular route for getting to the many downtown attractions.”

Having a downtown trolley helps convention goers and travelers take a quick tour of downtown or hop off and visit local shops and restaurants.

“Molly the Trolley is a crucial part of the downtown visitor experience,” said Bob Jameson, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Public transportation is a coveted amenity that many convention planners and other visitors consider when choosing a destination. The CVB is happy to help subsidize Molly the Trolley because this service is a win for downtown and the future of tourism.”

Molly the Trolley is a familiar sight downtown with its distinctive green paint and wood panels on the sides. With stops throughout downtown, the circulator is a popular choice among residents and tourists.

“Sundance Square is pleased to once again sponsor this service and provide rides to our customers and guests,” said Johnny Campbell, president and CEO of Sundance Square “For years this has been a very popular service for hotel guests who visit to easily move around downtown Fort Worth and enjoy everything Sundance Square has to offer.“

Rick Baumeister, chairman DFWI Board of Directors, shared that sentiment.

“We look forward to the increased ridership on Molly with this change in fare structure,” Baumeister said. “We are pleased to partner with the CVB, Sundance Square, downtown hotels and Trinity Metro to bring this valued service back to Downtown.”

The cost of operating Molly the Trolley is approximately $1 million each year. The Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau, Downtown Fort Worth, Inc., Sundance Square and downtown hotels will be contributing a total of nearly $136,800 annually to help offset some of that cost.

Molly runs every 15 minutes every day of the year from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.