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  I cannot help but wonder if Capital Metro's initiative for commuter rail between Leander and Austin would have turned out better if it had followed the Trinity Railway Express model. TRE, which runs between Dallas and Fort Worth and is owned by Dallas Areas Rapid Transit, as well as Fort Worth's T, began operations with rebuilt RDCs.  These demonstrated a demand for the service and helped make it viable.  Subsequently, the TRE purchased F-59PH locomotives, of which four were used and two were new.  It also purchased 10 bi-level coaches and 7 cab cars.  Most of them were used, although five of the cab cars were new.  Buying used stuff, especially when in start-up mode, is probably a better business decision.  I did not live in the Austin area when the decision was made to go with European built DMUs, and I don't know what drivers led to the decision to buy them, but it does not look like a very good one.  They are not the only problem to confront Capital Metro's commuter rail start-up, but it appears that they are a contributing factor. Interestingly, the rail distance from Dallas to Fort Worth is approximately the same as the rail distance from Leander to Austin, although the Leander to Austin line snakes a bit more.
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