Podcasts about texas central

The saga of high-speed rail in Texas takes another dramatic turn as the Trump administration revokes $60 million in funding previously allocated to Amtrak for the Texas Central project. Despite this setback, we explore why the Dallas-Houston line might actually be closer to reality than ever before.• Texas high-speed rail initiatives date back to the 1990s when Southwest Airlines played a significant role in derailing early efforts• Texas Central, the current iteration of the project, would connect Dallas to Houston in 90 minutes using trains capable of 205 mph• After years of lawsuits, Texas Central gained crucial eminent domain authority by being classified as a utility• Amtrak briefly took over the project in 2024 before Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy pulled federal funding• A private investment firm, Kleinheinz Capital Partners, has stepped in as lead investor just one day after federal funding was withdrawn• The project could potentially be finalized by year-end with construction taking approximately 80-86 months• Despite organized opposition groups like "Texans Against High Speed Rail," the project now has all legal frameworks in placeCheck out our merch store for Transit Tangents shirts and sweatshirts, or support us directly via Patreon for access to bonus content and early episodes.Send us a textSupport the show

  On Friday's show: We learn how Amtrak is exploring a partnership with Texas Central to advance a proposed high-speed railway between Houston and Dallas, a decade-long vision to operate a bullet train between the state's two largest cities, which appeared to have stalled and is potentially moving forward again. Also this hour: Amid Artemis, the Webb telescope, and the recently announced NASA+ streaming service, has the space agency – and by extension, Space City – gotten its mojo back? We discuss with space industry analyst Laura Forczyk. Then, from Travis Scott's planned concert in Houston, to a baseball announcer removed from the booth for stating mere facts, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And Dr. Sayed Tabatabai, a San Antonio kidney specialist whose writing went viral on Twitter during the pandemic, tells us about the experience and his book about it, These Vital Signs. He has a book signing event on Saturday at Brazos Bookstore.

Some small Texas towns have prospered and grown during the decades. Others have boomed and then settled into obscurity. Hico in Hamilton County appeared to be in the sad, second category, but determined citizens in Hico are bringing Hico back. Increasingly it is on the list of small towns to visit in Texas and (in my opinion) for good reason. In 1856, a few years prior to the Civil War, the rush to Texas was on. That year, eight families arrived in covered wagons and settled on Honey Creek in the northern corner of Hamilton County. In 1860, John Rankin Alfred and his family, also traveling in covered wagons, rode into Central Texas and joined the Honey Creek settlement. Alfred started a small business selling goods he'd brought by wagon and engaged in the cattle business. When the community petitioned for a post office, Alfred became postmaster and named the now official (but not yet incorporated) town Hico (HY-koh), after his birthplace, Hico, in Calloway County, Kentucky. When the Texas Central Railroad (which was part of the famous Katy Railroad) was built two and a half miles away, like so many Texas towns, the citizens decided that if the community was to prosper, they needed to relocate the town adjacent to the rail line. So they moved. Ten years later, two major fires destroyed downtown's wooden buildings. The town rebuilt with big blocks of limestone. The move to the rail line proved to be a smart one. By 1883, Hico was incorporated and became a major center of Texas trade. Hico's grain market exploded. By the turn of the century, Hico was shipping more grain than any other location on the Texas Central rail line. By 1907, the cotton shipments through Hico were in the tens of thousands of bales. Business was good and downtown Hico boomed with almost one hundred businesses—from hotels and grocery stores to both a broom and a candy factory. An 1895 opera house, a theatre, and tented roller rink offered fun and entertainment. But by 1955, the trading boom—which had been fueled by train transportation—fizzled and the town's business and population declined. A situation aggravated by major interstate construction bypassing the community. But today, more than sixty-five years later, when one might have expected Hico to be a near ghost town, it is a thriving example of a historic small town creating a new history. From 2019 to 2020, the population grew by 12.5% to 1,780 people. Not a big town. but a growing one with lots to offer. Main street is lined with handsome, historic stone buildings from more than 100 years ago—some structures sport old fashioned ads painted on their sides — the billboards of the past. A walk down Main Street is a trip back in time. Except—these old fashioned buildings now house charming inns and restaurants, boutiques, and various shops. The newly restored 1896 Midland Hotel recreates the hospitality of the past in its fourteen guest rooms, while its Chop House restaurant serves up thoroughly up-to-date dishes with a flavor of Texas and the 1896 Saloon has drinks to help you “wet your whistle” as early Texans said. A Texas-history mystery also beckons in downtown Hico. Was a Hico resident named William Henry “Ollie” Roberts, known as Brushy Bill Roberts, none other than the outlaw Billy the Kid? Many believe that he was. Brushy Bill claimed that Pat Garrett, the man who took credit for shooting Billy the Kid, really shot another outlaw named Billy Barlow and that he, Billy the Kid, slipped into the night and vanished, becoming another miscreant GTT—“Gone to Texas.” The full story is an interesting one and there are lots of clues—from scars on Brushy Bill that match scars where it is known Billy the Kid was wounded, plus testimonials from other noted outlaws of the time that Brushy Bill was in fact Billy the Kid. Brushy Bill died in Hico in 1950 before he received the pardon he was hoping for from New Mexico's governor- a pardon promised..

Seth Moulton is a veteran, a father, and a Democrat who represents a new generation of leaders in Washington.Inspired to public service by his most important mentor in life, the great Black Minister Rev Peter Gomes, he joined the Marines in 2001, days after his college graduation and a few months before the attacks on 9/11. Leading a frontline infantry platoon in the first Marine company to enter Baghdad, he later worked to establish a free and independent Iraqi media, and served as a liaison to senior Iraqi military and political leaders for General Petraeus. While he was an outspoken critic of the Iraq War, he proudly served four tours, sharing the view of many of our servicemembers that he didn't want anyone to go in his place.After returning home from Iraq, Seth used the G.I. Bill to earn joint degrees in business and public administration, and then became the managing director of Texas Central, building America's first high-speed rail line. But it wasn't long before he was called to serve once again, this time in his home district in Massachusetts.Seth challenged the establishment with a platform of bringing a new generation of leadership to Washington, willing to fight for progressive values yet not afraid of bipartisanship.  Named the Most Effective Freshman Democrat in his first term, Seth has consistently delivered results in a divided Washington. He is the only Member of Congress to earn two Democracy Awards from the Congressional Management Foundation, one in 2018 for Transparency and a second in 2020 for having the best constituent services in all of Congress. His legislation has delivered Faster Care for Veterans, designated athree-digit National Suicide Hotline, modernized Government Travel, and delivered on ALS Diability Insurance. His American High-Speed Rail Act is the most ambitious and forward-thinking infrastructure package before Congress today, and he recently wrote the G.I. Bill Repair Act to finally restore long-denied benefits to Black veterans of World War II.Today, Seth sits on three committees. As a member of the Budget Committee, he advocates for a new economic agenda that will make a difference for American families. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, he co-chaired the Future of Defense Task Force, which recently issued a first-of-its-kind bipartisan report on the hard choices and smart investments we must make to ensure our national security for the decades ahead. And he is the Congressional leader on high-speed rail and other next-generation infrastructure on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Seth Moulton is a veteran, a father, and a Democrat who represents a new generation of leaders in Washington.Inspired to public service by his most important mentor in life, the great Black Minister Rev Peter Gomes, he joined the Marines in 2001, days after his college graduation and a few months before the attacks on 9/11. Leading a frontline infantry platoon in the first Marine company to enter Baghdad, he later worked to establish a free and independent Iraqi media, and served as a liaison to senior Iraqi military and political leaders for General Petraeus. While he was an outspoken critic of the Iraq War, he proudly served four tours, sharing the view of many of our servicemembers that he didn't want anyone to go in his place.After returning home from Iraq, Seth used the G.I. Bill to earn joint degrees in business and public administration, and then became the managing director of Texas Central, building America's first high-speed rail line. But it wasn't long before he was called to serve once again, this time in his home district in Massachusetts.Seth challenged the establishment with a platform of bringing a new generation of leadership to Washington, willing to fight for progressive values yet not afraid of bipartisanship.  Named the Most Effective Freshman Democrat in his first term, Seth has consistently delivered results in a divided Washington. He is the only Member of Congress to earn two Democracy Awards from the Congressional Management Foundation, one in 2018 for Transparency and a second in 2020 for having the best constituent services in all of Congress. His legislation has delivered Faster Care for Veterans, designated athree-digit National Suicide Hotline, modernized Government Travel, and delivered on ALS Diability Insurance. His American High-Speed Rail Act is the most ambitious and forward-thinking infrastructure package before Congress today, and he recently wrote the G.I. Bill Repair Act to finally restore long-denied benefits to Black veterans of World War II.Today, Seth sits on three committees. As a member of the Budget Committee, he advocates for a new economic agenda that will make a difference for American families. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, he co-chaired the Future of Defense Task Force, which recently issued a first-of-its-kind bipartisan report on the hard choices and smart investments we must make to ensure our national security for the decades ahead. And he is the Congressional leader on high-speed rail and other next-generation infrastructure on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

SUMMARY      As a Marine Corps infantry officer, Congressman Moulton served four tours in Iraq, including two as a platoon commander and two as General David Petraeus' Special Assistant. He left the Marine Corps in 2008 with the rank of Captain. Prior to this, he attended Phillips Academy Andover and (eventually) Harvard University, graduating in 2001 with a degree in physics. After serving in Iraq, Congressman Moulton used the G.I. Bill to complete combined degrees in public administration and business before joining Texas Central as managing director and constructing the nation's first high-speed train line. Eventually, on the promise of providing fresh leadership to Congress, Congressman Moulton was chosen to represent Massachusetts in 2014. He co-chaired the Future of Defense Task Force as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, and it recently released a groundbreaking bipartisan report on the difficult decisions and wise investments we must make to maintain our national security for the ensuing decades. Today, Congressman Moulton is concentrating on improving veterans' health care and fostering economic growth for Massachusetts families.     EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS     00:00:41.390 – 00:09:38.490: Congressman Moulton discusses his service in the U.S. Marine Corps infantry, as well as his 4 tours during the Iraq War. He talks about his transition into a platoon commander, as well as his life prior to joining the Marines. He also talks about how his decision to join the Marine Corps and how his Harvard education and attendance at the Memorial Church influenced many of his later actions and relationships.   00:09:38.490 – 00:16:38.589: Congressman Moulton touches upon his transition from the marines to continuing his education and becoming a Congressman and member of the Armed Services Committee.     00:16:38.660 – 00:18:59.519: Congressman Moulton emphasizes the importance of balance when taking on personal and professional responsibilities. He does this by addressing the impact balance has on one's mental and physical health, as well as on their sense of accomplishment.       Your Move    Show resources: Be an early adopter and evolve for your benefit! To change the world, you must first change yours: genemoran.com/make-your-move/     Get all the resources from this episode on genemoran.com/e35.     Connect with Gene on linkedin.com/in/genemoran/ or visit genemoran.com.     Connect with Congressman Moulton on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/sethmoulton), Facebook (facebook.com/RepMoulton/), Twitter (twitter.com/repmoulton), Instagram (instagram.com/repmoulton), or visit his website (moulton.house.gov).

Texas Central has made little visible progress financing the high-speed rail project and acquiring property for the route in recent years. The company maintains that the bullet train is still being developed but declined to provide details about the path forward.

Luke Ellis is back!  In our last episode, we talked through the recent Texas Supreme Court decision in Hlavinka v. HSC Pipeline.  Today, we turn to the Texas Supreme Court decision in Miles v. Texas Central Railroad in a case deciding whether Texas Central has the lawful right to condemn for the proposed high speed rail between Dallas and Houston. Contact info for Luke Ellis (Email)  lellis@mehlaw.com (Website)  https://mehlaw.com/attorneys/luke-ellis/ Links to Other Topics Mentioned on the Show  Prior podcast with Luke Ellis on Texas eminent domain law  Hlavinka v. HSC Pipeline blog post (includes link to opinion)  Miles v. Texas Central Railway blog post (includes links to opinions)   Blog post on access agreements for survey Kelo v. New London

Chris Canetti, President of the Houston World Cup Bid Committee, discusses the process that led to Houston becoming a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Plus, Community Impact Newspaper's Houston metro reporter Jishnu Nair gives an update on a recent Texas Supreme Court's decision concerning Texas Central and its high-speed railway plan.  The Houston Breakdown is a production of Community Impact Newspaper. This episode was produced by Olivia Aldridge and Connor McGovern with editing by Marie Leonard. Weather and allergy reports are sourced from www.weather.com and AccuWeather.

Reporter Jishnu Nair gives an update on the Texas Central railway project, the potential high-speed train route from Houston to Dallas. Plus, Jackson King reports on Richardson's expected economic boost from the return of the Wildflower Arts & Music Festival. The DFW Breakdown is a production of Community Impact Newspaper. This episode was produced by Olivia Aldridge and Morgan O'Neal with editing by Marie Leonard. Weather and allergy reports are sourced from www.weather.com and AccuWeather. 

Reporter Jishnu Nair gives an update on the Texas Central railway project, the potential high-speed train route from Houston to Dallas. Plus, Houston City Hall reporter Sofia Gonzalez shares the latest on a proposed change to Houston's noise ordinance and its effect on local residents and bar districts. The Houston Breakdown is a production of Community Impact Newspaper. This episode was produced by Olivia Aldridge with editing by Marie Leonard. Weather and allergy reports are sourced from www.weather.com and AccuWeather. 

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Governor Abbott showed off Texas new border wall construction Saturday in Starr County and there is much we need to review and consider about Texas' efforts on the border. One thing we must evaluate is the effectiveness of programs Texas has already implemented. How can we claim the “arrest and jail” policy is working when it has not proved a deterrent to illegal crossing? That was the promise, that as many would not come if they knew they'd be jailed but we are jailing them and yet seeing all-time records in illegal crossings. As to the wall, is it likely to make much of a difference giving it will not connect to federal segments and sits a mile away from the Rio Grande?Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Texas solicitor general sides with land owners in the case before the Supreme Court of the Texas Central high speed railway using eminent domain to acquire land.HD68 GOP candidate arrested on assault with a deadly weapon charges and much more from the campaign stack.What did Trump say to elicit boos and jeers in his Texas appearances?And, other news of Texas.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

The Texas bullet train could finally happen sooner than you think. In fact, a vote in Congress this month might determine its future. The CEO of Texas Central, Carlos Aguilar, answered the Jasons call for this episode of Y'all-itics and gave them the lowdown on what's happening behind the scenes, how much money is needed to finish the project, what a ticket will cost on the bullet train, as well as where...and when...the very first tracks will be laid.   Y'all-itics is sponsored by Octopus Energy. Save $60 on a 12-month plan by using the offer code OCTOPUS60 at octopusenergy.com.  Octopus Energy — Better Energy Within Reach

Webuild e la sua controllata statunitense Lane Construction hanno firmato un accordo con la società Texas Central per realizzare la prima ferrovia ad alta velocità in America, che permetterà a un "treno proiettile" sul modello giapponese Shinkansen di collegare Dallas e Houston viaggiando a 320 chilometri l'ora e coprendo in appena 90 minuti la distanza tra le due metropoli texane. L'ha annunciato una nota della società italiana. Il mega-contratto, che vale 16 miliardi di dollari, uno dei maggiori nella storia delle infrastrutture americane, prevede la progettazione e la costruzione da parte di Webuild di tutti gli impianti civili della linea ferroviaria, con viadotti per circa la metà del tracciato, banchine, edifici e servizi per la manutenzione, per il deposito dei treni e per lo stoccaggio dei materiali. AAA dipendenti cercasi E' stato inaugurato oggi un nuovo Burger King a Medolago, in provincia di Bergamo, e il Gruppo Della Frera Spa ha nei piani di aprirne altri due entro la fine dell'anno, con un investimento di 5 milioni di euro e la creazione di 70 posti di lavoro. Ma ci sono problemi al momento di individuare le 20-25 persone necessarie per far funzionare un nuovo fast food. Le candidature arrivano e sono tutti giovani, ma poi al colloquio soltanto uno su dieci decide di andare avanti con la selezione, gli altri rinunciano. Burger King ha i picchi di lavoro proprio nei fine settimana, di sera e per una busta paga di poco superiore ai mille euro per trenta ore di lavoro molti ragazzi dicono apertamente che preferiscono arrangiarsi con sussidi come il reddito di cittadinanza o Naspi o altro, magari con qualche lavoretto in nero, evitando di sacrificare i fine settimana. Ospiti: Pietro Salini, a.d. Webuild, Guido Della Frera, imprenditore, presidente e amministratore delegato del Gruppo Della Frera Spa e Deputato della Repubblica

The Duo discuss Russel Wilson being called a bitch because he is in love, David survives a fire, Darryl considers using gorilla glue for fame, David has to clean his keyboard and ceiling on the same day, Central Park Karen is free after 5 therapy sessions, Batman & Robin is the worst Batman movies ever. 

Join us for a conversation with Bob O'Malley, Vice President of Corporate Development at Railroad Consultants, a railroad engineering and construction firm. In this episode we talk with Bob about “The Status of Inter-City Rail in the U.S.” Bob gives us information on Brightline developments in the Miami-Orlando-Tampa Florida and the Vegas to Victorville (San Bernardino County, CA) areas. He mentions Texas Central, a private rail project from Dallas to Houston. He touches on the status of Amtrak routes, including Acela in the northeast. The conversation closes with some discussion on federal legislation currently being considered in Washington, DC. ABOUT THE SPEAKER Previously in his career, Bob worked at CSX Transportation and managed assignments related to State Government and Community Affairs, and served as Liaison to the Florida Dept. of Transportation. During that time, Bob played a big role in organizing the SunRail Commuter Rail that was to share CSX tracks, and also building a new intermodal rail hub in Winter Haven. From CSX, Bob was invited to serve as VP of Corporate Development and Government Affairs for Virgin Trains USA, formerly known as Brightline. He helped with a major passenger rail being constructed to take passengers from Miami to Orlando and back. Currently, Bob is the VP of Corporate Development at Railroad Consultants, a railroad engineering and construction firm. Bob is involved in freight and passenger rail projects across the country. Bob's Contact: bomalley@railroad-consultants.com ABOUT THE HOST Jackie VanderPol hosts Transportation Daily, a podcast channel for interesting conversations about all forms of transportation - globally.  As host, she arranges discussions with experts in the fields of roadway, aviation, rail, tunnel, port, smart cities, AV's, safety, and innovations in technology. Planning, design, construction, financing, operations and maintenance included. Jackie has over 30 years of experience in the areas of transportation infrastructure-related design and construction procurement and management. She has unique knowledge of the geospatial world, especially LiDAR applications for infrastructure projects.Jackie has long-established senior level contacts in the transportation industry nationwide, both public and private. Her specialized knowledge includes all aspects of ground transportation planning, design and construction including: geotechnical, civil, mechanical, electrical, structural, IT, pavement and concrete, safety and maintenance. Jackie's Contact: info@transportationdaily.com

On Tuesday's Houston Matters: We talk with the National Weather Service about the latest on Tropical Storm Beta’s effect on the region. Then we chat with Gail Delaughter about new developments in the Texas Central high-speed rail project. Also this hour: Our first in a series of planned interviews with candidates for the upcoming election begins with Democratic U.S. Senate candidate MJ Hegar. She is challenging incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. Then, NPR host Guy Raz... Read More

In this episode of the podcast, I'm extremely excited to announce my partnership with Houston Animal Rescue, Houston Pets Alive! I also talk about the Houston Symphony's online concerts, Texas Central's Bullet Train Terminal, Ice Cream, and the Texas Arboretum! 

We're back with Carlos Aguilar, President and CEO of Texas Central, the company undertaking the development, design, construction, finance, and operation of the new high-speed passenger train line. The train line will connect North Texas and Greater Houston, in less than 90 minutes, with one stop in the Brazos Valley.Shawn and Ryan also talk about how they have managed through the stay at home orders with work, family and Paw Patrol.Episode edited by MZ StudiosFunky One by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3790-funky-oneLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Rollin At 5 by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Half Mystery by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5026-half-mysteryLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Junkyard Tribe by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3946-junkyard-tribeLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Deconstructing Dallas theme by Bensound.com

HOLLY brings her love for Texas and for taking on big ideas to her role as Managing Director, External Affairs, for Texas Central. As a native Texan, she is passionate about bringing the train to her home state and sharing its benefits transforming how people think about travel, putting people to work and saving lives. … Continue reading Interview with Holly Reed – Episode 15 →

In this episode, hosts Rebecca and Monty interview Texas Central’s Civil Infrastructure Director, Linda Miller, who discusses her amazing career trajectory from being a helicopter pilot in the US Army to being honored by the Queen of England for her contributions to the science of engineering and promoting gender equality. Linda is a globally recognized leader in the infrastructure world, having worked in leadership positions on projects in the US, UK, Australia and more. In 2017, She was awarded an Order of the British Empire by the Queen of England, a designation reserved for persons who make important contributions in the fields of science and arts, charity and public service.

In this episode, we have Part 2 of our discussion with customer experience expert Graham Leech, who leads the team working every day to make sure you have the best experience possible when riding the Texas high-speed train. In it, Rebecca and Monty talk to Graham about his career before joining Texas Central, including his time working for Virgin Trains in the UK and Europe, his view of relevant trends in the transportation industry, and why Texas trains will HAVE NO MIDDLE SEATS.   Remember, Train Talk is available on iTunes, Spotify, Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts, so be sure to listen and subscribe!

This is Part 1 of a fun episode of Train Talk, where Rebecca and Monty talk with the Customer Experience expert at Texas Central, Graham Leech, who leads the team responsible for making the train as comfortable, enjoyable and convenient as possible for all riders. In Part 1, we talk about what goes into creating a great customer experience from a door-to-door perspective, why this technology is right for Texas, and specific benefits of the system from a future rider’s point of view.   Plus, we take a couple of minutes to watch Texas Central’s “Life on the Fast Train” video with Graham and get his thoughts on the experiences of one future rider. Remember, Train Talk is now available in audio-only format on iTunes, Spotify, Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts, so be sure to listen and subscribe!

Train Talk is now available on iTunes, Spotify, Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts, so be sure to subscribe and never miss an episode! Of course, you can always subscribe to our Youtube channel to keep up with new episodes and special videos as well.   This week, we’re going audio-only with Texas Central’s Integration Director, Siv Bhamra, who has worked in the rail industry for 30+ years, leading both rail and high-speed rail developments all over the globe. We discuss the future of trains in Texas and the US, the phenomenal safety record of the Shinkansen system and the environmental benefits of high-speed trains compared to travel by plane and automobile. Let us know what you think!

In Episode 31 of the Eminent Domain Podcast, we discuss the Texas High Speed Rail.  Joining the podcast is Patrick McShan, Special Counsel to Texans Against High Speed Rail.  As discussed in the podcast, there have been some court hearings regarding whether the High Speed Rail developer has the right to come on to private property to do survey work and whether the developer is even a railroad under  Texas law.  Patrick brings us up to speed on those cases.  We also discuss the proposed project's financial feasibility, administrative history, and potential future moves in the Texas Legislature. The Facebook page for Texans Against High Speed Rail is here:  https://www.facebook.com/pg/TexansAgainstHSR/posts/ The  page for Texas Central is here:  https://www.texascentral.com/ Patrick's bio page is here:  https://beckham-group.com/attorneys/patrick-mcshan Please share your thoughts on the show or this episode with me.  I’m on Twitter @J_Clint.  If you have thoughts about future show guests or ideas for episodes, please let me know. My webpage bio is here: http://www.dawsonsodd.com/attorneys/clint-schumacher/

This week on Train Talk, Monty and Rebecca chat with Travis Kelly, the Vice President of Stakeholder Engagement for Texas Central and a high-speed train project day-oner. In this video, Travis opens up about his childhood growing up in Waxahachie, his darkest fears and hopes and dreams – but mostly the three of them just geek out over trains. Coincidentally, they all three love working for a railroad company building the first high-speed train project in Texas and the US! Also: Did you know Travis is a very prestigious national award winner? Are tears shed? Did the shocking darkest fears segment make the final cut? And, what does a “Vice President of Stakeholder Engagement” do anyway? Answers to those questions and more are just a click away. #YallAboard

This week on Train Talk, Monty and Rebecca chat with Travis Kelly, the Vice President of Stakeholder Engagement for Texas Central and a high-speed train project day-oner. In this video, Travis opens up about his childhood growing up in Waxahachie, his darkest fears and hopes and dreams – but mostly the three of them just geek out over trains. Coincidentally, they all three love working for a railroad company building the first high-speed train project in Texas and the US! Also: Did you know Travis is a very prestigious national award winner? Are tears shed? Did the shocking darkest fears segment make the final cut? And, what does a “Vice President of Stakeholder Engagement” do anyway? Answers to those questions and more are just a click away. #YallAboard

When we built out Texas Central’s Houston office, overlooking beautiful downtown Houston, we knew the space deserved something distinct, something with rich local flavor that lived up to our commitment to promote local business and culture. In this episode, Monty and Rebecca unveil a giant wall-sized mural of the high-speed train that now hangs in Texas Central’s Houston office. The mural was created by Gonzo247, a native Houstonian and wildly popular urban graffiti artist, who tags areas of the city with his hometown style, like the famed “Houston is Inspired” mural, near Market Square Park in downtown Houston. For this undertaking, Gonzo shows his own unique passion for the high-speed train project, drawing inspiration from the city of Houston, the music he grew up listening to, and memories of the graffiti-tagged trains that peppered his youth. “Gonzo continues to be an artistic powerhouse in Houston, beautifully transforming public walls across the city into vibrant attractions that make Houston a more colorful place to live,” said Christine West, Cultural Programs Manager for Houstonfirst. “His passion for this city, and his commitment to the artistic community has generated a safe space for hundreds of street artists to create new works, and to be seen.” This episode also includes the release of a short behind-the-scenes video that documents the making of the mural, complete with interviews with Gonzo and a sneak peek into his workspace.  Spencer Whelan stops by the studio to talk about his filming of the mural, the significance of Gonzo’s work, and how he was able to translate the idea of this transformational project into art in the city whose seal contains a train and whose motto is “where seventeen railroads meet the sea”. Watch the video here:   Follow Gonzo at @Gonzo247 on Instagram to see more of his work and experience more of Houston.

Welcome to the first episode of Train Talk, a weekly video podcast from the team building your Texas High-Speed Train! In this new series, we will get to know all of the amazing folks working every day on this project; we’ll talk about the opportunities a project of this magnitude brings for Texans, and, we’ll touch on a host of other issues related to bringing high-speed trains to the United States. If you don't already know, the Texas high-speed Train will move people between North Texas and Houston in 90 minutes at 205 mph, with one stop in the Brazos Valley.   In this episode, Monty and Rebecca interview Texas Central’s Rail Systems Director, Paul Waby. Paul is one of the world’s foremost experts on the Shinkansen system and what it takes to transfer that technology to another market. Paul was part of the team that built the Taiwanese Shinkansen system, which began operations in 2007. Just like it’s predecessor system in Japan, the Taiwanese Shinkansen line has been running for over 11 years with ZERO injuries or fatalities due to operational accident. Combine that with the Japanese system touting a 54-year perfect safety record and you can easily see why Texas Central wants to bring the world’s safest mass transportation system to Texas. We hope you enjoy this first episode of Train Talk, a new platform for us to showcase the amazing people that are working on the project and keep you updated on the work we’re doing everyday to build your Texas High-Speed Train! #YallAboard

Jim and Barbara Miles of Leon County discuss their court win against Texas Central. And Wes Rapaport discusses his busy day in covering Texas politics. We bring the stories, news, views and issues from the #otherside of Texas, weekdays from 5-6pm. Original broadcasts from KRFE AM 580 Lubbock. Streams, podcasts, columns and blogs from othersideoftexas.com. Got stories that need to be told from your side of Texas? Tell us at show@othersideoftexas.com.
Learn more about The Other Side of Texas by visiting our website at:
www.othersideoftexas.com And a great way to keep up with us anywhere that you are is by following The Other Side on facebook at:
www.facebook.com/OtherSideofTexas/

Will Texas face the same challenges as California with the high speed rail project? Holly Reed with Texas Central updates us this morning with Mark Davis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Zaiac of R Street Institute join the Urbane Cowboys to discuss the Texas Central Bullet Train. Is it on the naughty or nice list? Hosted by Josiah Neeley of R Street Institute and Doug McCullough of Lone Star Institute. Be sure to subscribe to Urbane Cowboys on iTunes, GooglePlay, Sticher, or SoundCloud and give a 5 star review. Ho Ho Ho!

I interviewed Marc Magliari, who is Amtrak's spokesperson for 23 states, to talk about what's going on with Amtrak. To watch the full interview, watch the YouTube video ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vsehcdJBW8). Highlights of Episode 10 I've edited the questions and answers for brevity and clarity. Francis Tapon: What's a common misconception about train travel in America? Marc Magliari, Media Relations Manager at Amtrak: It's usually best to buy your tickets as far in advance as possible. But we have Flash Sales that pop up and last for two or three days and then disappear. Check the Deals tab on Amtrak.com. Sometimes they have blackouts, sometimes they don't. I bet I can outrun this train. Tapon: When is the best time of year to get a good deal? Magliari: The softer seasons for us are usually after the middle of January until early March. Also, the end of the summer after Labor Day. This is especially true for leisure trains. It's less true for business-oriented trains. The more flexibility that you have, the better. Tapon: I expected that taking Amtrak across America would be uncomfortable, especially in coach, but it wasn't. Magliari: Yes, plenty of people go across America in coach. I need to be horizontal when I sleep. So if you're like me, you'll want to book a roomette or a bedroom for any long distance travel. Tapon: Are airlines your biggest competitor? Magliari: No, it's cars. If you compare our cost to driving, we're pretty competitive. We'll feed you and we'll give you a place to sleep. And you'll be able to see your country instead of worrying about the 18-wheeler on one side and the person shaving or putting makeup next to you. Tapon: The business traveler wants Wi-Fi. I didn't get it for much of my journey. Magliari: About 90% of Amtrak passengers have access to Wi-Fi. When you don't, most business travelers tether to their phone's data plan. We depend on the cellular networks. We amalgamate various cellular networks. It's not everywhere, especially in Alleghenies and the Sierra Nevada. Tapon: Are there any long-term solutions to solving the Wi-Fi issue? Magliari: 5G is coming. But still, with 300 people on a train, it will probably remain an issue. Tapon: What's the appeal of Amtrak for the business traveler? Magliari: To stay productive. When you go to the airport, you lose a lot of time going through security and just getting to the airport. Tapon: Is it ever more efficient to take an overnight train over a plane? Magliari: In Chicago, we have a train called the Texas Eagle. It leaves Chicago at 1:45 p.m. By noon the next day, it's in downtown Dallas. If I've got an afternoon meeting in Dallas, I will have to get up at 4:30 a.m. to get to the airport. I'll sleep poorly. In contrast, I can let the train be my hotel. I can finish my presentation on the train. I'll be rested. One of the big advantages is that most of our stops are in downtown areas. Airports tend to be far from a city's downtown. If you've flown to Denver, Cincinnati, or New Orleans, you know how far the airports are from the downtown. Tapon: Are Fortune 500 companies getting this productivity argument? Magliari: A lot of companies get it. A lot of sports teams get it. In fact, in the northeast corridor, we transport some sports teams overnight. Tapon: What are the upgrades to the infrastructure in the pipeline? Magliari: In the next three to five years, all the business class seats will be replaced with an even nicer business class. Tapon: How can passengers ride across America on Amtrak? Magliari: There are many routes, you either have to go through Chicago or New Orleans. Tapon: Any advice to train travelers? Magliari: Don't always count on having Wi-Fi or cellular. Bring reading material. The Prince says, "But can I play polo with this?" Tapon: Is Amtrak looking into the Hyperloop? Magliari: The way we get to where the next generation is with incremental steps. That's how they did it in Europe. Right now we're developing the Chicago hub to achieve a maximum speed of 110 miles per hour, which is near the limit of what you can do with the existing infrastructure. If you want faster, like 220 miles per hour, you need all new infrastructure. It's like building a brand new highway. Tapon: What's happening in the 2020s? Magliari: We're partnered with Texas Central, who is looking to do a high-speed network between Fort-Worth/Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. But that will be all-new construction. But we have property rights and environmental checks. That slows us down. China doesn't have those limitations. Tapon: Is Amtrak losing sleep about the advent of self-driving cars? Magliari: No. If everyone has a self-driving car, you still have to get all those cars through a funnel. Trains have an exclusive lane. Cars must share the road.  More info You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com. If you like this, subscribe and share! I made this as a YouTube episode too. On social media, my username is always ftapon. Follow me on: http://facebook.com/ftapon http://twitter.com/ftapon http://youtube.com/user/ftapon http://pinterest.com/ftapon http://tumblr.com/ftapon Snapchat Claim your reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon Rewards start at just $1/month!