High-Speed Rail from Austin to Monterrey?

There’s talk of constructing a high-speed rail line from Austin, Texas through San Antonio, Texas to Monterrey, Mexico.

From Newsweek: The push for high-speed rail connecting Texas and Mexico took a step forward this week, as officials from both sides of the border met to discuss the project’s future. The goal is creating a rail line that connects Austin, San Antonio, and Monterrey, Mexico, which would offer an alternative to the heavily congested I-35 corridor.

This would be the proposed route:

Back to Newsweek: The Texas Passenger Rail Advisory Committee, spearheaded by Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai and Travis County Judge Andy Brown met Mexican officials on Monday [September 23rd] aboard Amtrak’s Texas Eagle, an existing daily passenger service between Austin and San Antonio...Sakai said, “We need to come up with creative solutions for passengers who are looking for alternatives to using their vehicles to navigate the congested 80-mile stretch” between San Antonio and Austin.

The Mexican officials included a state official of Nuevo Leon, the state in which Monterrey is located; and the mayor-elect of Saltillo.

Officials in Monterrey and Nuevo Leon have already shown considerable interest in the project, with Nuevo Leon Governor Samuel Garcia last year urging Texas officials to consider using federal government funds for a high-speed rail line linking Monterrey with San Antonio.

The proposal faces obstacles.

One hurdle is Union Pacific’s control of the rail line between Austin and San Antonio. The freight company has historically been reluctant to share its tracks with passenger rail without a separate freight bypass.

Union Pacific was one of the railroads involved in the Transcontinental Railroad, joined by the Golden Spike in Utah in 1869. Here’s a photo:

Moreover, funding for the project could prove difficult to secure. Texas lawmakers have shown resistance to allocating funds for high-speed rail, especially given past legislation that prevents state funds from being used for rail projects operated by private entities.