Tale of two trains: California high-speed rail leaves Texas in the dust
What you need to know: Despite the Trump Administration’s assaults, both California and Texas are working to build high-speed rail. But only one state has built anything: California.
SACRAMENTO — What’s the main difference between California high-speed rail and Texas high-speed rail? California’s system is under construction; Texas’ has yet to break ground.
California has transitioned from vision and ideas to active construction and tangible economic benefits, while the Texas project remains a dream mostly on paper. Despite the noise from Washington, California high-speed rail is becoming real. It’s another critical project part of the Governor’s build more, faster agenda delivering infrastructure upgrades and thousands of jobs across the state.
The facts speak for themselves — here’s the progress since 2013 for both systems:
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California High-Speed Rail
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Texas Central
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| Route | 494 miles – San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim via Central Valley | 240 miles – Dallas to Houston, via Brazos Valley |
| Construction Status | ✅ 171 miles under active development; 119 miles under active construction; 52 major structures built; extensions to Merced and Bakersfield in design | ❌ Not started |
| Environmental Clearance | ✅ 463 of 494 miles environmentally cleared by federal and state government | Federal clearance (less comprehensive and transparent) |
| Station Development | ✅ Merced, Fresno, Kings/Tulare and Bakersfield in advance design. | ❌ Not started |
| Funding Structure | ✅ Public funding (state + federal) with potential for future private investment | ❌ Private, federal funding pulled |
| Projected Opening | ✅ Early Operating Segment: 2030-2033 | ❌ Not established |
| Jobs Created | ✅ 15,000+ jobs | ❌ None reported |
| Economic Benefits |
✅ The project has already generated nearly $22 billion in economic output, boosting the state’s economy. The full San Francisco-Los Angeles system is estimated to support $221.8 billion in economic output once it’s in operation. |
❌ No current data. The project is anticipated to generate $36 billion in economic impact over the next 25 years. |
| Environmental Benefits |
✅ Estimated to reduce California’s greenhouse gas emissions by 0.6 to 3 million MTCO2e annually – this is the equivalent of removing 142,000 to 700,000 cars off the road. Diverted 95% of construction waste from landfills by recycling, reusing or composting. |
❌ No current data |
| Integration with Existing Transit | ✅ Future connections to Caltrain, ACE, High Desert Corridor, Brightline West, Metrolink | ❌ Standalone |