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The DART Orange Line (labeled as the Purple Line on maps prior to 2006) is a 37-mile long light rail line operated by the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system in Dallas, Irving, Richardson and Plano, Texas. 37 miles y’all. Let that sink in on how ridiculously long that is.
If you love adventure and don’t want to stray too far from home just look to our own Dallas Rail System – DART and the TRE. Yes, this same train that gets you to school or work can also take you from the ‘burbs into all sorts of experiences such as the Irish Festival to the yummy cafes in Deep Ellum to the Dallas Aquarium. In the last 2 years while living in Plano, I have seen explosive growth in our town which also means lots of construction, traffic and cars galore. Adventuring on the train makes life . . . well, an adventure with none of the hassle of navigating the concrete jungle of Central Expressway and the Dallas Parkway. Dallas and its surrounding cities are bursting with cultural experiences, dining and entertainment, all walkable, UBERable, bussable or bikeable from a DART rail station or bus stop.
The Orange Line started operation on December 6, 2010, with weekday peak service from the Parker Road Station to Bachman Station on stations shared with DART’s Red and Green lines. The first Orange Line-exclusive stations opened with the extension to Irving Convention Center on July 30, 2012,[14] and two more were added on December 3, 2012. The current northwestern terminus, located at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, opened on August 18, 2014.
The line’s current northwestern terminus is DFW Airport Station, located inside Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. The line proceeds southeast through Irving, providing service to the Irving Convention Center, Las Colinas, and the University of Dallas, before merging with the Green Line north of Bachman Station. The Orange Line shares the rest of its route with existing light rail lines, with stops along the Green Line from Bachman to Victory Station, through downtown Dallas on a corridor shared with the Green Line, Blue Line, and Red Line, and then northward along the Red Line corridor into Richardson and Plano.
Planned future Orange Line stations include a DFW North Station loop and an eastern extension down Scyene Road to Masters Drive (previously planned as a Green Line expansion).
Now, when I mention to friends that I often taken the train, many times the responses are not favorable. I get it. Public transportation has its variety of weirdos, smells, musicians, loud talkers . . you name it, every train has it. But I believe the Pros far outweigh the Cons. And if you think you might be unsafe on a train there are some common sense tips and tricks. I’ll get into those further down in the article (I’ve got some good ones and for the record, have never had a bit of trouble). I’ve taken the train early in the morning, late at night and from Parker Road station in Plano all the way to DFW airport (yep, that’s a long ass ride).
The Orange Line is a fantastic addition to Dallas. When I wait at Parker Road station for the Red line, I occasionally cut my 20 minute wait down by being able to catch the orange line. The orange line runs all the way to the Plano stations overlaps with the green line through Victory Park and then shoots at west towards DFW. It only runs all the way to Planoduring busy times, so that would be rush hour or after an event at the American Airlines arena. Otherwise, you’ll find that it makes its stop at LBJ/Central station. If you end up having to get off here, don’t fret, a red line will be by to pick you up and transport you further North.
Things to Know Before you Go:
- Download the GoPass app to purchase tickets (you can also purchase tickets at the machines by the station but the app is much more convenient if you are jumping on the train last minute)
- No food or drinks (don’t bring your Starbucks, sometimes you are standing and it would not be good to spill. DART trains are some of the cleanest public transport you’ll find in the country.)
- Generally the tickets cost $5.00 for your full day round trip (yes, you can buy 2-hour passes, off peak hour passes, senior tix etc)
- Most stations have free parking (parking is super abundant on the weekends)
- If you walk up to the train and the doors are shut, just push the button to the left of the door
- The DART employees are extremely helpful and you can ask them questions (don’t be shy)
In this section, I’ll go through each station, so skim ahead to the stations you might want to hop off at and take a look around:
DFW Airport Station
For $2.50, you can arrive at Terminal A of DFW airport – there is no cheaper way to get here. Plan on giving yourself plenty of time to do this but also know there will be no traffic jams or surprises on the highway that could suddenly slow you down. Its not perfect, but it works.
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- DFW International Airport
- Grand Hyatt DFW (On-Airport Hotel)
- Hyatt Regency DFW (On-Airport Hotel)
- Public Art Program (International Terminal D and the Skylink train stations)
Belt Line Station
Go to the Red line for more info
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
North Lake College Station
If North Lake CC is your school, then this is the best way to get there. No traffic, no parking passes, no hunting down parking spots.
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
Irving Convention Center Station
One of the most architecturally stunning convention centers I have ever seen. Wish this was the home of all of my tradeshows.
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
Las Colinas Urban Center Station
Las Colinas is a unique blend of hotel, office and restaurants and definitely worth a look, maybe even a gondola ride or SUP ride down the waterways.
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- The Mustangs of Las Colinas
- Tower 909
- The Towers at Williams Square
- AMLI Campion Trail
- Bella Casita Apartments
- Delante Apartments
- IMT Lakeshore Lofts
- Mandalay on the Lake Apartments
University of Dallas Station
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- University of Dallas via pedestrian walkway on Tom Braniff Drive or routes 505 and 508
- Cistercian Preparatory School
- Cistercian Abbey
Bachman Station
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- Bachman Lake Park
- Bachman Recreation Center
- Club Schmitz
- Dallas Police Department’s Northwest Operations Division
Burbank Station
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- Grauwyler Park Branch Library
- Grauwyler Recreation Center
- Southwest Airlines corporate headquarters
Inwood/Love Field Station
This is the station to catch your flight from Love Field.
There’s just one trick . . once you exit the train, you’ll need to head downstairs to street level to catch the bus/shuttle to the airport. Its called the Love Link 524. Its totally included in your train ticket and makes for an affordable way to arrive at the airport (and at the front door).
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- 5225 Maple Avenue Apartments
- Cathedral of Hope
- Elliott’s Hardware
- Herrera’s Cafe
- Inwood Day School
- Inwood Medical Clinic
- Dallas Love Field Airport
- Thomas J. Rusk Middle School
- Towne Square Apartments
- Weichsel Park and Cherrywood Park
- YW Women’s Center, Ebby’s Place
Southwestern Medical District/
Parkland Station
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- 21 Forty Medical District Apartments
- Children’s Health℠ Children’s Medical Center
- Colonial Reserve at Medical District Apartments
- Parkland Memorial Hospital
- UT Southwestern Medical Center and School
- UT Southwestern – William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital
- UT Southwestern – Zale Lipshy University Hospital
Market Center Station
(check out the Green line article)
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
Victory Station
This is one of the most popular stations especially when the Mavs or Stars are playing, and pretty much the best way to get into an event without dealing with the chaos heading into downtown Dallas. The train will stop a few hundred feet from the door of the American Airlines Center.
If you get to an event early, you can easily walk over to the W for dinner and drinks, walk the area and even walk under the Stemmons bridge into the West End or House of Blues.
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- American Airlines Center
- Cirque Apartments
- The House
- Katy Trail pedestrian and bicycle path
- One Victory Park office building
- Victory Park
- Victory Plaza
- The Vista Apartments
- W Dallas Victory Hotel & Residences
West End Station
This is the station to keep in mind when you have out of town guests that want to see Dallas’ history. At this stop, you’ve got the 6th Floor Museum, Dealey Plaza, the Old Red Courthouse and lots of photo ops and activities to keep you busy for the entire day.
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- Historic West End District
- Restaurants in the West End
- Crowne Plaza Hotel – Downtown Dallas
- Dallas Holocaust Museum
- Dallas World Aquarium
- Homewood Suites by Hilton® Dallas Downtown
- Old Red Courthouse (site of the Dallas CVB Tourist Information Center)
- The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
- The John F. Kennedy Memorial
- Dealey Plaza
- El Centro Community College
The next few stations I cover thoroughly over here on the Red Line
Akard Station
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- The Adolphus
- DART Headquarters
- DART Lost and Found
- DART Store
- Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Dallas
- The Joule Hotel
- Magnolia Hotel Dallas Downtown
- The Mosaic Dallas
- One Elm Place
- One Main Place
- Pegasus Plaza
- Renaissance Tower
- Thanks-Giving Square
- Thanksgiving Tower
- The Westin Dallas Downtown
St. Paul Station
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- 400 North Ervay
- First Baptist Dallas
- Gables Republic Tower
- Hartford Building
- Harwood Center
- Klyde Warren Park
- Main Street Garden Park
- Majestic Theatre
- One Dallas Center
- Trammell Crow Center
- The Universities Center at Dallas
- U.S. Post Office
- UNT Dallas College of Law
Pearl/Arts District Station
Check out more on the Red Line here
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- 2001 Bryan Tower
- Allianz Financial Centre
- Dallas Marriott City Center
- Klyde Warren Park
- Museum Tower
- One Arts Plaza
- Plaza of the Americas
- Plaza of the Americas Food Court
- Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Park
- San Jacinto Tower
- Sheraton Dallas Hotel
- Texas Commerce Tower
- Accessible via M-Line Trolley:
• Post Properties in Uptown
• View more information about Living on the DART Rail Line
Cityplace/Uptown Station
More here
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- Cityplace Market (East Entrance)
- Cityplace Tower (East Entrance)
- Target (East Entrance)
- The Rustic (West Entrance)
- Accessible via M-Line Trolley (Cityplace/Uptown Station West Entrance):
• West Village residential and retail development
• Magnolia Theater in the West Village
• The Rustic
• Uptown
• Post Properties in Uptown
• View more information about Living on the DART Rail Line
Mockingbird Station
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- Angelika Film Center and Café
- Bush Presidential Center
- Dr Pepper Station Shopping Center
- The Highland Dallas Hotel
- Kroger Food Store
- Magnolia Hotel Dallas Park Cities
- Mockingbird Station residential and retail development
- Pocket Sandwich Theatre
- Premier Place
- Twin Sixties Tower
- The Highland Residences
- Restaurants: Campisi’s Egyptian, Gelato Paradiso, Jason’s Deli, Margarita Ranch, Reikyu Sushi & Bar, Rockfish, Smoothie King, Spike, Trinity Hall, and others
- Run On!
- Southern Methodist University
- Whole Earth Provision Co.
Lovers Lane Station
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- Central Market
- Energy Square
- Lovers Lane Shopping Center
- Meadows Building
- Office Depot
- Old Town Shopping Center
- St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church
- The Village Apartments
Park Lane Station
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- AMC NorthPark 15 Theaters (via NorthPark Center Shuttle)
- Argosy University, Dallas
- The Art Institute of Dallas
- Bed Bath & Beyond
- Henk’s European Deli and Black Forest Bakery (via bus route 428)
- Doubletree Hotel (via bus route 428)
- Half Price Books (via bus route 428)
- The Heights at Park Lane
- NorthPark Center (via NorthPark Center Shuttle)
- Park Lane Dallas
- Vickery Health Center
- Whole Foods Market
Walnut Hill Station
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas
- Walnut Place Retirement Community
Forest Lane Station
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- Academy Sports and Outdoors
- Cottonwood Trail
- Crowne Plaza Suites Dallas – Park Central (via DART bus routes 488, 360 or 451)
- Hamilton Park community
- Home Depot
- Hyatt Place Dallas Park Central (via DART bus route 360)
- Medical City Dallas Hospital
- Texas Instruments Forest Lane Campus
LBJ/Central Station
During non-peak hours, this is where the Orange Line stops. No worries, you can always catch the Red Line further North to the last station.
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- Extended Stay America Hotel – Dallas Greenville Ave. (via bus route 582)
- Extended Stay America – Dallas North Park Central (via bus route 582)
- Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites – Dallas Park Central Northeast (via bus route 582)
- Restland Memorial Park and Funeral Home
- Richland College (via bus route 582)
- Texas Instruments
Spring Valley Station
Go to the Red line for more info
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- Brick Row
- CVS Pharmacy
- Greenville Avenue Stadium
- Waffle House
Arapaho Center Station
Go to the Red line for more info
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- Chinatown
- Richardson Civic Center
- University of Texas at Dallas (via bus route 362)
- Collins Technology Park
- Honeywell
- Inet Technologies
- Intrusion
- Optical Switch
- Samsung Telecommunications
Galatyn Park Station
Go to the Red line for more info
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- Galatyn Park Urban Center
- Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts and Corporate Presentations
- AT&T
- Bank of America
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas
- DeVry University Richardson Center
- Richardson Regional Medical Center
- AMLI Galatyn Station Apartments
- Nearby Hotels:
CityLine/Bush Station
Go to the Red line for more info
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- Cisco
- CityLine (opening 2015)
- Fujitsu
- Rockwell
- University of Texas at Dallas (via bus route 883-UTD Shuttle)
Downtown Plano Station
Go to the Red line for more info
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- Historic Downtown Plano
- Eastside Village Apartments
- Junction 15 Apartments
- Collin Creek Mall (via East Plano FLEX Service)
- Haggard Park (Plano city park with an old-fashioned bandstand and fountain)
- Interurban Railway Station Museum
- Courtyard Theater
- Plano City Hall
- Plano Municipal Court (Raymond Robinson Justice Center)
- ArtCentre of Plano
- Georgia’s Farmers Market
- McCall Plaza
Parker Road Station
Go to the Red line for more info
Popular Attractions and Destinations:
- Bank of America
- Best Buy
- Collin County Sub-Courthouse
- Collin College, Spring Creek Campus (via Bus Route 350)
- Kohl’s
- Texas Instruments Spring Creek Campus
Remember, the more you take the train, the more comfortable you’ll become. And soon enough you’ll learn to love it!
What questions do you have for me? Tweet me @ConvoCounts
P.S. Want even more exploration, click here Lonely Planet Texas (love this)
P.P.S. Or, check out the Austin Road Trip here
One more thing . . .
Make sure to make it out to some of my favorite coffee shops here
(click the pic)
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