High-speed rail between California and Las Vegas gets $3 billion more

The high-speed rail project that will connect Las Vegas to Southern California by 2028 has received a $3 billion cash infusion in the form of a federal grant.

The Brightline West project will use all-electric trains that can reach speeds of more than 200 miles per hour. This will significantly reduce travel time between Las Vegas and the proposed Rancho Cucamonga station to about two hours, less than half the average travel time.

The 218 miles of rail service will include stations in Las Vegas, Apple Valley, Hesperia and Rancho Cucamonga and will connect to the existing Metrolink regional rail network in Southern California.

The seven-car trains will carry between 434 and 450 passengers, depending on the final configuration. Amenities include free onboard WiFi, disabled access, food and beverage options, and hotel check-in service.

This funding, provided to the Nevada Department of Transportation through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant, is intended to accelerate the development of America's first true high-speed rail system.

“With this funding, we are closer than ever to making high-speed rail a reality – providing a fast, sustainable alternative to car travel between Las Vegas and Southern California. This project will stimulate economic growth, create jobs and provide lasting benefits for both our state and the region,” said Tracy Larkin Thomason, Nevada Transportation Director.

The total cost of the Brightline West project is estimated at $12 billion, with the remainder of the funding coming from private sources. The railway is expected to be operational in time for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The environmental benefit is a key selling point for the project. Brightline West estimates the rail line will remove three million cars from the roads annually and save more than 400,000 tons of emissions each year.

It is expected to attract a significant portion of the estimated 50 million annual travelers between the two destinations, ease traffic congestion on Interstate 15 and provide a more sustainable alternative to cars.

Beyond its impact on travel and tourism, the high-speed rail project will bring money into the local economy: an estimated 35,000 jobs will be created during construction, including over 10,000 union construction jobs. Brightline West is expected to retain approximately 1,000 jobs once operational.

In May 2024, Brightline announced Siemens Mobility as the “preferred bidder” to manufacture the trains at a factory in the United States. The contract covers a fleet of 10 American Pioneer 220 (AP 220) trains, built for speeds of up to 220 miles per hour.

A timeline of the Brightline West project:

• 2008: The California High-Speed ​​Rail project, intended to connect Los Angeles and San Francisco, is proposed.
• 2018: Brightline introduces its Venture Series train, developed in collaboration with Siemens Mobility, on its system in Florida.
• December 2023: President Biden announces a $3 billion federal-state partnership for an intercity passenger rail grant for the Brightline West project.
• April 2024: Brightline West celebrates its groundbreaking.
• May 1, 2024: Siemens Mobility is announced as the preferred bidder to build trains for the new route.
• September 5, 2024: Brightline West begins work on high-speed rail near the Nevada border.
• September 11, 2024: Renderings of the American Pioneer 220 (AP220) train are released.
• September 26, 2024: The Federal Railroad Administration officially signs the $3 billion grant agreement to the Nevada Department of Transportation.
• 2028: Brightline West is scheduled to begin operations.
• Between 2030 and 2033: The Central Valley section of the California High-Speed ​​Rail project is expected to be completed.

Brightline CEO Michael Reininger said the project is “a historic commitment that will boost America’s high-speed rail industry and create thousands of jobs across the country. Brightline West is manufactured and built in the USA and serves as a blueprint for connecting pairs of cities that are too close to fly but too far to drive.”