DART's Silver Line offers free rides for opening

DART's new 26-mile Silver Line launches tomorrow with free rides until Nov. 8.

Why it matters: The train line will connect Plano to DFW Airport, with eight stops in between.

The intrigue: The line has been decades in the making. The plan to connect the suburbs to the airport was first included in DART documents in 1983.

• DART bought 52 miles of the Cotton Belt Corridor in 1990 for the regional rail project.

State of play: The $1.9 billion rail line connects with a regional trail project that currently covers 21.5 miles, with about 35 more miles planned.

• The Silver Line train is different from DART's light rail cars. The commuter train has multidirectional seats and overhead storage for luggage.
• DART is hosting opening ceremonies at the stops at 10am tomorrow. The 12th Street station will host a free concert 6-9pm.

How it works: The train will run 4am to 1am daily. At peak times, the train departs every 30 minutes. Otherwise it departs every hour.