Observers have long known that only a few options were available for the route of the privately funded high-speed train line between Houston and Dallas. Now a firmer picture of where the trains might run is emerging.

As part of the federally required process to evaluate the line, the Federal Railroad Administration and Texas Department of Transportation released maps of the nine routes they are considering and the two chosen for deeper evaluation.

The lines that didn’t make the final cut seem to be a bit longer, or else have more zigs and zags along the way. Keep in mind, however, that this is very preliminary and part of an environmental process that will take months, potentially a couple years, to wind up.

All follow rights of way of railroads, TxDOT or utilities, which is pretty standard for rail development. Those are the agencies or companies that own long, thin swaths of real estate that are relatively clear. Backers of the train, who are paying for the analysis, would acquire the property.

The route has long had support of elected officials in both metro areas, as well as state transportation leaders.

Looking at the southern end in the Houston area, the real decision — which could quickly get political — is which of the two preferred routes is the top contender. While the BNSF Railway option grabs a lot of Tomball area and then hooks along Loop 610 before coming south, the utility alignment connects with Cypress and follows the crowded U.S. 290 corridor in.

Both routes have also been prime candidates for commuter rail service, which Houston area officials have said would definitely complement any high-speed line, along with local transit.

Most of the land Texas Central Railway needs is flat, so major cost increases like tunnels and overpasses might not sink the project. Still, its price tag is estimated at $10 billion-plus. To make this work, TCR has said it will need to be competitive with airlines on prices and consistently deliver service between the two metro areas. The trip is expected to take about 90 minutes, downtown-to-downtown, and to eliminate some of the hassle associated with air travel like checking luggage and waiting for security screenings.

Meetings, starting Tuesday in Dallas, are planned to allow the public a better chance to see the proposed project. The sessions end Oct. 29 in Houston, with a meeting at NRG Center, 1 Reliant Parkway. The open house starts at 4:30 p.m., with a 30-minute presentation of the plan at 6:30 p.m., followed by an hour of public comment.