July 26, 2025 -TRA Newswire -

In a post on X, KUT-FM Transportation Reporter Nathan Bernier described how recent flooding in the Hill Country of Texas has closed down a freight rail link along part of a 162-mile corridor through the heart of Central Texas. The corridor affected stretches from north of Austin through Marble Falls to Llano.

Bernier said that the line was damaged by river flooding in more than 25 locations north of Leander, including one bridge over the San Gabriel River that is now out of service. It's estimated that repairs to tracks and bridges could run about $6 million and take up to six weeks to reopen the line. The corridor is owned by transit agency CapMetro, and they hope that FEMA and the Federal Transit Administration will help pay for repairs. 

The section between Leander to Austin, used by the CapMetro Red Line regional rail service was not affected.

The freight service on the line is run by Austin Western Railroad, a WATCO short line company affiliate. A major customer on the freight line, Cedar Park-based Texas Materials is cut off from shipping by rail. Bernier reports that each year, Texas Materials transports more than 6 million tons of rock used to make concrete and asphalt. also known as aggregate. 

A Facebook post with photo from the San Antonio Heritage Railroad Museum noted that "a portion of the bridge has been washed out from under the tracks. Not sure of the other end of the trestle not seen in this photo, but it also appears that the approach has also been undermined and is gone. More than likely, the wooden approaches to the center metal spans will need to be replaced."

CapMetro earns more than $6 million a year in freight revenue, according to Bernier. CapMetro's Andy Skabowski was quoted as saying "it's more than just revenue for CapMetro. There's truly a requirement to support the economics of the region."

The line is also used by the Austin Steam Train Association. The organization runs day-long excursions in vintage rail cars.  

Photo credits: AWRR, Nathan Bernier, San Antonio Heritage Railroad Museum