1829 replies to this topic

[rriojas71]

 

I think this is the reason why TexRail feels more like a novelty as opposed to true commuter rail.  No one has the time to wait an hour between trains.

Really???

Real commuter rail in many places throughout the USA run morning and evening trains in one direction only, for the day shift to or from downtown.

What TexRail and TRE provide is better titled regional rail, with trains going in both direction all day long and into the night. Yes, it would be nice if the trains ran twice an hour all day, but is that convivence to passengers worth the cost of seeing mostly empty trains all day twice as much?

I'm pretty sure if the hourly trains were overflowing with standing room passengers all day long TexRail would run trains more often. What we have here is a chicken and egg what comes first scenario problem.

 

I lived in SF Bay Area and the CalTrain system ran more frequently than once an hour; it was more like 15 mins.  The stations were around commercial and residential areas and the trains are double decker and full most of the day.   To me, that is what commuter rail is supposed to be.  I want to see if happen but I don't see how our will get better tbh.  The stations are not near anything except the most used ones (T&P, Central, Grapevine and Teriminal and the connection to the airport is convoluted and shortsighted.  

 

Believe me when I say this but I do want a successful commuter train and airport connection.  I have lived in several cities with good to decent public transportation and I have actually rode TexRail for no reason other that to pay the fare even when I wasn't planning on using it because I want it to stay around.  However the only way for it to be successful is that it has to have a purpose of getting people somewhere and that purpose has to be as easy to use as possible.   In regards to your Chicken vs the Egg comparison I believe what we have in our current scenario is a chicken who can't connect to the hen house to lay eggs on time.

[Electricron]

Caltrains runs between downtown SF and SJ, and on even further to Gilroy.

Your high frequency train service does not extend beyond SJ to Gilroy. It never will.

TexRail is more akin to SJ to Gilroy than FW to D. TRE is more akin to your high frequency services than TexRail.

And it does not have the higher frequencies either. 

 

But I am sure, if TRE, DCTA, and TexRail had the ridership numbers of Caltrains, they would add more trains. 

 

As for why, even TRE only visits one city center between Dallas and Fort Worth - Irving - which is not all that huge compared to Palo Alto and other cities between SF and SJ. Rerouting the TRE on the ex-T&P tracks would visit two larger city centers between Dallas and Fort Worth - Grand Prairie and Arlington - than the ex-Rock Island line on the opposite side of the Trinity River.  But the T&P was able to merge with the UP while the Rock Island was not. So Dallas and Fort Worth city leaders were only able to purchase the ex-Rock Island line during its bankruptcy proceedings.  You have to play the cards that are handed to you. 

 

And as you well know, there is more to public transit than carrying passengers, things like encouraging economic development so there are more jobs being created, and thereby increase the wealth of your communities. There have been major developments along both the DCTA, TRE, and TexRail lines. I wish there were more. 

[txbornviking]

Over the past year I've easily had half a dozen times where I wanted to take TexRail but the seemingly random hourly headways midday perfectly hit when I would need/want to be getting on the train.

 

30min frequency while not "great," does allow for decent planning. The hourly bits are a real pain.

 

As they saying goes, Frequency = Freedom.

30min headways means rarely really being inconvenienced more than 15min... if the train leave at 2pm 230pm 3pm etc and you realize 2:15pm would be the ideal time for you to hit the train you can just leave 15min earlier or if you're "ready to go" after a day of fun somewhere and it's 2:15pm, you can easily wait the 15min for the next train.
 

[Crestline]

A new record for December 2022:

 

TEXRail ridership set an all-time high for monthly rides in December 2022 with 61,689 passengers.

 

https://ridetrinitym...rd-in-december/

[Stadtplan]

Hey, that is getting close to my May prediction 62.5k

[txbornviking]

ICYMI Today is the 4th anniversary for TEXRail and they're kicking off a week of free rides

"The free rides begin Tuesday, Jan. 10 and run through Monday, Jan. 16, on TEXRail and also on ZIPZONE rides that connect to a TEXRail station."

 

https://ridetrinitym...ith-free-rides/

[Dylan]

At the TEXRail anniversary event downtown, I brought up hourly TEXRail frequencies and told the Trinity Metro employee that it was inadequate for airport employees and leisure riders.

 

She agreed with me, and says Trinity Metro is aware that hourly headways are inadequate for the majority of riders (and that office workers are a minority of riders).

 

But, she says there aren't enough trains for 30-minute headways all day, and that Trinity Metro is looking into buying more trains to increase frequency.

 

Apparently, TEXRail trains can't run all day, and get switched out at some point during the day. I guess that would be at the start / end of 30-minute headway periods.

[Dylan]

Caltrains runs between downtown SF and SJ, and on even further to Gilroy.

Your high frequency train service does not extend beyond SJ to Gilroy. It never will.

TexRail is more akin to SJ to Gilroy than FW to D. TRE is more akin to your high frequency services than TexRail.

And it does not have the higher frequencies either. 

 

[CUT]

 

Really? Does Gilroy have a major international airport with thousands of employees and tens of thousands of local passengers?

 

Although TEXRail is technically "commuter rail" since it runs on freight tracks, it serves the same purpose as the DART Orange Line (light rail) or BART Yellow Line (heavy metro rail).

 

And, Denver's "commuter rail" line between Downtown and DEN Airport runs at 15-minute headways all day.

[Crestline]

I wonder if a compromise like "40-minute headways all day" would work for TEXRail. A bit worse than peak 30-minute headways but a lot better than non-peak 1-hour headways. 

[Austin55]

Trinity Metro is looking into buying more trains to increase frequency.

 

Here's a letter in that was in the Regional Transportation Council's meeting from Trinity Metro's president to Michael Morris on the subject. 

 

[Dylan]

This makes me wonder... what happens if TEXRail gets extended to Summer Creek or Tarleton State?

 

They'll have to buy more trains yet, and it doesn't seem like the existing tiny maintenance facility can hold more than a dozen trains.

[Stadtplan]

Heres a show The Tex Factor on Fox 4 that featured a detailed behind the scenes look at TEXRail.  They did an excellent job putting this episode together.

https://www.fox4news...ty-rail-express

[Jeriat]

This makes me wonder... what happens if TEXRail gets extended to Summer Creek or Tarleton State?

 

They'll have to buy more trains yet, and it doesn't seem like the existing tiny maintenance facility can hold more than a dozen trains.

Well, it's not like there's a lack of space in Southwest Fort Worth. 

[txbornviking]

additional trainsets for TexRail, new trainsets for TRE, and of course new trainsets for DART Silver Line...

 

"now" really does seem like a good time to standardize the fleet which can decrease per unit purchase costs, simplify maintenance, and speed up delivery times.

[rriojas71]

additional trainsets for TexRail, new trainsets for TRE, and of course new trainsets for DART Silver Line...

 

"now" really does seem like a good time to standardize the fleet which can decrease per unit purchase costs, simplify maintenance, and speed up delivery times.

good point Viking

[Austin55]

Not TEXRail, but the Silver Line has been delayed a bit and now expected to open "Late 2025 to mid-2026"
https://www.dart.org...er-line-project

[Stadtplan]

Happened to look over and spot TEXRail alongside me driving up Blvd 26 last night.

[Stadtplan]

I was driving from University heading east toward Lancaster exit and just barely had enough time to snap this shot.  I'm not certain what's going on here, but wondered if it had to do with Jeriat's earlier post about extending / connecting the line to the Medical District Station?

 

 

Little closer view: 

[JBB]

I think it's just a retaining wall replacement project on the existing tracks that's not widening the right of way.  It's been going on for several months.

[steave]

I've been wondering for a while how they intend to connect the FWWR tracks to the UP tracks since the former are a level below grade. I was hoping it was the expansion, but whatever.

[Urbndwlr]

Anyone know if there has been discussion around how to make the process of wayfinding to TexRail for passengers at DFW Airport more intuitive? 

I mentioned in another thread on here but I recently used Google Maps to try to navigate to TexRail from my baggage claim.  It seemed stumped - gave me route that seemed really wrong and maybe even dangerous to try to walk.  Didnt seem to know about shuttle busses or the intra airport train.

 

Regarding whether extending to TCU/Berry and Summerfields (near Tarleton) will help - transit works like tech adoption.  A network effect happens where the more people and destinations that are connected (intuitively, with low friction) the more value and therefore more ridership that should happen.  So if they put new stations among high density of residential or high density employment, it should work for more people. 

 

These take time though - for cities to zone land allowing high density and for the pieces like infrastructure to make higher density uses happen.  The TexRail station near Meacham (Mercantile?) seems like one of the better opportunities to develop high density apartments within .25-.5 mile of the station since there is a lot of land around it - i think.  Same for Berry Street and Summerfield.

[John T Roberts]

There's not a lot of vacant land around the Berry Street station.  The density is being increased by tearing down one story, 1,200 square foot, single family homes and building  3 story stealth dorms in their place, where allowed by zoning. 

 

As for the wayfinding to TEXRail, when the line first opened, I sent in a suggestion to improve wayfinding from the terminals.  On my first trip on the line, it was my sole purpose to see if I could get around DFW Airport by taking the train.  I know my way around the airport fairly well, but I did have trouble getting from the station to Terminal B and to the shuttle busses.  I also checked out the connection to DART and had to walk along sidewalks without wayfinding to get to Terminal A and to the DART Orange Line Station.

[txbornviking]

way-finding at the airport to access TEXRail and DART has improved but it certainly still needs to be better.

 

I just got back from a trip that had me departing and returning through Terminal D and my wife and I were able to take TEXRail.

 

As we were doing carry-on luggage on the departure, and had checked into our flights online, we were able to walk directly to the terminal, through security, and then take the skytrain to terminal D... all it all it was about 30min from the time we walked off the plane to the time we got to our gate... pretty decent.

 

On our return flight we checked baggage so had to take the Terminal Link shuttle from Terminal D over to Terminal B... As Urbndwlr & John discussed above this was the trickiest part...

 

I like to think I have a fairly above average knowledge of our public transit system and how the connections at DFW work, and it look careful attention to navigate. (I actually experienced 3 different groups of people struggling with navigation or ticket purchases. One person was trying to figure out where and what Terminal Link was, another individual was stumped by the ticket machines as it isn't incredible clear to a novice if they need a TEXRail or TRE ticket, and two different groups weren't sure if TEXRail would take them to where they wanted to go (NRH and Grapevine))

 

I'm very glad we have TEXRail but the service is still a work in progress, with wayfinding being the biggest overall current issue IMO.

(I'd say #2 concern is still very poor station adjacent land-use for most stations) 

[Doohickie]

I'm sitting on TEXRail as I write this. Flew back from vacation in Buffalo, plane (American Airlines) was delayed FOUR HOURS so I missed the last train to Ft Worth so my son will have to pick me up at Mercantile.

The wayfinding signage in the terminals is nonexistent. The first Ft Worth train sign was in baggage claim, outside the secure perimeter. There were signs for bus/rail pointing outside so I went out but I was on the upper level. There's no stairway at the end of the terminal to get to the station on the lower level so I had to go back to the stairs in parking.

This shouldn't be this hard.

[Doohickie]

I've been thinking about this.  In EVERY terminal, where the main wayfinding signs are, it should say:  Train to Fort Worth:  Terminal B, Gate 47, Lower Level.  At the very least it should be on ALL the wayfinding signs in Terminal B related to ground transportation. 

 

Also, TEXRail needs to put that very prominently on their website, so obvious that an out-of-town traveler couldn't miss it.

[TLA]

I’m sorry that happened, super frustrating.

I’ve landed at Terminal B then walked to the north edge of the terminal to only realize there’s no exit out of the terminal. Doubling back to an exit then towards the train, narrowly missing the train.

[John T Roberts]

This has been my #1 complaint ever since TEXRail was opened.  If I didn't know the airport well before the rail service, and if I had not checked out riding the train, exploring what I could at Terminal B, walking over to the DART Station, checking their connection into Terminal A, and then taking the train back to Fort Worth, I probably wouldn't know what to do or where to go if I rode there to actually take a flight out.  I realize the airport wants to take advantage of the income received from passengers driving there and either entering, or leaving their vehicles, but it shouldn't be so difficult to find the trains to Fort Worth or to Dallas.  In other airports, I have never experienced such a lack of directional signage to other means of transportation.

[JBB]

They don't make it much easier for people parking.  I flew out of terminal B at the beginning of the month and parked on the first level at around gate 10 or so.  I tried to enter on what was the old skycap level, found the first two entrances I went to locked, and finally made it inside to an elevator around gate 20.  This dropped me off between check points and I ended up going through the checkpoint at gate 30.  My flight was leaving from gate 20 and I ended up at around gate 14 for breakfast.  It was a trek.  (If I had turned left instead of right out of the garage, it would have saved me a lot of time and distance.)  I was paying attention to signage for the train that day and when I returned the next day and what's there is sparse.

[Dylan]

TM needs to market the location of TEXRail as "B49 Lower Level (From Secure Side, Exit at Door B29)." That's where the closest doors exiting the secure area are located.

 

TEXRail's video advertisement assumes that everyone is attempting to get to TEXRail from baggage carousels or Terminal Link buses.

 

They don't consider that some people don't have checked bags, and are trying to find TEXRail as soon as they step off the plane rather than trying to find bag claim.

 

As soon as you exit security at B29, there are several "RAIL to Fort Worth" signs pointing you in the right direction as you walk towards the train. You shouldn't get lost if you are following these signs.

 

---------

 

On DFW's end, they ought to have signs inside security pointing to "RAIL to Fort Worth" and "RAIL to Dallas" in addition to "Ground Transportation."

 

That may be redundant, but other airports do it. There are signs inside security at Chicago O'Hare pointing to both "Ground Transportation" and "Trains to City."

 

DFW does have directions for "RAIL to Fort Worth" and "RAIL to Dallas" at every Terminal Link stop in addition to terminal maps. Though, I don't remember exactly what they say.

[Doohickie]

[1] As soon as you exit security at B29, there are several "RAIL to Fort Worth" signs pointing you in the right direction as you walk towards the train. You shouldn't get lost if you are following these signs.

 

[2] DFW does have directions for "RAIL to Fort Worth" and "RAIL to Dallas" at every Terminal Link stop in addition to terminal maps. Though, I don't remember exactly what they say.

1.  And yet I did get lost.  I was following the signs and saw a sign inside baggage claim (upper level) that had Bus and Train icons that said exit here.  I exited there and while I was able to see the canopy over the station, there was no stairway to get to it at the end of the terminal building.  I had to double back to the parking area and use that stairway (which wasn't that obvious for me at first, whose flight was delayed 4 hours and was currently at 1:00 am based on the time when I woke up that that day in Eastern Time Zone).  I mean, EVEN IF you get to the baggage claim area for Terminal B closest to the rail line, you can still get lost.  It's deplorable to be honest.

 

2.  But as has been said, if you're not outside the security perimeter you don't see any of those signs.

[Austin55]

Trinity Metro selects Huitt-Zollars and TranSystems for TEXRAIL extension project: https://fortworthrep...ension-project/

 

Construction will start next year on the extension. 

[Austin55]

There have been Silver Line train sets at the TEXRail and TRE EMFs for a few weeks now.

[rriojas71]

There have been Silver Line train sets at the TEXRail and TRE EMFs for a few weeks now.

i noticed that last weekend during Grapefest.  It will be fun to go up to McKinney some time to spend a day there.

[Stadtplan]

Some signs of progress:

 

Work Location

100 Hemphill ST

https://aca-prod.acc...ShowInspection=

Project Description: TEXRail CFW Extension

Temporary Street Use Permit for temp lane closures for utility designating on 100 Hemphill St. Traffic lanes shall be returned to normal operations at the end of the workday per attached traffic control plan.

 

Work Location

500 W Vickery BLVD

https://aca-prod.acc...ShowInspection=

Project Description:

TEXRail CFW Extension

Temporary Street Use Permit for temp lane closures on 500 W. Vickery Blvd & 1400 Jennings Ave. underpass for utility designating. Traffic lanes shall be returned to normal operations at the end of the workday per attached traffic control plans.

[Austin55]

Trinity Metro is holding a contest to name the remaining 7 trainsets: https://ridetrinitym.../namethattrain/

 

 

• Name suggestion should be just one word as it will be emblazoned on the front of the train, similar to how Spike is shown on train #108. 
• Name should be family-friendly; no obscene or vulgar names will be considered. 
• Only one entry per person, so be sure to submit your absolute favorite. 

[Jeriat]

 

Trinity Metro is holding a contest to name the remaining 7 trainsets: https://ridetrinitym.../namethattrain/

 

 

• Name suggestion should be just one word as it will be emblazoned on the front of the train, similar to how Spike is shown on train #108. 
• Name should be family-friendly; no obscene or vulgar names will be considered. 
• Only one entry per person, so be sure to submit your absolute favorite. 

 

*sigh*

Fine, I'll jump on this one, too...

[Stadtplan]

**Yeah, I've got nothing.**

 

Contest Rules:

• Name suggestion should be just one word as it will be emblazoned on the front of the train, similar to how Spike is shown on train #108. 
• Name should be family-friendly; no obscene or vulgar names will be considered. 
• Only one entry per person, so be sure to submit your absolute favorite. 

[Doohickie]

I guess Trainy McTrainface is a non-starter then.

[JBB]

Take out the space in the middle and it meets the criteria.

[TLA]

Half joking here. Reminders of Fort Worth’s past would be nice names: Buddies, Carswell, Tandy, RadioShack, Pier1

[Doohickie]

Oh, that's immediately where I went too.

[Austin55]

I imagine there will be some geographic influence on the selections too, in order to keep NRH, Grapevine and DFW happy. (Assuming that any of the names chosen are regional-oriented and not just not generic names)

[Electricron]

What would be wrong with

Bike, Dike, Hike, Like, Mike, Nike, Pike, Rike, Tike, to join Spike.

[Austin55]

What would be wrong with

Bike, Dike, Hike, Like, Mike, Nike, Pike, Rike, Tike, to join Spike.

 

You have me questioning whether or not I've been saying "Nike" right my whole life now.

[mmmdan]

 

What would be wrong with

Bike, Dike, Hike, Like, Mike, Nike, Pike, Rike, Tike, to join Spike.

 

You have me questioning whether or not I've been saying "Nike" right my whole life now.

 

 

Even better if you can do them in consistent alphabetical order like the ducks in "Make Way for Ducklings." (Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack)

 

https://en.wikipedia...y_for_Ducklings

[Crestline]

*sigh*

Fine, I'll jump on this one, too...

 

Spike, Jet , Faye, Edward, Ein, et cetera. 

[Doohickie]

 

What would be wrong with

Bike, Dike, Hike, Like, Mike, Nike, Pike, Rike, Tike, to join Spike.

 

You have me questioning whether or not I've been saying "Nike" right my whole life now.

Nike refers to the Greek Goddess of Victory.  In Greek it is pronounced as NEE Kay.  (There are no silent e's at the end of Greek words.)

[txbornviking]

Free Rides today for TexRail's 5th birthday.

 

My wife took it to the airport today for a work trip and not only was the ride free but they were also handing out luggage tags and 50% coupons for future rides (I'll be curious how that's supposed to be redeemed...)

either way, good timing on her part and happy birthday TexRail... now if only we can get some solid momentum on expansion further southward beyond the Medical District.... would be a near dream to get the extension to Berry done is less than 5 more years (though IMO the next terminus should aim to be the previously proposed stop at I-20/Granbury Rd)

[John T Roberts]

It would be fantastic if the extension to Berry was done in the time frame you say.  For the record, I would be much happier if it were extended to I-20/Granbury Rd.

[FunkyTownTay]

Im holding my breath for the Summer Creek Station (Sycamore School and CTP). I could probably take the train downtown a couple times a week if that station ever happens.