Advocates Push for Texas-Mexico High-Speed Rail to Boost Growth

Texas officials are advocating for the Texas to Mexico High-Speed Rail proposal, which would link Austin, San Antonio, and Monterrey, to move forward. The initiative, which dates back to 2021, aims not only to enhance regional connectivity but also to stimulate economic growth and promote environmental sustainability. It would alleviate congestion along the heavily trafficked I-35 corridor.

On Monday, members of the Texas Passenger Rail Advisory Committee met with Mexican officials such as Emmanuel Loo, Deputy Secretary of Economic Development of Nuevo Leon. During their meeting, held aboard Amtrak’s Texas Eagle, officials underscored the urgent need for improved passenger rail service across Texas and into Mexico.

“We need to ensure access to safe, reliable, and timely transportation solutions, such as a robust passenger rail system,” says Brown. He highlights Texas’s strategic position at the intersection of trade routes between the United States, Mexico, and Canada, suggesting that enhanced rail connections could spur economic development, improve public safety, and reduce highway congestion.

Brown also emphasizes that the proposed rail line could provide significant benefits, not only for individual travelers but also for the broader economy. By linking cities and regions, the rail system would facilitate travel for education, employment, and leisure activities, driving commerce and trade between the United States and Mexico.

“Increased trade will lead to greater commerce and the need for efficient rail transportation for both freight and passengers between our communities. With IH-35 becoming more congested due to rising truck traffic from Mexico to San Antonio, Austin, and up to the Canadian border, people will seek alternative transport options. By proactively promoting the vision of rail transportation as a cost-effective and timely solution, we can tap into a natural market demand. In today’s economy, where time is money, enhancing rail options will be essential. We cannot put more cars or trucks on I-35; we need to look for multimodal solutions,” explains Sakai 

Loo adds that the integration of passenger and freight rail would help manage the growing volume of goods moving across borders. Estimates suggest that 25,000 trucks depart Monterrey daily for Texas, a number that is expected to rise. 

“This perfect partnership of having a high-speed rail will create a lot of opportunities, the new elected-president Claudia Sheinbaum, has already discussed of having that connecting between Mexico City all the way to Laredo Texas, we would love to grow that connection into the Texas triangle, which is formed by the state's four main urban centers, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, Loo states.”

The US Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, created in 2021, allocates US$66 billion for passenger rail development across the United States, explains Brown. This funding could be leveraged to cover 20% of the project’s costs.

Despite the opportunities the project offers, several obstacles remain. During the Transit Tangents Podcast, Brown explained that one significant challenge is Union Pacific’s control of the rail lines between Austin and San Antonio, as the freight company has been reluctant to share its tracks with passenger services without a dedicated freight bypass.

Meanwhile, Nuevo Leon’s Governor Samuel García remains committed to advancing the proposal, as he highlights that they have been promoting the project for the last three years, noting the critical role of both the United States and Mexican federal governments in bringing the project to fruition. “We have an ambitious project, and I am doing everything I can to make it happen,” says García. 

He also mentions that the train could use the new Colombia customs facility, which he described as the fastest and safest. It could also be extended to Dallas.

García met with Texas officials including Brown and Rubén Becerra, Hays County Judge, where they signed a Letter of Intent to develop the high-speed rail connecting Monterrey and Texas, aiming to boost economic and cultural ties.

“We want to establish the first transnational train, like in the European Union, a passenger train that crosses borders, and we believe Monterrey is the ideal location. This is why we want to push for a high-speed train that could even reach Oklahoma,” explains García. 

This letter marks their commitment to identify the opportunities and challenges associated with the development of the rail route, aiming for economic cooperation, sustainable transportation, and strong social and cultural ties between both regions.

In 2021, authorities from Mexico and the United States signed an agreement to formalize plans for a high-speed train connecting Monterrey and San Antonio. The train would be capable of reaching speeds between 100mph and 250mph and produce less pollution than the vehicles congesting the border crossing in Laredo, as previously reported by MBN.