USA: The transportation administration DART started testing a fleet of eight diesel trains on a 54.7 line between Fort Worth and Dallas.
Previously, the DMUs underwent tests at the plant in Salt Lake City. The fleet is to be launched late in 2025–early in 2026 on a 42 km Silver Line with ten stations, which connects Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Plano.
The Stadler FLIRT DMU during operational testing in Texas. Source: DART
Stadler concluded a $119 mln contract to supply eight trains in 2019. A $112 mln addendum to the contract on vehicle maintenance over a 15-year period and building of a depot was signed in a year. Each trainset comprises of two head and two intermediate cars with a midsection power unit housing a diesel engine that meets Tier 4 emission standards. The DMU can reach peak speeds of 130 km/h and has 230 seats.
