Texas Central unveils bullet train station details

Developers of the Texas bullet train project have unveiled details of a proposed rail station in Grimes County, Texas.

The station, which would be the only midway stop on the Houston-to-Dallas high-speed rail line, will be built on 60 acres in the Roans Prairie area of the county, located along Highway 30 and west of Highway 90, Texas Central Railway officials announced yesterday in a press release.

The announcement comes a month after the Federal Railroad Administration issued a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for Texas Central's plan to build the bullet train. The environmental analysis of the proposed high-speed rail line found that it would "alleviate the strain" on the state's existing infrastructure, Texas Central officials said.

The DEIS identified the preferred route for the bullet train, which mostly would follow transmission lines in a utility corridor between North Texas and Houston.

The report provides additional guidance as the project moves into its pre-construction phases, ensuring the safety and environmental wellbeing of counties and communities along the 240-mile route.

The new station in Grimes County will have efficient roadway access and connection options for passengers traveling to it. Moreover, it will be a catalyst for economic development, new jobs and additional tax revenue for local counties and communities, said Brady Redwine, a vice president of Texas Central.

The terminal, being built on open land, is part of a $1 billion investment that Texas Central is making in Grimes County, including track construction and system and maintenance facilities.
 
Plans call for a shuttle service that will directly link the Texas A&M University campus to the station as well as other nearby connections. From there, it will be about a 50-minute train ride to Dallas or a 30-minute ride to Houston, Texas Central officials said.