First look: Houston to North Texas high-speed train reveals 'first-class' interior plans

Texas Central's plans for a Houston to North Texas train are based on the Japanese Tokaido Shinkansen system, which has had zero fatalities in more than 50 years of operation. Texas Central's plans for a Houston to North Texas train are based on the Japanese Tokaido Shinkansen system, which has had zero fatalities in more than 50 years of operation. Photo: Texas Central Photo: Texas Central Image 1 of / 78 Caption Close First look: Houston to North Texas high-speed train reveals 'first-class' interior plans 1 / 78 Back to Gallery

Texas Central, the company behind a high-speed train aiming to link Houston and North Texas, on Monday revealed a first look at its plans for the train's interior.

The company touted the design as offering "first-class comfort" and emphasized its plan to never create a middle seat.

Images of the train's layout show a bird's-eye view of an aisle with uniform rows of two seats each to the left and right. Texas Central's website says the train will only feature 2x2 or 2x1 seating.

The company claims its train, which is based on the newest generation of Japanese Shinkasen bullet trains, will cover a distance that normally requires a 4.5 hour drive in less than 90 minutes.

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The train stations are expected to be located in Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth with an additional station for a stop in the Brazos Valley. Houston's station is planned for northwest Houston just outside Loop 610 between Interstate 10 and U.S. 290.

The reveal explicitly compares the train's plans to air travel, using illustrations to show how economy class on the train will have more legroom and wider aisles than airplanes. Texas Central points out passengers will not need to wear seatbelts or turn off phones aboard the locomotive.

The train's windows are planned to be twice the size of airplane windows and double the height. Its aisles are planned to be wide enough for wheelchair users to move down the aisle and between train cars. Other advantages the company plans include reclining seats and free WiFi.

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Texas Central plans to begin construction on the train this year pending federal approvals. If all goes to plan, the commercial service is expected to be fully operational by 2026.