Did Southwest Airlines Sabotage The Texas High Speed Rail Plan?

The Texas based airline has been accused of setting the Texas bullet train up for failure decades ago and of still trying to keep it from becoming a reality today.

There are plenty of peeps in Texas who would love to see the lone star state get its very own bullet train and there are, of course, those opposed. Those peeps include land owners whose property the train would cross, animal and environmental groups and, apparently, the powers that be at Southwest Airlines.

The first strike against the Texas bullet train happened in 1993 when the project couldn't meet a financing deadline.

Southwest Airlines was against Texas using tax-exempt bonds to help get it going and fought hard against using state money for it. Texas Tribune said Southwest convinced 2 key officials ... then Texas Gov. Ann Richards and chair of the Finance Committee U.S. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen ... to diss the project.

Neely's comment came after Southwest argued that a trip that board members and staff of the Texas High-Speed Rail Authority took to tour train systems in Germany and France was illegal; the tour had been paid for by the firms vying for the bullet train franchise, and as state officials, they were prohibited from accepting gifts for work related to their agency.  - chron

Neely's statement also alluded to Southwests' history of "challenging other travel options".

Why Is Southwest Against The Bullet Train?

Southwest has always relied on peeps needing a "quick hop" from one Texas city to another and, clearly, the bullet train ... as planned at the moment ... would give customers an option.

One that would be quicker and easier than dealing with airport security, waits, prices, etc and, quite possibly, much cheaper. Others would find the train a "cooler" thing to do while it would also sit better with those worried about the environment.

Is Southwest Against Other Forms Of Travel?

Southwest insists they're not opposed to a bullet train, only against funding it with state money. They also say they're not against other travel options but fewer and fewer believe them.

Recently, the Federal Railroad Administration kicked in $63.9 million toward the project but Texas would also still have to put in some money and that probably won't happen.

For now, interest in the bullet train is growing and Southwest seems to be keeping quiet so, we'll see ...