Brightline Breaks Ground on High-Speed Rail Between Las Vegas and California

A new high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and Southern California has been given the green light.

Once construction is complete, Brightline West will zip passengers from Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga, California (just outside of Los Angeles), in about 2 hours.

“This is a historic project and a proud moment where we break ground on America’s first high-speed rail system and lay the foundation for a new industry,” said Wes Edens, founder of Brightline.

Brightline Is Coming to Las Vegas and California

As much as the announcement is exciting, it didn’t provide any insight into the estimated start or completion dates for the $6.5 billion project.

We do know, however, that the 218-mile route will be constructed in the center of the section of the I-15 highway that connects Las Vegas with Southern California.

There are plans for a total of 3 main stations on the route. Starting in Las Vegas, Brightline trains will pass through Victor Valley before terminating at Rancho Cucamonga.

The 110-acre main station in Las Vegas will be located near the Las Vegas Strip, offering convenient access to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS).

At the opposite end of the line, the Rancho Cucamonga station wil be located at the northwest corner of Milliken Avenue and Azusa Court in close proximity to Ontario International Airport (ONT).

The station will be purpose-built to incorporate other forms of public transport, such as the California Metrolink to further increase connectivity.

Once onboard a Brightline train, passengers can expect state-of-the-art interiors, including a so-called Party Car — the perfect spot for some Las Vegas pre-gaming, it would seem.

The project currently has $6.5 billion of funding — $3 billion from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and $3.5 billion in private activity bonds from the Department of Transportation.

It’s hoped that this new all-electric, high-speed Brightline West service will be just as successful as the original Florida Brightline.

“Partnering with state leaders and Brightline West, we’re writing a new chapter in our country’s transportation story that includes thousands of union jobs, new connections to better economic opportunity, less congestion on the roads, and less pollution in the air,” said Pete Buttigieg, U.S Transportation Secretary.

Final Thoughts

Brightline has revolutionized train travel in the U.S. It has proved that there’s no excuse for outdated, unreliable, state-owned services, and that its Florida Brightline service was just the start of its journey.

We’re excited to see what’s next for Brightline — who knows where its bright yellow trains will pop up next!