Dallas runs on DART — Dallas Area Rapid Transit — one of the largest light rail networks in the country by track mileage. One fare structure covers trains, buses, the streetcar, and on-demand shuttles across the region, and the airport train drops you right downtown without a transfer.
The basics
DART Rail’s four light rail lines — Red, Blue, Green, and Orange — converge downtown and fan out across the metro:
- Orange — the one from DFW Airport, running through Irving and downtown, then north toward Richardson and Plano (to Parker Road at peak hours; LBJ/Central Station off-peak).
- Red and Blue — the original north–south and east–west workhorses through downtown.
- Green — connects Fair Park, downtown, and Carrollton.
The Silver Line is a newer, 26-mile regional rail service that arcs through Grapevine, Coppell, Dallas, Carrollton, Addison, Richardson, and Plano and terminates at DFW Airport — but it doesn’t go downtown. The Dallas Streetcar runs a short, separate 2.45-mile hop between Union Station downtown and the Bishop Arts District in Oak Cliff. GoLink is DART’s on-demand shared shuttle for shorter, zone-based trips that don’t have direct bus or rail coverage. Buses fill in the rest.
Regionally, the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) — run jointly by DART and Fort Worth’s Trinity Metro — connects downtown Dallas to downtown Fort Worth, and the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) runs the A-train from Denton and Lewisville into DART’s network at Trinity Mills Station.
How to pay
There’s no need for cash if you don’t want it — DART gives you three ways to pay:
- The GoPass app — buy a pass on your phone, and pay for GoLink trips, using a stored card, Apple Pay, Google Wallet, or cash-to-mobile.
- Ticket vending machines — at every DART and TRE rail station except DFW Airport’s Terminal B Station (the Silver Line stop) — cash or credit/debit for Day and 3-Hour passes.
- Tap a contactless card or phone — a GoPass Tap card, a contactless bank card, or a payment-enabled phone, tapped on the reader at the platform or on the bus before boarding.
There are no fare gates — DART runs on proof of payment, and Fare Inspectors do check. Keep your activated ticket or tapped card ready to show. One quirk: each rider needs their own payment method — capping and passes are tied to a single card or device, so you can’t tap one card for a group.
Fares
DART’s local fare structure is built around two passes rather than a single-ride ticket:
| 3-Hour Pass | Day Pass | 31-Day Pass | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Adult | $3.00 | $6.00 | $126.00 |
| Local Reduced | $1.50 | $3.00 | — |
A Local pass covers DART Rail (including the Silver Line), buses, GoLink, the Dallas Streetcar, and even the TRE between Union Station and CentrePort/DFW Airport Station. If your trip goes further out on the TRE, or onto Trinity Metro or DCTA, you need a Regional pass instead:
| Day Pass | 31-Day Pass | |
|---|---|---|
| Regional Adult | $9.00 | $192.00 |
| Regional Reduced | $4.50 | $96.00 |
Reduced fares (50% off) are available to veterans, seniors 65+, people with disabilities, children ages 5–14 (kids under 5 ride free with a paying adult), high school students, and full-time college or trade-school students, each with a DART-issued ID or Reduced Fare GoPass Tap card.
Registering a GoPass Tap card also unlocks fare capping, so heavy same-day or same-month riders on that one card stop being charged once they’ve effectively paid for a Day or 31-Day Pass.
Getting from the airport
DFW International Airport has two DART rail connections, depending on your terminal:
- Orange Line, from DFW Airport Terminal A Station (near Gate A10) — runs directly into downtown Dallas, then continues toward Irving, Richardson, and Plano. A Local Day Pass ($6.00) or 3-Hour Pass ($3.00) covers the whole ride.
- Silver Line, from DFW Airport Terminal B Station (near Gate B43) — this one does not go downtown; it heads out to Cypress Waters, Carrollton, Addison, Richardson, and Plano instead. Note there’s no ticket vending machine at this station, so buy your fare in the GoPass app or tap a contactless card.
If you’re flying American, you can walk straight through security at Entry A10 or B43 to reach the station; on other airlines, use the free Terminal Link shuttle (with checked bags) or the Skylink people mover (carry-on only) to get to the right terminal first.
There’s also a TRE LINK shuttle bus from Terminal D (upper level, outside Gate D22) to CentrePort/DFW Airport Station, connecting onward to Fort Worth via the TRE. It runs every 20 minutes on weekday peaks, every 40 minutes off-peak and on Saturdays — but not at all on Sundays.
Flying into Dallas Love Field instead? DART Bus Route 5 Love Link connects the airport to Inwood/Love Field Station, on the Green and Orange lines.
Light rail (including the Orange Line) currently runs about every 20 minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes late at night. DART doesn’t publish an official ride-time estimate from DFW to downtown, so budget your trip using the GoPass app’s live trip planner.
Apps to download
- GoPass — the official app, and really the only one you need: buy and store your fare, plan a trip, track your train or bus in real time, and pay for GoLink rides.
When it runs
Light rail runs every 20 minutes during peak periods and every 30 minutes late at night (the current schedule since July 20, 2026). The Orange Line only runs all the way to Parker Road Station during peak hours — off-peak, it turns back at LBJ/Central Station, so check the sign on the platform.
The TRE runs Monday through Saturday only — there’s no scheduled Sunday service, except during the State Fair of Texas.
Accessibility
Light rail cars have a level, center-door boarding section for wheelchairs, scooters, strollers, and bikes, with extra floor space. The Silver Line goes further, with level boarding at every door and a dedicated luggage/stroller area. Neither light rail nor buses carry luggage racks, so plan to hold or wheel your own bags.
Paratransit is available for ADA-eligible riders who can’t use fixed-route buses or trains — a shared-ride, door-to-door service using accessible vans with wheelchair lifts or ramps, and boarding chairs on request.
Etiquette & local quirks
- Tap or activate before you board — there are no gates, but Fare Inspectors do check, and evasion is a real citation, not just a bigger fare.
- One payment method per rider. Don’t try to tap one card for your whole group — fare capping and multi-ride passes only track a single card or device.
- Watch the Orange Line’s destination sign. Off-peak trains stop short at LBJ/Central instead of continuing to Parker Road.
- No Sunday TRE. If you’re planning a Dallas–Fort Worth day trip by rail, do it Monday through Saturday (State Fair of Texas season is the exception).
Good to know
- Fare evasion is a real citation. DART Police can issue a Class C misdemeanor citation, with a fine up to $500 plus court costs — but you can resolve it administratively for a $50 fee if you pay within 30 days of the offense.
- Buying your fare at DFW Terminal B (Silver Line) needs the app or a tap card — there’s no ticket vending machine at that station.
- Register your GoPass Tap card. It’s the only way to get fare capping — an unregistered card or a one-off contactless tap still charges full price every ride.