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They are leasing that track to Austin Rail Road for hauling road base for the toll roads. The biggest problem with that stretch of tracks is, there are no markets for rail transport between Austin & Burnet.

Same goes for the line east of Austin that runs through Manor, Elgin and on to Giddings. What I want to know, is why Cap Metro even bought those two lines?

No markets? Last I heard was $20M for the rail leases and another $20M for "renting" the passenger cars. $40M annual for something that'll probably generate something on the order of a few hundred thousand annual from ridership fees.

Like I said, run it as a private business, or don't do it at all. This is a waste of taxpayers money.

And don't even get me started on the quadruple taxation toll road criminal enterprise.

What I want to know, is why Cap Metro even bought those two lines?

Because with everything that is coming, the toll roads, etc., eventually mass transit will be very attractive - not because it's the best way, but because of all of the other crap that will make it the cheapest way. Perry has had the hots for mass transit since he came into office, among many other things, and mass transit is a big talking point with many of the plans pushed forward by the various regional authorities/groups he set up (or those under him setup).

I want something useful - like a dedicated, semi-high speed rail between San Antonio and Austin (i.e. a rail line with underpasses or overpasses for cars, so that it's not slowed down at RR crossings) - doesn't even have to be all that high speed - a nonstop train running at 75mph would make the trip between SA and Austin very fast.

No offense to those folks in Manor, Elgin, Giddings, Leander, etc., but if/when you all get rail back and forth to Austin, it's going to be empty - not that those aren't nice places to visit or live in.