Category: News Release
TEXRail unveils new Equipment Maintenance Facility in Fort Worth
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 EasyRide Program for Students FAQ
Rail Safety: Be Alert Around Tracks
May 2018 Northside Transfer Center Temporary Relocation
Due to construction on North Houston Street, routes 12, 14, 15, 44, 45 and 91 will be temporarily relocated to the northwest area of Houston along NW 26th Street. See image below for reference. Routes 12, 14 and 15 will be stopping on the north side of NW 26th Street. Routes 44, 45 and 91 will Boe stopping on the south side of NW 26th Street.
Construction will begin May 1st, 2018, with a pending completion date of June 1st, 2018.
TRE and Bus service during the 2018 Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival
TRE:
For TRE schedules, including the dedicated Sunday schedule for April 22, 2018, click here
Bus:
The following routes are available during the 4 day event:
Route 6 – 8th Ave./McCart/Hulen Mall
Route 11 – North Beach/Heritage Trace
Route 12 – Samuels/Mercantile Center
Route 15 – Stockyards/North Main
Detour Information:
Detours are implemented beginning on April 16, 2018.
Shuttle buses on TRE route April 6-9 for bridge replacement
Buses are replacing Trinity Railway Express (TRE) trains between West Irving and CentrePort/DFW Airport stations the first full weekend of April.
TRE service will be suspended between the stations to replace a bridge over Bear Creek, a major step in TRE’s ongoing double-track upgrade.
Construction will impact the final two westbound trains Friday evening, April 6, and all trains Saturday, April 7, and Monday, April 9.
Passengers can expect significant delays, especially during morning and afternoon rush hours on April 9, and are encouraged to allow extra time to transfer to shuttle buses. Buses will meet all eastbound and westbound trains at West Irving and CentrePort/DFW Airport stations to continue the trip. Staff will also be on hand to support transferring customers.
Weather permitting, normal rail service will resume Tuesday, April 10.
For more information, call Trinity Metro at 817-215-8600.or DART at 214-979-1111.
Rail Safety: Three Signs to Recognize
First run of TEXRail train!
Tarrant County College will provide Trinity Metro bus rides for students
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