TEXAS — If you’ve done the drive, you know you’re fortunate if you can drive from Houston to Dallas or vice versa in under four hours.

Imagine taking the trip on a 205-mph bullet train.

What You Need To Know

  • Amtrak and Texas Central are exploring a partnership to construct a high-speed train connecting Houston and Dallas

  • The bullet train would travel 205 mph and get people to their destination in less than 90 minutes

  • The Texas Supreme Court cleared the way for Texas Central to seize land for such a project via eminent domain 

  • The announcement was lauded by the mayors of Houston and Dallas 

That’s what Amtrak and Texas Central on Wednesday reported they are exploring. Don’t plan on booking a trip soon, though. The project and partnership are in an exploratory phase.  

The proposal is for a high-speed rail with a 240-mile route. The total trip would take less than 90 minutes.

Texas Central and Amtrak said they have submitted applications to several federal programs for further study and design work.

“Dallas is the engine of the fourth largest and fastest growing region in the nation,” Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson said. “It is bold, innovative endeavors like this that will propel Dallas toward an even more prosperous future. A high-speed rail line would revolutionize transportation in our region, serve as a catalyst for economic growth, and enhance connectivity among Texas residents and businesses.”

Besides reducing travel time, the potential partners say it’s estimated the project would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 100,000 tons per year, saving 65 million gallons of fuel while removing 12,500 cars per day from Interstate 45.

The Texas Supreme Court in June 2022 cleared the way for Texas Central to seize land via eminent domain for such a project. There is opposition to that, however.

"Amtrak plans to waste federal taxpayer dollars to salvage and bail out the highly controversial, utterly mismanaged, and practically insolvent $40 billion Texas high-speed rail project packed with severe public hazards, private property rights abuses, adverse minority community impacts, weakened flood control, significant environmental damage, and multiple violations of President Biden's 'Justice 40' initiative to ensure the equitable distribution of benefits to disadvantaged communities resulting from federal taxpayer support. Now it is up to Texas' Senators and Members of Congress who purport to protect taxpayer dollars to deny this boondoggle any federal bailout," said John Sitilides, federal affairs adviser to ReRoute the Route, a Texas business and civic coalition opposed to the proposed high-speed rail project. 

“The collaboration between Texas Central and Amtrak is an important milestone for the City of Houston and this project,” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. “Our city is committed to advancing transportation initiatives that support economic growth and enhance quality of life for our residents.