A-train (Texas)

Hybrid rail service in Denton County, Texas

A-train

A-train diesel multiple unit train at the Downtown Denton Transit Center

Overview
Owner| Denton County Transportation Authority
Locale| Denton County, Texas
Termini|

* Downtown Denton Transit Center
* Trinity Mills station

Stations| 6
Website| dcta.net/a-train
Service
Type| Hybrid rail
System| Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA)
Operator(s)| Rio Grande Pacific (operations)
Stadler US (rolling stock maintenance)[1]
Rolling stock| 11 Stadler GTW 2/6
Daily ridership| 900 (weekdays, Q1 2025)[2]
Ridership| 273,000 (2024)[3]
History
Opened| June 20, 2011
Technical
Line length| 21 mi (33.80 km)
Track gauge| 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed| 60 mph (97 km/h)

Route map

A-train highlighted in yellow

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Show interactive map

Legend

|  |  |

|  | Downtown Denton Transit Center

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|  |

|  |

Loop 288

|  |

|  | MedPark
|  |

|  | Corinth (planned)
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Lewisville Lake

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|  | Highland Village/Lewisville Lake
|  |

|  | Old Town
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|  |  | Rail Operations and

Maintenance Facility
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|  | Hebron
|  |

|  | North Carrollton/Frankford ()
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|  |

Pres. George Bush Turnpike

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|  | Trinity Mills
|  |  |  |

|  |  |

planned extension

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|  |  |  |

|  |  |

planned extension

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|  |

|  |

Silver Line to Shiloh Road (2026)

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|  | Downtown Carrollton
|  |

|  |

Silver Line to DFW Airport (2026)

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|  |

to Buckner

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All stations are accessible
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This diagram:

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The A-train is a hybrid rail (light rail with some features similar to commuter rail) service in Denton County, Texas, United States. The service is operated by Rio Grande Pacific[1] under the authority of the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA).

The 21-mile (34 km) line runs parallel to Interstate 35E between Denton and Carrollton. It acts as an extension of DART light rail's Green Line, which connects Carrollton to Dallas Love Field, Downtown Dallas, and Fair Park. The line opened on June 20, 2011.[4]

In 2024, the line had a ridership of 273,000, or about 900 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2025. It is the fourth-busiest commuter rail line in Texas and the twenty-ninth busiest in the United States.

## History

[edit]

The right of way was established by the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad. Eight miles (13 km) of the disused line was purchased by the city of Denton in 1993, with a rail trail opening in 2001.[5]

A formal Alternatives Analysis study conducted in 2004–2005, which included extensive community and citizen involvement, identified the proposed rail line as the best and most cost-effective mobility solution for Denton County and the region. It cited the impacts of projected population growth, growing safety, traffic congestion and air quality concerns, as well as the need to improve access to Denton County's vital health care facilities and three major college and university campuses.

In May 2005, the DCTA Board of Directors approved the study's recommendation to construct the rail alignment on east side of I-35E using an existing railroad corridor. The DCTA worked closely with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to meet the Federal and local regulatory requirements. In March 2008, the DCTA Board of Directors approved the Final Environmental Impact Determination that detailed the proposed measures to mitigate the environmental impacts of the rail project and the Regional Transportation Council approved funding of in August 2008.[6] Federal funds were not used in the construction of the rail link.[7]

The A-train name, station names, and station locations were publicly revealed in September 2008. DCTA's then-director of transportation services, Dee Leggett, stated that the A-train name "represent[s] Denton's position as the apex of the Dallas/Fort Worth region."[8]

On April 4, 2011, the DCTA began tests of railcars, communications systems and signals on track between Carrollton and Lewisville Lake, with tests on the remainder of the route projected to begin later in the month,[9] though this date was later pushed back to mid-May.[10]

The A-train was opened on June 20, 2011, with celebrations at five train stations.[11]

### Operators

[edit]

On July 20, 2016, First Transit (the American subsidiary of British transportation operator FirstGroup) signed an agreement with DCTA to operate the A-train starting from October of that year.[12] First had already been the operator for DCTA's bus service since 2007.[13] The contract would last nine years with a five-year extension option.[12] Local rail operator Rio Grande Pacific was also contracted to provide signaling, dispatching, and track maintenance.[14][1]

On November 3, 2020, Rio Grande Pacific assumed the operations of the A-train for the remainder of the contract and partnered with Stadler US for the maintenance of rolling stock.[1]

### Future

[edit]

The North Central Texas Council of Governments Mobility 2045 plan calls for the A-train to be extended south to interchange with the DART Silver Line.[15] As of June 2025[update], DCTA is in discussions with DART to extend the A-train to Downtown Carrollton in an agreement which previously included a joint rail facility for the DART Silver Line.[16][17][18]

In addition to the Downtown Carrollton extension, there are plans to create an infill station to serve Corinth, a non-member city between Denton and Highland Village.[19]

## Operation

[edit]

### Fares

[edit]

Fares are fully integrated with the rest of the DCTA system, with single rides costing $1.50. Two free transit zones exist on the system: between Downtown Denton Transit Center and MedPark, as well as Hebron Station to Trinity Mills.

### Services

[edit]

Since September 7, 2021, the A-train operates with a 30 minute headway during rush hours and interpeak every weekday, while on Saturdays the service runs every 60 minutes. There is no service on Sundays and major holidays. Interchanges with the DART Green Line are irregularly timed.[20]

### Stations

[edit]

All stations have a park and ride lot and are fully accessible.

Station  | Address  | Municipality  | Points of interest and connections

|
|
|

| Downtown Denton Transit Center | 604 E. Hickory Street  | Denton | Historic downtown Denton
Connect Bus: 3, 6, 7
GoZone: Denton
| MedPark | 3220 MedPark Drive  | Medical City Denton
UNT Campus Shuttle: CE 171
GoZone: Denton
| Highland Village/Lewisville Lake | 2998 N. Stemmons Freeway  | Lewisville | City of Highland Village
Lewisville Lake recreational area
GoZone: Lewisville/Highland Village
| Old Town | 617 E. Main Street  | Historic downtown Lewisville
GoZone: Lewisville/Highland Village
| Hebron | 952 Lakeside Circle  | GoZone: Lewisville/Highland Village
| Trinity Mills | 2525 Blanton Drive  | Carrollton |  Green Line
DART Bus: 232
GoLink: Keller Springs

### Rolling stock

[edit]

DCTA placed an order for 11 Stadler GTW 2/6 DMUs in 2010. The first of the new trains were delivered in late 2011 for testing prior to their entry into service.[21] The full order was fulfilled by August 2012, and in September 2012 the new units replaced the Budd DMUs leased from TRE.[22] The line uses diesel-electric hybrid motive power.[23]

Class  | Image  | Type  | Top speed  | Inventory  | Unit Numbers  | Built

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mph  | km/h
Stadler GTW 2/6  |  | Diesel Multiple Unit | 60  | 100  | 11  | 101-111  | 2010–2012

The A-Train began operations using 10 Budd RDC-1s leased from Trinity Railway Express, which were used until DCTA's own purpose-built fleet was delivered.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Bryant, Paul (November 8, 2020). "Fort Worth company takes control of DCTA's A-train commuter line". Denton Record-Chronicle. Denton Media Company. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report First Quarter 2025" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. May 15, 2025. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
3. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. February 19, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
4. ^ Peterson, Matt (June 20, 2011). "A-train railway begins rolling, carrying commuters from Denton to Carrollton". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on July 1, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
5. ^ "Denton, DCTA sorting out A-train issues". The Dallas Morning News. November 30, 2009. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
6. ^ "Texas DOT releases funds for Denton rail project". Metro Magazine. March 5, 2009. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
7. ^ "Is the Federal Transit Administration involved in the project? :: My A-Train, DCTA". Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2011.
8. ^ Eakin, Dan (September 23, 2008). "Public gets look at DCTA rail project plans". Lewisville Leader. American Community Newspapers. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
9. ^ "DCTA to begin testing signal, communications equipment on A-train corridor". Progressive Railroading. April 4, 2011. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
10. ^ "Denton – Dallas A-Train services to start in June". Railway Gazette International. May 16, 2011. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
11. ^ "Train stations celebrate opening of A-Train". Pegasus News. Archived from the original on March 26, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2011.
12. ^ a b "First Transit wins contract with DCTA". Lewisville Leader. Star Local Media. July 21, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
13. ^ Lewis, B. J. (April 29, 2014). "DCTA votes to extend contract". Denton Record-Chronicle. A. H. Belo Corporation. pp. A1 - via NewsBank.
14. ^ "Rio Grande Pacific, CTC Inc. of Fort Worth awarded Denton County transportation contract". Fort Worth Business Press. November 28, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
15. ^ "Mobility 2045: Maps" (PDF). Mobility 2045. North Central Texas Council of Governments. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
16. ^ "DCTA April 2021 Board Packet" (PDF). DCTA. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
17. ^ Farr, Colby (May 23, 2024). "DCTA, DART suspend joint rail facility project indefinitely". Community Impact. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
18. ^ Gonzalez, Camila (May 4, 2025). "DCTA plans train route from Denton to DFW Airport". Denton Record-Chronicle. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
19. ^ Betancourt, Juan (August 25, 2023). "DCTA approves $70M budget, plus latest GoZone numbers and a potential new station in Corinth". Denton Record-Chronicle. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
20. ^ "A-train". DCTA. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
21. ^ BJ Lewis (August 21, 2011). "New rail cars in testing phase". Denton Record-Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
22. ^ "Vehicles". MYA Train. July 27, 2010. Archived from the original on May 10, 2010.
23. ^ "Denton's new A-train cars may help expand regional rail". The Dallas Morning News. January 29, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2019.

## External links

[edit]

KML file (edit • help)

Template:Attached KML/A-train (Texas)

KML is from Wikidata

Wikimedia Commons has media related to A-Train (Denton).

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

City of Denton

* Denton County
* John B. Denton

Culture and history|

* Timeline
* Denton Arts and Jazz Festival
* Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square
* Thin Line Fest
* Little Chapel in the Woods
* North Texas State Fair and Rodeo
* 35 Denton

Industry and
infrastructure|

* Acme Brick
* Ben E. Keith Company
* Golden Triangle Mall
* Medical City Denton
* Morrison Milling
* Peterbilt Motors
* Precision Pattern, Inc
* Rayzor Ranch
* Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton
* United Copper Industries

Geography|

* Lake Ray Roberts
* Lewisville Lake

Education|

| Primary and
secondary schools|

| Denton ISD|

* Braswell
* Denton
* Guyer
* Ryan

|

Other public|

* Argyle ISD
* Krum ISD
* Pilot Point ISD
* Ponder ISD
* Sanger ISD

Tertiary schools|

* North Central Texas College
* Texas Woman's University
* University of North Texas
* Discovery Park

Transportation|

| DCTA|

* A-train
* Downtown Denton Transit Center
* Medpark

|

Highways|

* Interstate 35
* I-35E
* I-35W
* Loop 288
* University Drive (US 380)

Airports|

* Denton Municipal Airport

Media|

* Denton Record-Chronicle
* North Texas Daily

People|

* Mayors
* Musicians from Denton, Texas

Sports|

* C. H. Collins Athletic Complex
* Denton Diablos FC

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

Commuter rail in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex

Operating|

* TEXRail (operated by Trinity Metro)
* Trinity Railway Express (operated by Trinity Metro and DART)
* A-train (operated by DCTA)

Under construction|

* Silver Line (operated by DART)

In planning|

* Cotton Belt Wylie Extension

* Dallas Area Rapid Transit
* Trinity Metro
* Denton County Transportation Authority

* v
* t
* e

Currently operating commuter rail systems in the United States

| California|

* ACE
* Caltrain
* Coaster
* eBART
* Metrolink
* SMART

|

Colorado|

* RTD

Connecticut/Massachusetts|

* CT Rail

Florida|

* SunRail
* Tri-Rail

Illinois/Wisconsin|

* Metra

Indiana/Illinois|

* South Shore Line

Massachusetts/Rhode Island|

* MBTA Commuter Rail

Maryland/West Virginia/Washington, DC|

* MARC

Minnesota|

* Northstar Line

New Jersey/New York/Pennsylvania|

* NJ Transit

| New York|

* Long Island Rail Road

|

New York/Connecticut|

* Metro-North Railroad

New Mexico|

* Rail Runner Express

Oregon|

* WES Commuter Rail

Pennsylvania/New Jersey/Delaware|

* SEPTA Regional Rail

Tennessee|

* WeGo Star

Texas|

* A-train
* CapMetro Rail
* TEXRail
* Trinity Railway Express

Utah|

* FrontRunner

Virginia/Washington, DC|

* Virginia Railway Express

Washington|

* Sounder

Other transit in the United States:

* Rapid transit
* Light rail/Streetcar
* People mover & monorail
* Trolleybus

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