Sunday, April 8, 2012

new Swiss trains for Denton County, Texas, expected in service soon



In May 2009 the Denton County (Texas) Transportation Authority (DCTA) and Swiss company Stadler Bussnag AG signed an agreement for the purchase of eleven GTW 2-6 Diesel Multiple Units (DMU) for use as the next generation rail fleet for DCTA’s 21-mile (34 km) corridor from Denton to Carrollton.

The vehicles were to have all arrived this month with testing to continue through August 2012. “Fleet transition” is scheduled for September.

Each GTW 2/6 can seat 96 passengers and has a total capacity of 200. Luggage racks, bike racks and space for wheelchairs are provided. The vehicle is 70 percent low floor, meaning level boarding is provided. Though up to three vehicles may be run as a unit, DCTA plans to run two coupled vehicles on 20-minute headways during peak service.

A central element of DCTA’s service plan and heavily endorsed by Denton County residents, the A-train project includes single-phase construction of 21 miles of regional rail, five rail stations, a bicycle/pedestrian trail, and a regional rail operating and maintenance facility.

The immediate objective of the project was to have full service between Denton and Carrollton to interface with Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s light rail system, coinciding with DART’s opening of the northern section of its Green Line and will complete a 50-mile (80.5 km) segment of regional passenger rail

The A-train began service last year using leased 'Budd' vehicles which were previously operated by the Trinity Railway Express (TRE).
 
Historically this route was built by the Dallas and Wichita Railroad Company-
Constructed by that company from Dallas to Lewisville in 1874: 20 miles (32 km)
Constructed for that company by The Texas and Pacific Railway Company from Lewisville to Denton, in 1880, 19 miles (30.6 km).

Later it was part of the Missouri Kansas Texas or Katy.

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