The project is stymied and I dont believe it will ever be built. "
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas A judges recent ruling could have major implications for a high-speed bullet train being proposed to run from Dallas to Houston. The ruling could prevent the rail lines developers from using eminent domain to acquire the land needed to build the project.
A couple weeks ago a Leon County Judge ruled Texas Central Railway is not actually a railroad. That ruling came in the case of a Leon County couple who sued after the company wanted to survey on their property.
Blake Beckham is the couples attorney.
This project cannot be finished without eminent domain and the project is completely off-track explained Beckham.
The project is stymied and I dont believe it will ever be built. "
Texas Central Railway is a privately-funded high-speed rail line that wants to acquire the necessary but currently-held by private owners land through what is commonly known as Eminent Domain turning a 4 and a half hour drive between Houston and Dallas into a 90-minute train ride.
For the past few years Texas Central Railway has been laying the groundwork for the massive project. And while its received support from officials in the two cities that is not the case in the rural areas along the trains proposed route.
Many landowners say they dont want a rail line slicing through their property.
Texas Central Railway has argued that as a railroad they should be able to use eminent domain when landowners didnt want to sell their land voluntarily.
Former Grimes County Judge Ben Leman now a State Representative in Austin applauded the ruling and says hes pushing for legislation to clarify who can use eminent domain.
In no way shape or form should a private entity be able to falsely claim to have the power of eminent domain said Representative Leman.
And then under that false pretense be able to terrorize and threaten hundreds if not thousands of landowners."
Texas Central issued a statement saying they plan to appeal the ruling and believes Texas law does give them authority to access and survey private property and eventually acquire it by eminent domain.
There has been no construction on the high-speed rail line while the project currently is under an environmental review process.
