The celebrations begin with two invitation-only events: a ribbon cutting at UT Dallas on October 23 and an official opening ceremony for DART partners, government officials and dignitaries on October 24, leading into Saturday’s region-wide community celebrations. 

The trains are unlike their light-rail counterparts operating on DART's Red, Blue, Orange and Green lines and feature wider seating areas, luggage racks for airport riders and wider bicycle spaces onboard. Rather than electric operated light-rail trains, these are diesel powered and according to DART these are  "Stadler FLIRT trains that meet the EPA’s highest clean-air standards, the Silver Line provides a quieter, more efficient and sustainable way to travel. It strengthens connections to jobs, schools, and communities across the region while supporting North Texas’ continued growth."

Trains will operate seven days a week from 4am to 1am with 30 minute headways in peak periods and one hour service in off-peak times. 

In a news release DART officials said that "the Silver Line is a regional investment built to serve the growing needs of North Texas. Each station was designed with input from the cities along the rail corridor, reflecting local character, community feedback, and accessibility features to ensure a safe and welcoming experience for all riders. The line connects residents to key employment centers and educational destinations, including The University of Texas at Dallas, making travel easier for students and professionals."

"The Silver Line is rail service built for longer distances and faster connections than DART’s light rail system. It also links to North Texas’ expanding trail network, allowing riders to combine transit with walking, biking, and recreation. Originating from the Cotton Belt Corridor plan, the line reflects years of planning to expand mobility, ease congestion, and prepare for future growth across the region," according to DART.

Texas Rail Advocates was one of the early supporters of the Silver Line, working with elected officials and city leaders to push plans forward. Progress on the rail line was featured at annual presentations of the Southwestern Rail Conference. 

The opening of the DART Silver Line culminates 25 years of planning, which began in 2000. Building of the system was stymied for years with pushback from North Dallas neighborhoods that feared noise issues from homes that were built close to the railroad tracks, once used exclusively for freight rail service. 

Sound barrier walls, quiet zone crossings and other means of mitigating political issues finally allowed the project to be fast-tracked in 2016. Part of the compromise included eliminating a North Dallas "kiss-n-drop-off" station at Preston Road, leaving a swath of the area with no nearby train station access.  

Planning for the DART Silver Line began in 2000. By 2016, the project was fast-tracked and a plan to reduce the number of stations was approved in 2018. The official ground breaking occurred on September 19, 2019, but the pandemic slowed the project's completion date by several years. 

Dallas Area Rapid Transit operates light rail, the Trinity Railway Express regional rail, bus routes, GoLink on-demand service, and paratransit, serving more than 220,000 passengers daily across a 700-square-mile, 13-city region, including Addison, Carrollton, Cockrell Hill, Dallas, Farmers Branch, Garland, Glenn Heights, Highland Park, Irving, Richardson, Rowlett, Plano, and University Park. 

Photo credit:  Texas Rail Advocates