If you drive from Houston to Dallas or Dallas to Houston often you will most likely see a few areas of bad traffic to sit through. It’s also nearly a four hour drive normally which can be tiring with little scenery. Hopefully the silver-bullet known as the Texas Bullet Train will make this trip more exciting and faster.

This Japanese-inspired downtown Dallas to northwest Houston high-speed rail could be the first of its kind in the United States. It’s long felt like a rumor — but now it’s looking a lot more like it’s going to happen with plans that are going forward complete with a specific time frame.

Construction will begin in 2019 for the 90-min train for Houston and Dallas. The Texas train is being developed by Central Japan Railway Company, and its partner, Texas Central. The next step — final approval from the Federal Railroad Administration.

The privately funded bullet train, known as Shinkansen in Japan, can take passengers from Texas Point A to Point B in less than 90 minutes. Compare that to the three and a half to four hours it takes by car when there’s no traffic. Drives between Houston and Dallas normally stretch out well over four hours.

Texas’ Bullet Train is said to reach speeds of 186 miles per hour for cutting down travel time. The Texas train will start at that speed and could increase up to a crazy-fast 205 mph over time, making for an even faster trip.

The exact model, N700I —with the I standing for International— will have several critical differences from Central Japan Railway’s current N700 train. Texas’ train will likely be more efficient, lighter and significantly shorter at eight train cars instead of the typical 16.

The Texas take on Shinkansen will probably also feature economy and First Class seat cabins, both of which will boast high ceilings, spacious seats and wide aisles. Either side of the aisle will have two seats. The Japanese trains also have electrical outlets for each row.

The exact cost for this extreme convenience is a question mark. But, Texas Central has shared a useful, if vague, guideline — on the upper end, tickets prices will be competitive with airfare, and on the low end, ticket prices will be competitive with driving costs.

Just like any flying prices will depend on how far in advance tickets are purchased, which day, the time of day you’re traveling and possible discounts.

For what it’s worth, Bullet trains are said to be safer than both flying and driving, with an impeccable accident-free record. That’s zero recorded collisions, derailments or fatalities on Japanese bullet trains over their 54-year history.

Not to mention there’s no tedious baggage claim and no security lines winding into infinity. Consider the boarding process more like what you’d find on a subway. You will be able to buy tickets either online or at any of the train stations.

It’s looking like during peak hours, trains will run every 30 minutes, and then every hour for off-peak times. Six hours will be set aside each night for inspection.

The locations for the future stations are already set. The Dallas station will be south of Interstate 30 in Cedars neighborhood. Not to be confused with Cedar Springs in the uptown Dallas area. Meanwhile, the Houston station will be located just outside 610 between Interstate 10/290 in northwest Houston. And the Brazos Valley Station will be in Grimes County, near Texas 90 and Highway 30. After you arrive in each city you could get a short Lyft or Uber ride to where you’re staying.

“The Bullet Train between Dallas and Houston, is probably the Biggest News since Southwest Airlines was born. The Idea for Southwest Airlines was pinned on a cocktail napkin, literally. Original service for Southwest was to be between Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. The Bullet Train should be a great new option in travel between the two largest urban centers in Texas.” -Commented Charles of Houston.

Are you excited to see a new high-speed train coming to Texas?