High-speed train between Dallas and Houston gets federal approval

[TexasTowelie]

by Juan Pablo Garnham, Texas Tribune


The high-speed train that promises to transport passengers between Dallas and Houston in 90 minutes has been approved by the Federal Railroad Administration, according to Texas Central Railroad, the company in charge of the project.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration issued the two key rulings, which provide the regulatory framework and the environmental review for the high-speed train, that Texas officials were waiting on to move forward with the project, according to the company. The announcement was first reported by the Houston Chronicle.

Texas Central expects to start construction in the first half of 2021.The federal Surface Transportation Board still must approve the project before construction can begin.

The rulings announced Monday brought cheers from leaders in Dallas and Houston, but criticism from project opponents along the path the train could take to connect the cities.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2020/09/21/dallas-houston-high-speed-train/

[Vogon_Glory]

1. Good luck to the Texas Electric Mark II

Admittedly, the title is a little unfair: the original Texas Electric Interurban trolley line ran between Denison, TX through Dallas, using streetcar tracks in Dallas and never exceeding 60 mph out in the countryside.

I still think that high speed rail between Dallas and San Antonio with stops in Waco and Austin would be as good or better idea.

[TexasTowelie]

2. I think that a route operating between Laredo and Dallas is feasible.

While San Antonio and Austin are good places to stop, I never looked at Waco as a destination to stop at unless someone was a Baylor student or alum. However, since Waco is roughly in the middle of Austin and Dallas and it does have a public transportation through town and even including Temple it might have the traffic to justify a stop.

[msongs]

3. too many stops means it will not be high speed. nt

[TexasTowelie]

4. It looks like there will only be one stop

about midway outside of Bryan/College Station. Brazos County has about 220,000 residents. There aren't any other major communities between Dallas and Houston.