The original alignment, which AFAIU was killed when someone called "Bush" was Governor, was a triangular network. The cheapest alignment is probably to build Rapid Rail track in the corridor used by the existing Amtrak train from Houston to San Antonio, but then the biggest transport market on the system, Houston/Dallas, is the longest trip on the system.

The most recent plan is the so-called "T-Bone", with a single alignment with a junction on the San Antonio/Dallas corridor, with some services from Houston running up to Dallas and others running south to San Antonio ... it looks like it goes out of the way compared to the triangular route, but when the trains start getting up to a reasonable speed, the trip times seem to work out OK.

But they need to settle on a general alignment to get designation.


I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.