A Texas company is planning a high-speed rail line from Dallas to Houston, and they’ve hired Spain’s national rail operator, Renfe, to run it for them and an Italian company to build it for them. But the project still faces fierce opposition from Texas groups that killed an earlier high-speed proposal.
Plans call for the railroad to begin operation in 2026, with Renfe holding a contract to operate it through 2042. The project is sponsored by Texas Central Partners, a company formed for the project.
The construction is estimated to cost $311 million for the 240 mile route linking Texas’s two biggest population center. It’s expected to generate $5.6 billion in revenue while Renfe runs. The line would operate with trains based on Japanese Model 700 Shinkansen bullet trains that would make the trip in less than 90 minutes, including a stop at Brazos Valley.
Opponents claim that the scheme will end up requiring a government subsidy, and that it will result in eminent domain being used to provide land for a private company.
