Nebraska-based contractor Kiewit has been awarded a $1.6bn contract to handle core electrical systems on the Texas Central Railroad, the line between Houston and Dallas that will introduce Japanese bullet train technology to the US.
The contract with Kiewit Infrastructure South and affiliate Mass Electric Construction includes traction power, signalling and telecoms.
The planned Texas Central Railroad, which is being built by Italy’s Webuild, will use Japan Railways Group’s Series N700 Shinkansen trains, which run between Tokyo and Osaka and have a top speed of 330km/h.
Carlos Aguilar, chief executive of the line’s developer, Texas Central, commented: “Kiewit and Mass Electric are national leaders in installing complex and large-scale electric systems and have long track records of delivering high-quality rail systems safely and effectively.
“Combining their experience with the safety of an integrated system is essential to the operation of the Texas Central Railroad. Signing this contract is the next step in making the Texas Central Railroad the first high-speed rail system to be implemented in the United States.”
