FRA proposes draft safety standards for Texas Central bullet train

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) this week proposed a rule of particular applicability (RPA) to establish safety standards for the Texas Central Railroad's Dallas-to-Houston high-speed rail system.

The proposed standards would apply only to Texas Central's bullet-train plan for Texas, FRA officials said in a notice published March 10 in the Federal Register.

FRA's proposed RPA takes a system approach to safety, including signal and trainset control, track, rolling stock, operating practices, system qualifications and maintenance.

Texas Central plans to build a high-speed rail line between Houston and Dallas on dedicated track with no grade crossings. Trains would operate at speeds no higher than 205 mph. The company's rolling stock, track and core systems will replicate the Central Japan Railway Co.'s Tokaido Shinkansen high-speed system and will be used only for passenger service.

FRA is seeking comments on the proposed RPA by May 11. In addition, the agency expects to hold three public hearings on the RPA, but will publish a separate announcement on when and where those hearings will be held.