TX-LA Rail Coalition

Existing Rail Service

The Amtrak Texas Eagle currently provides two daily trips linking Dallas and east Texas on the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR).

Amtrak service turns north at Marshall, with a shuttle bus linking passengers with the Shreveport-Bossier City area.

Current Efforts

Two efforts are being monitored by the TLRC:

• Amtrak Corridor Study – Using a grant obtained by the East Texas Corridor Council (ETCC), this study is being led by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Amtrak in coordination with the ETCC and the East Texas Council of Governments. The study will outline capital and operating requirements necessary to add two round-trips within the UPRR corridor between Dallas and Shreveport, including a direct rail connection between Marshall and Shreveport and possible use of the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) corridor between Dallas and Fort Worth, providing a potential link to DFW International Airport.
• TxDOT Statewide Ridership Analysis – This study will examine city pairs and analyze transit connectivity and appropriate levels of service. The study will include a line from the Dallas area to Shreveport-Bossier City on the east end.

These two efforts will provide insight as to the funding requirements to enhance rail service in the existing UPRR corridor, and will increase the understanding of the long-term service needs for a potential new rail corridor through east Texas within a broader corridor linking the two urban areas. Most importantly, they will lay the groundwork for future implementation efforts to bring a more reliable and enhanced passenger rail service to this part of Texas and Louisiana.

The T-L Rail Corridor

Future passenger rail could use the existing Amtrak/UP RR corridor, or if warranted, develop a new east-west corridor to link east Texas communities with the DART transit system and the Shreveport-Bossier City area.

Who’s Involved So Far?

The TLRC grew out of Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between the Northeast Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA) and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). As implementing agencies, NET RMA and DART have experience in planning, designing and building transportation projects. Key participants to date include:

• NET RMA
• DART
• East Texas COG
• North Central Texas COG
• City of Longview
• City of Mesquite
• City Mineola
• City of Terrell
• City of Tyler
• Smith County