Plans for a high-speed rail line linking Dallas and Houston in Texas have received a boost after it emerged Amtrack, the company behind the project, has begun the procurement process to select a delivery partner for the scheme.
Campaign group Texas Rail Advocates revealed on Thursday that Amtrak had issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) as it seeks a partner company to “provide programmatic support for the development of the Texas High Speed Rail Project.”
Newsweek contacted Amtrak for comment on Friday outside of regular office hours via email.
Why It Matters
The United States has historically lagged behind Europe, Japan and China regarding the construction of high-speed railways, but a number of projects are now under either construction or consideration across the nation.
A 2021 study by engineering company Webuild SpA estimated the Dallas-Houston high-speed rail line would result in $36 billion in “economic direct impact for the region” over the next 25 years.
What To Know
On Thursday, Texas Rail Advocates published an article saying that Amtrack is searching for a delivery partner to help it with the Texas High Speed Rail Project.
In a notice, Amtrak said the search would be a two-step process, with prospective partners first asked to submit a “statement of qualification” saying how they could help the project. The passenger railroad giant said it will then compile a shortlist of companies, which will be asked to provide more-detailed proposals.
In a statement, the company said: “Amtrak is working to confirm the viability of the concept of a dedicated high-speed rail route between Dallas and Houston. As part of these efforts, we are seeking to identify the interest of potential partners through responses to this Request for Qualifications process.”
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Amtrak has said its proposed Dallas-to-Houston line would be 240 miles long, with trains traveling at up to 200 miles an hour; this means that the journey between the two cities should take around 90 minutes.
In January, a $1 million legal fund was approved by the Regional Transportation Council, which forms part of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, to help the Texas High Speed Rail Project address legal challenges.
News outlet The Texan said in November 2024 that members of the Dallas City Council went on a weeklong visit to Japan to learn from the country’s existing high-speed rail network.
What People Are Saying
In its note, Amtrak said: “The Delivery Partner will be responsible for facilitating Amtrak’s delivery of the Project and will become a fully integrated and accountable member of the Project team.
“The Delivery Partner will provide advice, leadership, and support to Amtrak to allow Amtrak to successfully deliver the Program, and will undertake … a broad range of program management, design management, construction management, quality management, third party and stakeholder coordination, procurement, commercial strategy, field representation, and monitoring services.”
Speaking to Newsweek in 2024, Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn said: “We certainly need more transportation infrastructure in Texas. We’re a big, growing state, and while the Texas Department of Transportation has done a lot in trying to build enough roads and highways to keep up, I think invariably things like high-speed rail come into play.”
What Happens Next
Amtrak will make a shortlist out of the potential project partner applications it receives, then request additional information from them before making a final decision.
The Texas High Speed Rail Project is still in the planning stage, and the complete design has yet to be finalized.