Amtrak Takes Lead on Texas Central Rail

The high-speed rail project isn’t a done deal, but if it moves forward, trains could begin operating in 2030.

1 minute read

April 23, 2024, 8:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Rendering of proposed modern glass high-speed rail station in Houston, Texas.

Rendering of proposed Texas Central concourse in Houston, Texas. | Texas Central / Proposed Houston station

Work on a proposed Dallas-to-Houston high-speed rail project is accelerating, reports Dan Zukowski in Smart Cities Dive, as Amtrak took the lead on the project last week.

But the project is not without its challenges: “Some landowners along the route have objected to property acquisitions by Texas Central and only about 30% of the land required for the rail line has been obtained. Texas Central owes more than $600,000 in delinquent property taxes, according to the Houston Chronicle.”

Amtrak says they are still conducting due diligence and is still “some distance from making a binding decision to fully engage on this project.” If it moves forward, trains could begin running as early as 2030, according to Amtrak senior vice president of high-speed rail development programs Andy Byford.

Thursday, April 18, 2024 in Smart Cities Dive

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