High-Speed Rail to Partner with Amtrak in Texas

The Texas Central high-speed rail line between Houston and Dallas is planning to offer smooth connections with Amtrak lines at either end of its 240-mile route.

1 minute read

May 6, 2018, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"Passengers on the proposed Texas bullet train would have access to connections with Amtrak's national routes as part a new agreement between the national train service and Texas Central," reports Ileana Najarro.

According to a press release on the deal from Texas Central, the ticketing partnership is designed to "attract, assist and serve passengers on the 200 mph North Texas-to-Houston line." As noted by Najarro, Amtrak has not connected Dallas and Houston since 1995.

In a separate article on the partnership, Dianna Wray writes that the deal "is a pretty remarkable get for Texas Central, since it will help tie the line—the Japanese Shinkansen N700 bullet train is not designed to hook up with any other type of track directly—into the fabric of public transportation by allowing its passengers to go from the bullet train to Amtrak trains the same way that Greyhound and United Airlines both partner with the national rail service right now."

The Federal Railroad Administration is still working on a final environmental study of the 240-mile Texas Central route.

Friday, May 4, 2018 in Houston Chronicle

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of man in manually operated wheelchair waiting at urban crosswalk.

Making Mobility More Inclusive

A new study highlights the challenges people with disabilities continue to face in navigating urban spaces.

15 minutes ago - Greater Good Magazine

US and Texas flags flying in front of Texas state capitol dome in Austin, Texas.

Texas Bills Could Push More People Into Homelessness

A proposal to speed up the eviction process and a bill that would accelerate enforcement of an existing camping ban could make the state’s homelessness crisis worse, advocates say.

1 hour ago - The Texas Tribune

Person in yellow safety suit and white helmet kneels to examine water samples outdoors on a lake shore.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure

If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

2 hours ago - Inside Climate News