Officials initiated the construction of a new high-speed rail system on Monday, which will link Southern California with Las Vegas.
Named the Brightline West system, it will maintain an average speed of approximately 115 miles per hour and achieve a maximum speed of around 200 mph, comparable to other high-speed rail systems globally. For instance, the Eurostar traveling between London and Paris has an average speed of about 150 mph and a top speed of around 200 mph. While Amtrak's current Acela line from Boston to Washington, D.C., can reach speeds of up to 150 mph, its average speed is only 70 mph. However, Acela has plans for a high-speed fleet that will attain speeds of 160 mph.
Promoted as the "first true high-speed rail system" in the U.S., the Brightline West system will traverse a 218-mile route connecting Las Vegas with three California stops, including Rancho Cucamonga, approximately 40 miles east of Los Angeles.
The project secured $3 billion in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with the remainder to be privately financed, according to the company.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed his belief in a CNBC interview on Monday that once Americans experience high-speed rail in the U.S., they will expect and demand it nationwide.
Brightline West aims to commence operations in 2028, coinciding with the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The train will transport passengers from Southern California to Las Vegas in about two hours, approximately half the time it takes to drive, according to the company.
The project is anticipated to have an economic impact exceeding $10 billion and will generate over 35,000 jobs in Nevada and California during construction, as per the release.
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo remarked in a statement on Monday, "Through this visionary partnership, we are going to create thousands of jobs, bring critical transportation infrastructure to the West, and create an innovative, fast, and sustainable transportation solution."
Brightline's initial rail system was introduced in Florida, with the route spanning from Miami to Orlando. Trains on this route can reach speeds of up to 125 mph, linking the two cities in about 3.5 hours.
Buttigieg emphasized in the release, "People have been dreaming of high-speed rail in America for decades — and now, with billions of dollars of support made possible by President Biden's historic infrastructure law, it's finally happening."
