Passenger Trains > Feds pull funding from Texas HSR

As a Texan and rail enthusiast, I am OK with this.

We may get it done without fed funding, and if not so be it.

its been dragging on far too long already. 

https://www.kbtx.com/2025/04/14/waste-taxpayer-funds-feds-pull-funding-texas-high-speed-rail-project/

The press release.

---

More  money  to  go  to  Mars.

They're more interested in the planet located beyond Saturn and before you reach Neptune !!!

mvrr10 Wrote:
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> They're more interested in the planet located
> beyond Saturn and before you reach Neptune !!!

ZING!!!  LOL!!!  An extensive proctological exploration is said to be planned.

On a more serious note, this is unfortunate news, although not unexpected under the circumstances. I gave this one a chance of happening, and at a reasonable price point. Hopefully it can be deferred to another day and not entirely killed off. I trust Texans to be reasonably sensible about it. Including honestly and upfront saying "no" of their own volition without a lot of political manipulation because they just don't see it working out in a way that they want. Even with a less challenging route than California, and less political desire than in Cali to absolutely 110% satisfy beyond any unreasonable doubt every conceivable (and inconceivable) micro-constituency in the state.

MC



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/14/25 20:09 by ironmtn.

And they suceed I bet Marvin'll be eager to meet whoeverlands there!

Posted from Android

The perfect post of the day lol!!!!!!!!

mvrr10 Wrote:
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> They're more interested in the planet located
> beyond Saturn and before you reach Neptune !!!

While they're trying to save our taxpayer dollars, I hope they consider how many people this project impacted.  Now watch:  the Party will turn around and instead of "bailing out" this project, will "bail out" the farmers the Party has screwed over.  More welfare for their voters.

WrongWayMurphy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As a Texan and rail enthusiast, I am OK with
> this.
>
> We may get it done without fed funding, and if not
> so be it.
>
> its been dragging on far too long already. 
>
> https://www.kbtx.com/2025/04/14/waste-taxpayer-fun
> ds-feds-pull-funding-texas-high-speed-rail-project
> /

Texas has been talking about this since the 80's. Nothing has happened in 50 years. Why change now?

DutchDragon Wrote:
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> Texas has been talking about this since the 80's.
> Nothing has happened in 50 years. Why change now?

This was the second iteration which was a serious effort. I had high hopes for it, but the funding did not last out the approval process. When the company had to pull Amtrak in as the last ditch effort to keep it going, it was a dead man walking.

ironmtn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> mvrr10 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > They're more interested in the planet located
> > beyond Saturn and before you reach Neptune !!!
>
> ZING!!!  LOL!!!  An extensive proctological
> exploration is said to be planned.
>
> On a more serious note, this is unfortunate news,
> although not unexpected under the circumstances. I
> gave this one a chance of happening, and at a
> reasonable price point. Hopefully it can be
> deferred to another day and not entirely killed
> off. I trust Texans to be reasonably sensible
> about it. Including honestly and upfront saying
> "no" of their own volition without a lot of
> political manipulation because they just don't see
> it working out in a way that they want. Even with
> a less challenging route than California, and less
> political desire than in Cali to absolutely 110%
> satisfy beyond any unreasonable doubt every
> conceivable (and inconceivable) micro-constituency
> in the state.
>
> MC

There is a better chance of it getting done if the feds get out of the way.... this is a good thing.

Posted from Android

Follow the Brightline model.  

And I am sorry, $64 million for "pre-construction work?"  What does that even mean?  Texas needs this, I honestly believe.  At the same time, given the complete ineptitude of Amtrak, kicking them off of it by cutting these funds is probably a good idea.  All one has to do is look at the train to Mobile and the "new" Acela trains.  Amtrak cannot even pull off these relatively simple items, much less something of this magnitude.

CA high speed rail has tarnished the concept.  It is infuriating how poorly that project has been run, and now everyone just sees high speed rail as a boodoggle.  I disagree, but here we are.

Chessie1963 Wrote:
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> Follow the Brightline model.  

Which one?  Brightline Florida is a different beast, with most of the route using existing ROW, and the rest a corridor granted by the state.  Brightline West?  They were given a far larger Federal grant.

> And I am sorry, $64 million for "pre-construction
> work?"  What does that even mean? 

Seems simple enough.  Surveying a route, acquiring the ROW, designing bridges, cuts, fills, stations, power supply, etc.  Surely you're not advocating beginning construction without planning first?

I think the flaw in the Texas approach wasn't using public funds, but rather funneling them through Amtrak, which has never been on the business of building new rail systems from the ground up.  

Dave

We'll know how serious they are about fixing Amtrak based on what they do now with Andy Byford.

And the other "shoe" to drop will be CA's HSR.

dendavis Wrote:
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> And the other "shoe" to drop will be CA's HSR.

Fingers crossed!

Fine with for totally different reasons. The reason I'm fine with it is I'd rather see money be used to develop service on existing infrastructure with multiple daily frequencies and then if it's successful you can discuss HSR.

Posted from Android

dendavis Wrote:
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> And the other "shoe" to drop will be CA's HSR.

Any update on whether the California has provided funding due?

I'd like to see the state drop CAHSR funding before the Federal government does. My hunch is that the politics would be better that way, but I really can't explain why.

mvrr10 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They're more interested in the planet located
> beyond Saturn and before you reach Neptune !!!

Snort. The went me coffee.

Posted from iPhone

ts1457 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> DutchDragon Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Texas has been talking about this since the
> 80's.
> > Nothing has happened in 50 years. Why change
> now?
>
> This was the second iteration which was a serious
> effort. I had high hopes for it, but the funding
> did not last out the approval process. When the
> company had to pull Amtrak in as the last ditch
> effort to keep it going, it was a dead man
> walking.

They should talk to Brightline.

Posted from iPhone