Texas Central picks Bechtel to manage bullet-train project

Texas Central, developer of the proposed bullet train between North Texas and Houston, has signed engineering firm Bechtel to provide project management services.

Bechtel will support the company in managing the project as it moves from development to implementation, Texas Central officials said in a press release.

The value of the contract was not disclosed.

Bechtel has completed more than 300 major train and subway projects, including the Channel Tunnel High Speed 1, Crossrail in London, Riyadh Metro in Saudi Arabia and Dulles Corridor Metrorail in Washington, D.C.

The announcement is the latest significant step forward for the investor-led project — a 200 mph train that will connect the state's largest cities in 90 minutes, with a midway stop in the Brazos Valley, Texas Central officials said.

"The addition of Bechtel, with its experience in train and mega-infrastructure project experience, is another sign of the expertise this project is attracting and leveraging," said Texas Central Chief Executive Officer Carlos Aguilar.

Bechtel is a U.S.-based company with an office in Houston and about 2,000 employees in Texas.

"We look forward to using our international high-speed train experience to progress this transformative project in the United States," said Scott Osborne, Bechtel’s infrastructure general manager, Americas. "The high-speed connection between Houston and North Texas will begin a new era of travel and convenience for riders."

Texas Central announced last year it selected Fluor Enterprises and The Lane Construction Corp. to perform pre-construction planning with engineering support from WSP.