Updated Friday, June 18, 2021, to include details about the project from the company and a Texas congressman’s response.
It’s been discussed in North Texas for years — a high-speed train that could get someone from Dallas to Houston in just 90 minutes.
The talk could become reality soon, according to Texas Central, the company developing the line.
Naturally, North Texans have questions about it. Curious Texas asked Dallas Morning News readers what they wanted to know about the train, and they delivered.
Here are answers to some of the most popular questions.
How much will a train ride cost?
Like buying a plane ticket, prices will depend on several factors, such as the class of service and how far in advance the purchase is made, Texas Central says.
“On the high end, tickets will be competitive with the cost of flying, and on the low end, they will be competitive with the cost of driving,” the company says on its website.
With those parameters in mind, it could be assumed that a ticket could cost as little as a tank of gas, or as much as a $200 flight.
How many people will fit on the train?
The rail line will use the latest model of the Shinkansen train. In Japan, that model — called the N700S — seats over 1,300 passengers. It will be adapted for Texas.
Modifications could include extra air conditioning and wider seats, according to Holly Reed, Texas Central’s former managing director of external affairs. Wider seating could mean a smaller capacity than the train used in Japan.
The Texas-version of the train will not have a middle seat and almost a foot of extra legroom than flying coach on most airlines, according to Texas Central.
“People will be able to get up without bothering their neighbor,” Reed said.
Train cars will have free wireless internet, all seats will be able to recline, and cars can be configured to “quiet cars," according to Texas Central.
What path will the train take?
The latest proposed route spans 10 counties from Dallas to Harris counties, with a stop near College Station. Portions would run near Interstate 45, others much farther west. The route is under review by the Federal Railroad Administration.
Texas Central maintains it plans to build and operate a route that is least impactful to the environment and communities.
Where will the train make stops?
Exact addresses are undetermined, but Texas Central has revealed their general locations.
Dallas’ stop is expected to be in the Cedars neighborhood, south of Interstate 30 near downtown. The train will stop near state highways 30 and 90 in Grimes County, equidistant to College Station and Huntsville. Texas Central plans to have direct shuttle service to Texas A&M University, about a 30-minute drive from the station in Grimes County.
The Houston stop would be in the city’s northwest side, near the interchange of U.S. 290 and Interstate 610.
How long will it take to build?
In June 2021, Texas Central signed a $16 billion contract with Webuild, an engineering and construction company based in Milan, Italy, to build the bullet train.
Texas Central received federal approval of the project’s environmental and safety aspects in September 2020. But the project still faces hurdles, say U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady and others.
“This means nothing,” the Houston Republican said in a statement issued June 18. “This project is no more ‘shovel ready’ than it was years ago when Texas Central Railroad announced construction would begin soon — and failed — nor does TCR have a single permit to begin construction. In fact, they have not even filed an application with the federal Surface Transportation Board — the first step in an arduous and lengthy permitting process that could take years.”
Should the project receive a green light, Texas Central said in December 2019 that construction was projected to last six years.
“We’ve had our heads down working on this for a long time,” Reed told The News then. “The conversation has shifted from, ‘Is this really going to happen?’ to ‘When can I ride it?’”
Patrick McShan, a Dallas attorney with The Beckham Group, does not believe the train’s groundbreaking will happen so soon. McShan represents Texans Against High-Speed Rail, which opposes building the line. He said in 2020 that he believed Texas Central would face more legal battles and that the project could end up before the Texas Supreme Court.
Brady had also said in February 2020 that he didn’t believe Texas Central had made progress on the line’s construction.
“What has changed about the project? Our view is nothing,” he said on a conference call with reporters. “Nothing’s changed in the project to give them eminent domain [to build].”
On its website, Texas Central says it plans to use eminent domain “only as a last resort.”
Will pets be allowed on the train?
Like airlines, service animals will be allowed on the train, but Texas Central has not confirmed any details regarding service animals or pets.
