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The average load factor for the Crescent in 2007 was 47.4 per cent of seat miles offered, which was near the Amtrak system average.  In 2007 the Crescent's on time arrival percentage at its end points was 42.9, as compared to 41.6 per cent for the long distance trains.  Unless there has been a dramatic improvement in load factor and on-time performance since October, you had an unusual experience on the Crescent.  There are three potential rapid speed rail corridors in Texas:  Dallas to Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth to San Antonio, and Houston to San Antonio.  Between Dallas and Houston there are two communities that could generate significant riders.  There are no major communities between Houston and San Antonio.  There are three good size communities between Dallas/Fort Worth and San Antonio.The car and airplane culture is as strong in Texas as any place in the United States.  Getting people out of their cars or off the airplanes would require trains that reliable, quick, and frequent.  This is especially true if they are to garner a significant share of the business trade, which is where the per passenger money is in the NEC.Business people in any of the aforementioned communities are used to getting on a plane in the morning, arriving in their destination an hour or so later in time for a full day of business, and arriving back home in time for dinner.  Until a train can duplicate this kind of performance, it does not have chance of even covering its variable costs, let alone the capital costs.  Here is an example of what a rapid rail corridor between Dallas and Houston would be up against.  Southwest Airlines has approximately 60 flights a day between Dallas and Houston.  Fares range from $59 to $134.  The gate to gate time is one hour.  It has 30 flights a day between Dallas and San Antonio, as well as frequent service between Dallas and Austin, Houston and Austin, and San Antonio and Houston.  This is just Southwest.  American and Continental are also major carriers between the big Texas markets. As more people move downtown, as is happening to some extent in Texas' major cities, there could be a market for rapid intercity rail.  Unfortunately, most business people or other potential passengers in Texas live in the suburbs.  Those who travel frequently tend to favor communities within a reasonable distance of the state's airports.  So any enhanced rail system would have to construct numerous suburban rail stations to capture some of the suburban traffic.  Also, it would be competing with close-in airports in Dallas, Austin, and Houston.  A train would not have to duplicate air travel time between the cities mentioned above.  But it would have to be quick enough to allow a person to catch a train at 7:30 a.m., as an example, that gets him to his destination by 10:30 a.m.   This would give him time to conduct four or five hours of business before catching a train to get back home before the wee hours.  Otherwise, it will not work.  In 1950 the Burlington's Sam Houston Zephyr ran from Dallas to Houston in four hours for an average speed of 62.5 miles per hour.  The Southern Pacific's Sunshine ran off the distance in four hours and 25 minutes.  To cover the distance in three hours would require an average speed of approximately 84 mph.  I don't know how much money would be required to upgrade the existing line for that kind of speed, but I suspect that it would be substantial.     Starter corridor systems have been proposed for Houston to Galveston and Austin to San Antonio.  They could be starter segments for a system that eventually links the cities in the Texas Triangle.  However, the state legislators have balked at funding them.  In fact, the legislators will not authorize the Council of North Texas Government cities to have a vote to raise their sales tax to get the funds to join in the expansion of commuter and light rail in North Texas.  It is the most densely populated area of the state.A passenger rail system that connects Texas's major cities will not happen until highway and air congestion become much worse.  There are practically no air traffic delays due to congestion between Texas's major cities.  The delays are usually caused by weather.  The highways near the major cities are clogged during the rush hours, but the delays are less than most motorists believe, and traffic flows reasonably well during non-rush hours.  Motorists who know how to beat the system can work around many of the major traffic tie-ups.
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