Bechtel was named the project manager for Texas' bullet train, moving the project closer to a possible groundbreaking next year.

Texas Central brought on Bechtel, a global engineering firm that has completed 300 major train and subway projects (including London's Crossrail), to manage the high-speed rail project as it moves from development to implementation.

“We look forward to using our international high-speed train experience to progress this transformative project in the United States,” Bechtel Infrastructure General Manager of the Americas Scott Osborne said.

Texas Central has identified a preferred route between Dallas and Houston, with one midway stop in the Brazos Valley. It selected the Northwest Mall at the interchange of 610 and 290 for a Houston station and a 60-acre tract southeast of the 30 and 35E junction for the Dallas station.

Fluor Enterprises, The Lane Construction Corp. and WSP have been doing pre-construction planning, including sequencing, scheduling, cost estimates and design. The Federal Railroad Administration is working on a final environmental review — the timing of its delivery will determine the project's timeline, but a Texas Central spokesperson said construction could begin late next year.