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[quote user="schlimm"] [quote user="Sam1"]OK, the Eagle does not stop in Georgetown, so I have to drive to Taylor or Temple.  Taylor is approximately 27 miles from my house; Temple is approximately 40 miles from it.[/quote]  Interesting saga.  How far is it from San Antonio to Austin to Dallas and how long does it take via train currently?   From what  I remember of Texas, it sounds like a natural for corridor service, along with some route(s) to Houston.[/quote] It is 314 rail miles from Dallas to San Antonio, keeping in mind that the train runs due west from Dallas to Fort Worth, thereby adding approximately 21 miles to what would be a shorter distance if the train was able to take a more direct route.  It is 82 rail miles from San Antonio to Austin and 232 rail miles from Austin to Dallas. No 21 leaves Dallas at 11:50 a.m. and arrives in Austin at 6:30 p.m., with a scheduled arrival in San Antonio at 9:55 p.m. or 10 hours, 5 minutes total.  No 22 leaves San Antonio at 7:00 a.m., with scheduled arrivals in Austin and Dallas of 9:31 a.m. and 3:20 p.m. or 8 hours, 20 minutes total.  The schedules have more padding in them than a hockey goalie's garb.  If the train(s) originated and terminated in Dallas and San Antonio, thereby not being dependent on keeping a long distance schedule, I believe that a significant amount of time could be cut off the current schedule.  Also, if a more direct line can be re-established between Austin, ala the old MKT line, the running time from San Antonio and Austin to Dallas could be reduced significantly.   The Sunshine Special, which was a Frisco/Katy offering well into the 1950s, route between Dallas and San Antonio, was 292.8 miles compared to 314 for today's Texas Eagle.  Southbound the Special required 6 hours, 55 minutes to run from Dallas to San Antonio and 6 hours, 25 minutes from San Antonio to Dallas.   It made six stops between Dallas and San Antonio, including Austin, compared to seven stops for the Eagle.   The I-35 corridor in Texas has seen a population increase of nearly 100 per cent over the past two or three decades.  Density has reached a point where it is a viable candidate for frequent, quick, reliable, economical, and comfortable passenger rail service.  The corridor, as well as a connection from Houston, plus extensions to Tulsa and Little Rock, is a candidate for federal funding.  Whether it comes about and when is problematic.
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