Texas Central, developer of the Texas high-speed train, signs agreement with train system installation firm Mass. Electric Construction Co., a subsidiary of Kiewit Corp. Mass. Electric’s work focuses on installing the core system, critical safety elements which include all necessary power, signaling and communications equipment. The company is the latest addition to the team Texas Central has assembled to build the first true high-speed trainin the U.S., which will connect Houston and North Texas in 90 minutes, including one stop in the Brazos Valley.

The Early Contract Involvement (ECI) agreement with Mass. Electric covers work through the end of 2019 to define the scope, execution plan, schedule and price for a construction contract, which is expected to be signed later this year. This agreement is the most recent milestone towards the construction phase of building the high-speed train, which is expected in 2020.

The core system that will be installed by Mass. Electric is a key component of the N700S Shinkansen technology being deployed for the Texas high-speed train. Using a “complete system approach” means from the beginning everything is designed and engineered to work together as an integrated unit — the trains, the infrastructure and the supporting high-speed rail technologies.

Specifically, under a Core Systems Installation Agreement, Mass. Electric would install the systems that supply and distribute electrical power for running the train and related equipment, signaling and control of the trains, and communications, to ensure the trains, the tracks and operators all communicate with one another and with network operations.