DART Rail service through Downtown Dallas remains suspended Monday evening following a fire on a light rail train in the downtown tunnel near Pearl/Arts District Station. The incident prompted an emergency evacuation and response effort, halting transit through one of the city’s busiest commuter corridors.
According to DART officials, the fire began in the trailing light rail vehicle (LRV) of a train traveling through the tunnel. Emergency crews responded quickly, and the overhead catenary system was de-energized to ensure safety. At the time, five trains were inside the tunnel, including the one directly affected.
Approximately 40 individuals were safely evacuated—30 from inside the trains and an additional 10 from the surrounding area.
DART reports a total of 15 injuries related to the incident:
- Nine individuals were treated on site by Dallas Fire-Rescue and released.
- Six people were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
As investigations continue, DART has suspended rail operations in the downtown corridor until further notice. Passengers are encouraged to use the alternative bus and shuttle services currently in operation.
Alternate Bus Routes Available:
- To Mockingbird (from CBD West Transfer Center): Routes 3, 105, 209
- To Union Station (from Akard and West End via Elm Street): Routes 9, 45, 47, 214
- To Deep Ellum (from Commerce Street): Routes 9, 18
Shuttle Buses Serving the Following Stations:
- Victory
- EBJ Union
- West End
- Akard
- St. Paul
- Pearl/Arts District
- Deep Ellum
- Cityplace/Uptown
- SMU/Mockingbird
DART officials issued a statement thanking passengers for their patience:
“We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we work to resolve the issue safely and as quickly as possible.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation. DART will continue to provide real-time updates on service status through their official communication channels. For the latest information, visit DART.org.