The line along US 290 is UP's former SP former H&TC line to Dallas wich has very little traffic south of Bryan, since most now uses the former MoPac IGN line.
Look again. The terminal is being built with Commuter rail platform. I have a very very very reliable source that the commuter trains will run in 2011 within the Houston area and extention to Galveston and Bryan later, and an extention to Beaumont (this part is very early) I will know more in the coming weeks on how this could work giving Houston clogged up rail traffic.
The comuter rail platform would be for the H&TC line train, and as you note for if they ever get it to Galveston. What is the explanation for it taking 5 years to get it started?
Also surprised to see that Printman says the traffic on this line has increased recently.
Here is what the 2003 employee timetables that used to be available on the web have to say about this line:
Eureka Subdivision, Eureka to Navasota, 65.2 miles
mp 0 to 15, 25 mph; mp15 to 48, 40 mph except 25 mph through Hempstead; mp 48 to 65.2, 25 mph
Galveston Subdivision (ex. GH&H line), S. GH&H Jct. to Galveston, 46.4 miles
mp 0 - 9.6, 20 mph; 9.6 - 16, 35 mph; 16 - 36.5, 25 mph; 36.5 - 37.2, 35 mph; 37.2 - 46.4, 20 mph.
Alternate route to the Eureka Subdivision is the former MoPac line from Valley Junction to Spring, which is 60 mph territory except for a few restrictions, mostly to 50 mph. It would appear that most of the freight that used to be on the ex-SP is now going on this ex MoPac line, particularly since part of the former SP mainline in the Bryan to Navasoa area has been abandoned and the part remaining from Bryan north to Hearne is shown as having a 10 mph speed limit.
George