From Progressive Railroading Magazine; July 17, 2020
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) yesterday, reversing an earlier decision, determined that Texas Central Railroad‘s proposed Dallas-to-Houston high-speed rail service will qualify as part of the interstate rail network and therefore falls under the board’s jurisdiction.
Texas Central in May 2018 petitioned the STB to reconsider its earlier decision that the proposed rail line would be constructed and operated entirely within the state of Texas and therefore not subject to board approval. However, circumstances have since changed “substantially” now that it has through-ticket and transfer arrangements with Amtrak. At the time of a July 2016 STB ruling, Texas Central did not yet have concrete plans for a connection with Amtrak or any other interstate passenger-rail carrier.