2020 Houston-Dallas bullet train (Austin, Princeton, Junction: how much, construction, maintenance)

[madrone2k]

No, just give us our pickups, big-screen TVs, and driveway boats. We don't care about anything after that :-)

[dallasboi]

I wonder how many people would actually live in Dallas and work in Houston or vice versa.

[Dr.Mcninja]

Originally Posted by cheryjohns

Bullet trains have a speed between 150 mph and 187 mph. We could get to Dallas in a little over an hour. No TSA, no getting to the station an hour or more between departure. Wonderful.

You're deluding yourself if you think the TSA wouldn't be feeling you up at the train station.
Hell, they stop people on the highways.

[HouTXmetro]

Originally Posted by jdw7337

Houston to Dallas? That seems like a big waste considering the traffic on I-45 between the two cities isn't that bad and only takes about 3.5 hours to drive there.

That's 2.5 hours too long.

[HouTXmetro]

Originally Posted by marcopolo2000

Some Houstonians don't embrace change and progress very well.

+1

Ain't that the truth, see Houston Light Rail struggles

[oceangaia]

Originally Posted by cheryjohns

Bullet trains have a speed between 150 mph and 187 mph. We could get to Dallas in a little over an hour. No TSA, no getting to the station an hour or more between departure. Wonderful.

If that's what you're counting on you may be disappointed. One spectacular train bombing and you'll have the exact same "security" system at the train stations.

[HouTXmetro]

Originally Posted by DiverTodd62

If that's what you're counting on you may be disappointed. One spectacular train bombing and you'll have the exact same "security" system at the train stations.

Truth be told, bombing something in Texas should be the last thing people worry about. Nobody is thinking about us.

[djt79]

Awesome. Add Houston to San Antonio, too. I'm all for bullet trains connecting cities, but none of that commuter or light rail thing. If you could also drive to the station, load the car onto the train, and then drive off, like the do under the English Channnel, that would be even better, but park&ride + rental would work, too.

[jtothemak]

Think about all the people that take flights back and forth between Dallas and Houston for business. This could be a great thing if enough people use it. However I agree that the airlines will fight this as it will take away a good portion of business.

However people going between for pleasure unless their destination are close to where the stop is a lot of people will still drive from the cost of hassle of renting a car once you get there.

[DaveGl]

Interesting. Just a little over 30 years ago, a little outfit known as Southwest was started. Whoever thought they'd be the size they are today?

Southwest marks 30 years in Las Vegas with celebration, Twitter contest - VEGAS INC

"Thirty years ago, few might have guessed that Dallas-based Southwest Airlines — a company whose first route map was drawn on a napkin over cocktails — would become the biggest carrier at McCarran International Airport."

"Legendary Southwest co-founder Herb Kelleher and business associate Rollin King met in a San Antonio restaurant in 1971, drawing a triangle representing core routes between San Antonio, Dallas and Houston on a napkin."

Certainly would be nice to see high-speed bullet trains finally serve Texas, maybe starting with a similar original Southwest route. If it was convenient and reasonably priced, maybe it could take on the airlines, especially with the hassle flying has become.