Passenger Trains > Northstar in Texas

With the FIFA World Cup happening this summer and lots of events planned around DFW for it, DART in Dallas is preparing to beef up service to hopefully serve the events well. Part of their plan is to increase service on the TRE commuter rail throughout the length of the Cup. To support this they leased two four car trainsets from Minnesota's now defunct Northstar rail, not to be confused by the hockey team of the same name that also moved to Dallas for a better life.

As luck would have it, I was off work the day they arrived to town and managed to document the move, they came from Minnesota as a special "J" train, J-NTWIRB.
The video is of the BNSF move just a couple miles north of the Irving Yard where TRE would come pick them up late that morning
The first two pictures are after the sun came up, still awaiting pick up



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/26 18:00 by Jadon.

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After the morning rush hour the TRE sent a train up the BNSF Madill Sub to pick up the equipment. I didn't bother chasing as the trip is only a couple miles so I planted myself at the west end of the Belt Line Bridge that allows clear sight of my drone as well as an open view of the whole train.
Here are three drone photos, the train is passing the West Irving station in the final one before entering the yard

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A few scenes from the ground

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Looks sharp! Good pictures.

Posted from Android

Nice pictures, glad some folks were out to document this move. Any word on whether this equipment is getting a wrap or a new paint job, or is the plan just to press it into service as-is?

atx_railfan Wrote:
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> Nice pictures, glad some folks were out to
> document this move. Any word on whether this
> equipment is getting a wrap or a new paint job, or
> is the plan just to press it into service as-is?

Thank you! From what I've heard, they wont be recieving any new looks. It sounds like they wanna get them into service as soon as they can, but anything can happen though so don't hold me to it

Putting a wrap on a short term lease would be a waste of money.

That second to last shot is neat - Southstar + Northstar

The North Star?   Or maybe now the Twin Star.

R.

Considering that the NHL team in Dallas is the Northstars it fits.

What Northstar gets for leasing their trains can pay for their replacement bus service. 

Nice for TRE to get these passenger cars and locomotives! I sure hope Amtrak gets its leased Northstar cars and locomotive. I think it's like three passengers cars (including a cab car) and a locomotive. Meanwhile lions share leased out to TRE. 

southstar northstar,  makes wish for a Plainsman type train

thanks for your coverage!