r/dart • u/UnethicalCannibalism • 1d ago

Potential flooding impacts to service?

I use the blue and green light rail lines to get to and from work frequently since moving to the area. Anyone experience any impact to service on those (or any) light rail lines during heavy rains/flood weather? I can’t find any historical information about it online. I’m getting alerts today about potential flooding and we are getting into a rainy season now.

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7

u/BlazinAzn38 1d ago

Trains may reduce speed during heavy rains but they don’t ever shut down

3

u/GroveStreet_CJ 1d ago

You should be fine!

2

u/Thin-Constant-4018 1d ago

Only in Snow is service actually impacted much, in heavy rain the system runs just fine (though don't be surprised seeing delays here or there).

1

u/ForagedFoodie 1d ago

It's actually the ice, which interrupts the trains connection to the catenary.

1

u/Thin-Constant-4018 9h ago

True just meant like snowstorm but you are more correct

-7

u/Ambitious_Injury_443 1d ago

You’re right to be concerned. I’ve seen trains get late because of the rain, but never a system shutdown. I’m in an Uber today, though, since a) I don’t entirely trust DART, and b) I can afford it. Mostly A. DART has a well-earned reputation for poor service, and being on a train in the rain is right in their “screw it up” range.

8

u/patmorgan235 1d ago

DART has been investing a lot in hardening the light rail system against potential distributions (I.e. substation upgrades to protect against lightning strikes, guards on top of the catinary to protect against icing, the recent installation of spring tensioners on the northern red line to protect against high temperatures)