Union Pacific rail relocation in talks

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Austin City Council voted Thursday to support a $200 million rail relocation fund to move the Union Pacific railroad that runs through Downtown Austin along MoPac. Members of the council are pushing for the move in hopes to set up a commuter rail line between Austin and San Antonio.

The move would be contingent on approval from the 2009 Texas Legislature, and the preliminary plans call for building a rail line in the existing corridor of State Highway 130, which runs east of Austin.

The Austin San Antonio Rail Intermunicipal Commuter Rail District is pushing Union Pacific to move its through-traffic to another right of way to free up more stops along a possible commuter rail. The rail district is working behind the scenes with Amtrak to run the commuter rail since Amtrak is legally the only entity that would be allowed under federal law to transport passengers along the rail.