It will be interesting to see if this one, like the late and (un?)lamented Desert XPress, requires a loan from FRA to make it happen. That's what killed DX, if you recall - they got all their paperwork done, and even got commitments to use I-15 right of way at practically no cost, but the loan became a political football and was punctured by certain Congress Critters. On the plus side for this one, the economy is better so there's at least a remote chance that some bank (or group of them) might be willing to produce (some of) the money.

Is Reason Foundation opposed to this project too? They oppose nearly anything with passenger rail, and especially high speed passenger rail, associated with it. But this one is in TX not CA so they might be more lenient. But there *is* (if you watch one of the videos) a "public-private partnership" element so the jury is probably still out.

Finally: Southwest did indeed kill the previous proposal in this corridor. However, that one was by the state. Thou (govt agency) shalt not compete with (or even supplement, and definitely not regulate) private business in TX. I'd guess that in this case Southwest might actually get the operating contract, which is what the state should have offered last time. Especially if there are one or two stops along the way for locals to gather up off-network traffic and deliver it to a Dallas or Houston airport where SW operates.