California high-speed rail systems contract moves ahead

California high-speed rail systems contract tendering is now under way for a major track and systems package on the Central Valley high-speed line, valued at up to $US 3.5bn, as reported by International Railway Journal. The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has issued a request for proposals for a contractor to lay track and deliver core railway systems on the section of the route that is already under construction, according to a recent California High-Speed Rail Authority news release.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Scope of the California high-speed rail systems contract

This CHSRA track and systems tender began with an RFP released to interested bidders on November 26. A pre-bid conference and a dedicated workshop for small businesses will take place in Sacramento on December 19, after which bidders have until March 2 2026 to file their proposals.

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The Track and Systems Construction Contract (TSCC) spans the main systems needed to operate the Central Valley Section (CVS). It provides for overhead electrification and traction power supply equipment, signalling and train control, as well as a full package of communications systems including radio, fibre optic and CCTV installations.

Phased delivery for the Central Valley Section

CHSRA says the TSCC covers the 190.4km of high-speed line currently being built in the Central Valley, plus the extensions to Merced and Bakersfield that will complete the CVS — an aspect that Railway Supply has also highlighted in its broader coverage of California high-speed rail installation. The scope is divided into nine construction packages, with phased notices to proceed so that tracklaying and systems installation can move forward section by section as civil works are completed.

Under the California high-speed rail systems contract, the preferred bidder will handle detailed design across the TSCC scope, except for the track design and the overhead electrification system, which are already covered by a separate CHSRA contract. The same contractor will also be responsible for integration testing and commissioning of the systems delivered under the TSCC.

Materials supply and construction base in Kern County

While the contractor is in charge of installation, CHSRA will supply the core tracklaying materials. This includes rail, sleepers and ballast, along with masts and other electrification hardware such as contact wire. The fibre optic cable required for the communications systems will also be provided directly by the authority.

CHSRA presents the TSCC as part of a hybrid delivery model designed to manage cost and schedule while emphasising “partnering, collaboration, in-depth communication, motivation for innovation, and progressive project development of construction packages.”

Tracklaying has already been completed at CHSRA’s construction base in Kern County at the southern end of the CVS. The authority says this base will soon be ready to receive track and other materials by rail, enabling the project to shift quickly into the systems installation phase once the contract is awarded. “Bringing this contract to market today is a major milestone of our new delivery strategy: building faster, smarter, and more economically,” says CHSRA CEO, Ian Choudri.

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