Category: News Release

Long-term parking options

Did you know that TEXRail can make your travel plans easier?  Five of the TEXRail stations have an average of 20 spots for long-term parking to give travelers an economical option when riding TEXRail to DFW Airport to catch a flight.

Long-term parking options:

  • Fort Worth T&P Station
  • North Side Station
  • Mercantile Center Station
  • North Richland Hills/Iron Horse Station
  • North Richland Hills/Smithfield Station

Customers may make reservations and payments on the Ace Parking app for Apple or GooglePlay. The cost is only $5 a day.

Orange Line = Western Fun!

Whether you’re looking to two-step at the honky-tonk or enjoy dinner and a movie downtown, Trinity Metro’s Orange Line is your best way to travel between the Fort Worth Stockyards and downtown Fort Worth. No driving needed!

The bus route runs 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week, and has easy connectivity with Trinity Metro TEXRail. Destinations include Fort Worth Central Station, Fort Worth Stockyards, TEXRail’s North Side Station and Fort Worth Convention Center.

For more details about the route and how to buy tickets, visit Trinity Metro Orange Line.

Bus route service changes begin April 13

Trinity Metro will implement minor service alterations for three bus routes beginning Sunday, April 13.

Route 11 North Beach/Mercantile Center Station – Shift Route 11 departure times from Fort Worth Central Station to depart at 15 and 45 minutes after the hour to enhance connectivity to other routes.

Route 16 Alliance Town Center/Mercantile Center Station – Adjust the schedule to align with modifications made to Route 11.

Route 55 Handley – Adjust the schedule to reallocate time between timepoints.

New web schedules for these three routes will be posted to the routes page on Friday, April 11.

 

Rail safety during wintry weather

When the weather turns cold, keeping the rails from freezing is an important safety measure. Individual containers, known as smudge pots, are lit to produce heat beneath the rail. In weather conditions that involve moisture and near-freezing temperatures, it’s important to generate heat to keep rain or sleet from freezing on the switch points that enable a train to shift to a different track as needed. This safety measure is not needed when the weather is cold and dry.

Use of smudge pots is a common practice in warmer climates. Both Trinity Metro TEXRail and Trinity Railway Express are utilizing smudge pots during this week’s inclement weather.

Severe Winter Weather Plans

In anticipation of continual winter weather, Trinity Metro is also adjusting transit services for Friday, Jan. 10.

  • All Trinity Metro bus routes will operate on a Saturday schedule with service slated to begin at approximately 8 a.m. Riders should expect delays and need to plan accordingly. This includes the CentrePort Shuttle (route 30) and TRE LINK (route 31).
  • Express bus routes 61, 63, 65, plus Molly the Trolley and the Burnett Plaza Lunch Line will not operate on Friday.
  • Trinity Metro TEXRail is operating on an adjusted hourly schedule until noon Friday. Service is slated to return to the regular schedule for the balance of daily service at noon.
  • Trinity Railway Express (TRE) will continue operating on its regular weekday schedule, but weather-related delays are possible.
  • Similar to buses, Trinity Metro On-Demand service areas will have a delayed start time of 8 a.m. Friday, too.
  • The customer ticket sales kiosk at Fort Worth Central Station will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Friday.

Customers who are dependent upon Trinity Metro for a ride and are impacted by these winter weather service schedule changes may call Customer Support and Solutions at 817-215-8600 before 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9 or as early as 5 a.m. Friday, Jan. 10 to arrange for critical transportation services. Specific trip inquiries and additional requests should also be directed to Customer Support and Solutions.

We continue to ask that everyone uses caution while traveling. Roadways, sidewalks and level surfaces such as train platforms, while treated, can still be slippery.

To receive rider alerts about impacts to your bus or train route, sign up online. For the latest on local weather, check the National Weather Service website.

Trinity Metro TEXRail surpasses record ridership in December 2024

Extraordinary service paired with holiday merriment yields the highest number of rides in the history of Trinity Metro TEXRail operations.  

(FORT WORTH, TEXAS) Jan. 7, 2025 – Trinity Metro TEXRail, a passenger rail service traveling between downtown Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, Grapevine, and DFW International Airport, celebrated milestone ridership in December 2024. A total of 103,312 rides were taken on Trinity Metro TEXRail during the month, representing the highest ridership month in the service’s history and a 25% increase from December 2023.

Trinity Metro attributes the ridership growth to many factors, including the safety and reliability of the service, as well as ease of use through simplified fares and newly enhanced schedules. The new schedules, implemented in early November, provide for 30-minute service for midday hours, seven days a week.

Reed Lanham, vice president of rail for Trinity Metro, lauded Trinity Metro TEXRail staff for its commitment to customer service and timely operations, achieving 98% on-time performance during the busy month. “Our people are what make the customers feel special. They truly love what they do and provide a warm welcome to anyone enjoying a ride on Trinity Metro TEXRail.”

Trinity Metro TEXRail quite simply connects travelers to key destinations. Riders enjoyed the lights and sounds along Historic Main Street in Grapevine – the Christmas Capital of Texas. Families rode Trinity Metro TEXRail to board the North Pole Express, see the downtown Fort Worth Parade of Lights and tree lighting, and visit friends and family in North Richland Hills.

“These incredible ridership numbers are a true testament to our partner cities who have embraced public transit and the benefits Trinity Metro TEXRail brings to their communities. With their signature holiday events and promotion of the rail service, we are connecting more people to life,” said Trinity Metro President and CEO, Rich Andreski, “Riding TEXRail was part of the holiday experience, for many. With this kind of momentum and continued enthusiasm from our partners and customers, more big things are in store for Trinity Metro TEXRail. Let’s Ride.”

 

 About Trinity Metro 

Trinity Metro is a regional transportation system that strives to be the preferred choice for simple, safe, and innovative mobility services in Tarrant County, TX. The agency offers connections throughout the North Central Texas region, providing passenger trips on buses, Trinity Metro TEXRail, Trinity Metro On-Demand rideshare services, Trinity Metro Bikes, vanpools, and Trinity Railway Express. TRE, a 34-mile commuter rail line jointly owned and operated by Trinity Metro and DART travels between Fort Worth and Dallas. Trinity Metro is the sole owner and operator of Trinity Metro TEXRail, a 27-mile commuter rail line traveling between downtown Fort Worth and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B.  

Modified services on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Trinity Metro will be operating modified service on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. On Monday, Jan. 20, all buses (except those noted below) and Trinity Metro On-Demand Paratransit will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule.

Trinity Metro TEXRail, TRE, TRE LINK, and CentrePort Circulator will operate on their regular schedules. All Trinity Metro On-Demand service areas will have normal operations.

The customer kiosk at Fort Worth Central Station will be open from 9 a.m to 6 p.m.

Administrative offices will be closed. Our Customer Support and Solutions representatives will be available at 817-215-8600 from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Choose Trinity Metro TEXRail for holiday travels

Travelers who want to avoid traffic hassles when heading to DFW Airport this holiday season have an easy option – ride Trinity Metro TEXRail for only $2. With a new schedule that offers 30-minute frequency throughout the majority of the day, riders have convenient options for meeting flight times.

Plus, five of the TEXRail stations – three in Fort Worth and two in North Richland Hills – have designated long-term parking for only $5 a day. Stations in Fort Worth with long-term parking are Fort Worth T&P Station, North Side Station and Mercantile Center Station. In addition, North Richland Hills/Iron Horse Station and North Richland Hills/Smithfield Station also offer long-term parking. Customers can make reservations and payments in the Ace Parking app on Apple or GooglePlay devices.

Many news stories highlighted the traffic jams at the airport aro und the Thanksgiving holiday. With TEXRail, riders arrive at Terminal B and have easy access to other terminals.

Holiday Rider Alert

Trinity Metro will modify some services for the New Year’s Day holiday, as noted below. If a specific service (such as Trinity Metro TEXRail) is not listed, that means it is operating on its regular schedule.

New Year’s Eve: Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024

  • Trinity Metro will offer free rides on all services in Tarrant County on New Year’s Eve – bus, Trinity Metro TEXRail, Trinity Railway Express and Trinity Metro On-Demand (including paratransit).
  • Trinity Metro On-Demand Southside will operate until 1 a.m. All other rideshare services will operate on regular schedules.

New Year’s Day: Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025

  • All buses, including Orange Line, will run on an hourly schedule, with the exception of Molly the Trolley, which will operate every 30 minutes.
  • Trinity Metro On-Demand in Alliance, Mercantile, North Side, Southside, Southeast and South Tarrant will operate 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Services in TCC Northeast and Mansfield will not operate.
  • Trinity Railway Express, TRE LINK, and the CentrePort Circulator will not operate.
  • Customer Support & Solutions team members will be available 5 a.m.-5 p.m. at 817-215-8600.
  • The kiosk at Fort Worth Central Station will be closed.

Toys for Tots drive on Dec. 16

Trinity Metro is celebrating the holiday season by hosting a Toys for Tots drive on Monday, Dec. 16, at North Richland Hills/Smithfield Station. Trinity Metro staff and U.S. Marines will be on hand to collect new, unwrapped toys from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. to make it easy for commuters to drop of their donations on the way to ride Trinity Metro TEXRail.

This is the third year that Trinity Metro has supported Toys for Tots through internal toy drives for agency employees and through public events. Stop by the station for fun, entertainment and hot chocolate!

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation was started in 1991 to help the U.S. Marine Corps provide a sign of hope for economically disadvantaged children at Christmas.