Construction of a new passenger rail system linking the Los Angeles area to Las Vegas began yesterday. The Brightline West system, spanning 218 miles mostly along Interstate 15, is expected to be the nation’s first true high-speed intercity rail network. The route (see map) is expected to take around 30,000 travelers per day between Rancho Cucamonga, California, and Las Vegas.
The all-electric trains can reach speeds up to 200 mph, with the typically four-hour travel time between the two cities expected to take just over two hours. Sister company Brightline opened its Miami-Orlando line last year; its trains reach speeds up to 125 mph. The International Union of Railways defines “high-speed rail” as new rail lines capable of going at least 155 mph.
The Rancho Cucamonga station will offer a connection to Southern California’s commuter rail service. The $12B project aims to alleviate traffic strain; over 44,000 vehicles per day crossed the California-Nevada border on I-15 in 2023. The project is expected to be completed in four years to coincide with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
And no we dont want Amtrak back. We want Amtrak to stop being funded.
Interestingly this is not the California State rail project which is a massive boondoggle. This is Brightline which seems to actually know what they are doing and is a private company (who probably gets a lot of public resources)
Great news:
This new train service will save their fleeing citizens thousands of dollars each from California's jacked-up UHAUL rental fees.
Soon savy Cali citizens can take the train to Nevada, rent a UHAUL at normal prices, drive it back to Cali, load-up & move-out to The Free States of Florida & Texas with Stacks Of Cash saved on California's oppressive moving truck rental fees + taxes.
True Projects Of Genius!!!!
@ David T. Hawkins= Hopefully the City Commission will be kept out of it. With a little luck the FRA will see to it that it is done correctly. Our City commission, sadly, is a corrupt den of lefty snakes who are hellbent of preventing any positive economic growth in the area. If they get their commie hooks in it, they will destroy any chance we have of it working in any meaningful way.
@ Eddie = The City Commissioners are already working with AMTRAC to come back, including building a new Train Station.
Is this your way of saying that AMTRAC needs to return service to Tallahassee?