The $12 billion high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, a project that has been envisioned for decades, has officially broken ground. The construction, which began on Monday, is expected to be completed by 2028, bringing forth a new era of transportation in the region.
The project, undertaken by Brightline West, a sister company of the operator of the Miami-to-Orlando fast train, involves laying 218 miles (351 kilometers) of new track between Las Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga, California. Almost the entire distance will be built within the median of Interstate 15, with a station stop in the Victorville area of San Bernardino County.
The high-speed rail line is designed to operate at speeds of up to 186 mph (300 kph), comparable to Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains. It is touted as the first true high-speed passenger rail line in the United States and is projected to significantly reduce travel time between Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
The route between the two cities is largely open space, with no convenient alternatives to I-15. Brightline’s Southern California terminal will be situated at a commuter rail connection to downtown Los Angeles. Electric-powered trains are anticipated to slash the four-hour trip across the Mojave Desert to just over two hours.
This project is not only a major investment in transportation but also a significant step towards reducing congestion and carbon emissions. Forecasts indicate that the rail line will attract approximately 11 million one-way passengers annually, or around 30,000 per day, with fares priced considerably lower than airline travel. Additionally, the trains will provide amenities such as restrooms, Wi-Fi, food and beverage sales, and the convenience of checked baggage.
Officials in Las Vegas are optimistic that the rail line will alleviate the heavy traffic on I-15, which often sees miles of slow-moving vehicles as Southern Californians return from weekend getaways in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas area, with a population approaching 3 million, welcomes over 40 million visitors annually.
Brightline West acquired the rights to the project in 2019 and has since secured necessary approvals and reached labor agreements. The groundbreaking marks a significant milestone in the realization of high-speed rail in the United States, with potential implications for other intercity connections in the future.
