DALLAS to HOUSTON High Speed Rail

[electricron]

I would feel much better about the latest news if it was posted on Texas Central's web site, but as I am writing this response it is not there.

[Tnexster]

I would feel much better about the latest news if it was posted on Texas Central's web site, but as I am writing this response it is not there.

That website has been basically dead for two years. But then they also have very little staff around, anybody that kept up with that was let go almost two years ago.

[undefinedprocess]

Hey forum friends, we've been talking a lot about this on the Discord since the forum went down for 80+% of people in November. You lucky 10-20% who didn't have your cache flushed and could still access the forum, well... I'm jealous. But now, forum's up again and we're back! With that being said...

Since it's been such a long time since "everyone" had access to the forum and been a decent amount of time since this thread has had any posts (and much has happened in the courts), wanted to bump this to start the conversation back up. Many of you have had unique perspectives on this project in the past, so with all of the latest developments around this thing (and while we wait for the TX Supreme Court), I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on the future of the Dallas to Houston HSR.

[mhainli]

Hey forum friends, we've been talking a lot about this on the Discord since the forum went down for 80+% of people in November. You lucky 10-20% who didn't have your cache flushed and could still access the forum, well... I'm jealous. But now, forum's up again and we're back! With that being said...

Since it's been such a long time since "everyone" had access to the forum and been a decent amount of time since this thread has had any posts (and much has happened in the courts), wanted to bump this to start the conversation back up. Many of you have had unique perspectives on this project in the past, so with all of the latest developments around this thing (and while we wait for the TX Supreme Court), I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on the future of the Dallas to Houston HSR.

I heard that the Texas Supreme Court requested the state of Texas weigh in on the HSR, etc. Basically the State’s position was NOT in support of the project anymore, so just one more reason that the project may never get built. It’s unfortunate IMHO but we’ll see what the TSC says. If the ruling is that Texas Central is not a RR and cannot use eminent domain then it spells doom for almost any other similar rail or privatized hyper loop project in the future..

[undefinedprocess]

Hey forum friends, we've been talking a lot about this on the Discord since the forum went down for 80+% of people in November. You lucky 10-20% who didn't have your cache flushed and could still access the forum, well... I'm jealous. But now, forum's up again and we're back! With that being said...

Since it's been such a long time since "everyone" had access to the forum and been a decent amount of time since this thread has had any posts (and much has happened in the courts), wanted to bump this to start the conversation back up. Many of you have had unique perspectives on this project in the past, so with all of the latest developments around this thing (and while we wait for the TX Supreme Court), I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on the future of the Dallas to Houston HSR.

I heard that the Texas Supreme Court requested the state of Texas weigh in on the HSR, etc. Basically the State’s position was NOT in support of the project anymore, so just one more reason that the project may never get built. It’s unfortunate IMHO but we’ll see what the TSC says. If the ruling is that Texas Central is not a RR and cannot use eminent domain then it spells doom for almost any other similar rail or privatized hyper loop project in the future..

Yeah, and the news coming out a day or two ago about Texas Central not paying taxes... Not looking too good. Wonder if Brightline could do something. They seem to have all of their shit together in multiple states.

[IcedCowboyCoffee]

Do we have a general idea when the Texas supreme court will put out their ruling on this?? I've been waiting on pins and needles...

[longhorn]

The ruling so be this summer.

TC needs to put up (show financing) or shut up (let another company take the idea).

[undefinedprocess]

TC needs to put up (show financing) or shut up (let another company take the idea).

Yup. I've pretty much lost faith in them now with the whole tax debacle. Time to let someone else step in and take the reins.

[ajderry2017]

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/carlosfa ... um=ios_app

(From discord) looks like CEO of Texas central is stepping down. This is the end fellas

[Cbdallas]

Sad.

[Triggerman]

really sad

[IcedCowboyCoffee]

Any idea when the state supreme court is expected to hand down its ruling on this?

Edit: Just noticed I already asked this

[Addison]

Any idea when the state supreme court is expected to hand down its ruling on this?

Edit: Just noticed I already asked this

Does it really matter at this point?

The CEO has already thrown in the towel.

[Cbdallas]

I am afraid the only High Speed rail we are ever going to experience is along our travels to Europe or Asia.

[The_Overdog]

3 thoughts:

1) This shows exactly why railroad infrastructure in the US is so expensive- gigantic front end costs that other countries don't deal with. It'd be interesting to tally how much money they have spent to this point with little to show for it, maybe beyond a less-than completely contiguous rail corridor they are in tax arrears for. Other countries, like China, have built entire runs just since this has been proposed.

2) We all laugh, but Brightline in Florida is under construction, about to open, and has plans for a 300 mile run to Orlando. So maybe a Ft Worth to Dallas as a lower speed segment that would have solved lots of problems (ie: would be a railroad) and shown promise would not have been a terrible idea in hindsight.

3) Per Community Impact:
"Aguilar testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation Committee in May 2021 and its subcommittee on railroads, where he suggested the railroad could use funds from the 1998 House Resolution 2, which includes a program that guarantees federal loans of up to $3.5 billion for projects.
H-GAC transportation officials confirmed to Community Impact Newspaper that the project is on the organization’s 2023-26 Transportation Improvement Plans, where its current entry lists it receiving $3.3 billion in local funds."

So I'm not sure if the $3.3 billion is matching funds or straight cash-money, but maybe it is just temporarily on-hold, and another CEO can shepherd it beyond. That's just me being ridiculously optimistic.

[IcedCowboyCoffee]

Any idea when the state supreme court is expected to hand down its ruling on this?

Edit: Just noticed I already asked this

Does it really matter at this point?

The CEO has already thrown in the towel.

Whatever the ruling is it sets a precedent that any future efforts will need to be cognizant of.

Besides, personally I'm not ready to abandon all hope just yet.

[Tucy]

3 thoughts:

1) This shows exactly why railroad infrastructure in the US is so expensive- gigantic front end costs that other countries don't deal with. It'd be interesting to tally how much money they have spent to this point with little to show for it, maybe beyond a less-than completely contiguous rail corridor they are in tax arrears for. Other countries, like China, have built entire runs just since this has been proposed.

2) We all laugh, but Brightline in Florida is under construction, about to open, and has plans for a 300 mile run to Orlando. So maybe a Ft Worth to Dallas as a lower speed segment that would have solved lots of problems (ie: would be a railroad) and shown promise would not have been a terrible idea in hindsight.

3) Per Community Impact:
"Aguilar testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation Committee in May 2021 and its subcommittee on railroads, where he suggested the railroad could use funds from the 1998 House Resolution 2, which includes a program that guarantees federal loans of up to $3.5 billion for projects.
H-GAC transportation officials confirmed to Community Impact Newspaper that the project is on the organization’s 2023-26 Transportation Improvement Plans, where its current entry lists it receiving $3.3 billion in local funds."

So I'm not sure if the $3.3 billion is matching funds or straight cash-money, but maybe it is just temporarily on-hold, and another CEO can shepherd it beyond. That's just me being ridiculously optimistic.

As it says in your quoted language, the proposed federal money was to be a loan.

[Addison]

Any idea when the state supreme court is expected to hand down its ruling on this?

Edit: Just noticed I already asked this

Does it really matter at this point?

The CEO has already thrown in the towel.

Whatever the ruling is it sets a precedent that any future efforts will need to be cognizant of.

Besides, personally I'm not ready to abandon all hope just yet.

Fair enough.

[mhainli]

Does it really matter at this point?

The CEO has already thrown in the towel.

Whatever the ruling is it sets a precedent that any future efforts will need to be cognizant of.

Besides, personally I'm not ready to abandon all hope just yet.

Fair enough.

https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news ... omain.html

Looks like the Texas Supreme Court has granted the use of Eminent Domain for this project. We’ll see what this means long term..

[tamtagon]

So, maybe the first CEO was simply intended to get the thing through most of the red tape, and the next CEO will be the one who gets it built. Then another change, a CEO geared to operate the line.

[Addison]

Whatever the ruling is it sets a precedent that any future efforts will need to be cognizant of.

Besides, personally I'm not ready to abandon all hope just yet.

Fair enough.

https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news ... omain.html

Looks like the Texas Supreme Court has granted the use of Eminent Domain for this project. We’ll see what this means long term..

Yep, saw that in the discord.

I guess all hope isn't lost then...

[longhorn]

Whatever the ruling is it sets a precedent that any future efforts will need to be cognizant of.

Besides, personally I'm not ready to abandon all hope just yet.

Fair enough.

https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news ... omain.html

Looks like the Texas Supreme Court has granted the use of Eminent Domain for this project. We’ll see what this means long term..

Time to show the 30 Billion dollars financing.

[Tnexster]

So, maybe the first CEO was simply intended to get the thing through most of the red tape, and the next CEO will be the one who gets it built. Then another change, a CEO geared to operate the line.

Everything seems pretty quiet, and their web page is never updated anymore. Maybe they just need someone to turn out the lights.

[IcedCowboyCoffee]

So, maybe the first CEO was simply intended to get the thing through most of the red tape, and the next CEO will be the one who gets it built. Then another change, a CEO geared to operate the line.

Everything seems pretty quiet, and their web page is never updated anymore. Maybe they just need someone to turn out the lights.

This is their most recent update:

texascentral1.jpg

https://twitter.com/TexasCentral/status/1545523117245734915
So, time will tell. I'll start getting pessimistic if we don't hear anything within the next year as they figure out (or fail to figure out) this transition.

[cowboyeagle05]

The problem is they do not have a leader, so they are rudderless. Will anyone sign on, or has the lobbying finally beat this project into submission. You have to have a potential CEO willing to fight with the airlines and rural politicians who have decided it's the second coming of satan to have high-speed rail in Texas.

[mhainli]

This project also needs a new political champion. The governor has backed away from it in recent months. Perhaps when the November election is over he can stop worrying about his previous support of the project becoming a risky political issue.

It’s good to finally get a statement from Texas Central referring to the Texas Supreme Court ruling granting right of eminent domain. Now getting the right leader and the financial backing…

[Tnexster]

I don't get a warm fuzzy feeling from that press release. Seems more like a big "maybe". I wonder how many staff are still currently working on the project?

[cowboyeagle05]

Yeah, its just the PR rep putting out something cause they do have a job despite the leadership being in the air. Even a PR person can't say more than this is a piece of good news and that's all I can say at this time.