A landowner in rural Texas is locked in a legal battle with the companies that are planning to build the Texas Central high-speed rail (HSR) project, which would establish a line between downtown Dallas and the intersection of two highways northwest of Houston. Texas Central plans to offer a 90-minute trip time point-to-point, using Japanese Shikansen equipment.
Now that approvals and permitting have been secured from the Federal Railroad Administration and State of Texas, “terminal development is the next step,” high-speed rail hopeful Texas Central said on Oct. 13, when its announced formation of the Texas High-Speed Rail Station Development Corporation (SDC). Meanwhile, two Texas Republican congressmen have sent a letter to the USDOT accusing Texas Central of attempting to engage in questionable business practices.
During a recent interview, the CEO of the Texas Central high speed rail project did not shed much light on progress. Instead, there appears to be more fog developing.
Privately funded high-speed rail developer Texas Central has signed on Spain’s Renfe as “early operator” of its proposed 236-mile line linking Dallas and Houston. Securing funding is next, the company reported July 14.
Privately funded high-speed rail developer Texas Central has signed a $16 billion “final agreement” with Italian firm Webuild Group and its U.S. subsidiary Lane Construction Corp. to build its 236-mile line connecting Dallas and Houston. Funding, however, is still yet to be secured.
The long-simmering controversy over high-speed rail (HSR) continued during a May 6 hearing before the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials. Its theme: “When Unlimited Potential Meets Limited Resources: The Benefits and Challenges of High-Speed Rail and Emerging Rail Technologies.”
Texas Central says that the $20 billion project is now “shovel ready,” and following collaboration with the federal government, the State of Texas and a team of experts, it is ready to