Brightline West to Begin Construction of 200 MPH Rail Line

In December 2020, the joint venture began pre-construction with final construction set to begin in early 2021, workers said, with a high-speed train running at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour that would connect Las Vegas and Southern California, whisking riders across the desert and between the once and future entertainment capitals in about two hours. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Brightline West Makes Progress Toward Breakthrough High-Speed Rail

Field testing along the route has ended, helping determine where the stations should go, what the track should look like and what’s needed in the way of infrastructure. This preparation paves the way for the full construction work to start within weeks.

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Brightline West would cut travel times and traffic by operating modern electric trains. These trains would operate on all-separated rights-of-way, so the service must be faster directly and have higher reliability than what exists today.

The United States has long lagged behind other countries, including China, for top-of-the-line high-speed networks. But Brightline West hopes to rewrite that history by providing world-class train service on 218 miles of desert corridor.

Brightline West Lines Up With California Rail Project

And while the California High-Speed Rail project continues to advance between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Brightline West is staking its claim as a pioneering private-sector entity. This new line has momentum behind it, owing to the successes Brightline has had with its Miami-Orlando service.

It has shown that private investment in rails can be successful in the U.S. and is hoping that lesson will fuel expansion along this western route. If all goes according to plan, the project could benefit millions before the end of the decade.

And, there are also plans to extend the line with a suggested High-Speed Desert Corridor. That link would unite Brightline West with California’s rail system, forming a regional transportation grid stretching across the Southwest.

Brightline Has Plans to Transform Travel in the Southwest

Brightline’s aim is to offer a quick, green option to driving or flying. By slashing emissions and reversing commutes, the company also puts itself in the national vanguard of sustainable infrastructure.

If it works, it could be the first built from the ground up as a high-speed line in the U.S., serving as a model for other efforts around the country.

What is the objective of the Brightline West?

Brightline West will provide a 200-mph line for people traveling between Las Vegas and Southern California at speeds of up to 2 hours in a green, low carbon shape that offers a productive and efficient alternative to driving or flying.

What is Brightline West doing to get ready for construction?

Field testing has also been completed along the route, to refine station location, track design and infrastructure requirement. This preparation paves the way for full-scale construction that could begin in the coming months.

What is Brightline West compared to other rail projects in the U.S.?

Brightline West also is a private investment endeavor, a difference from the public California High-Speed Rail. Riding the success of Brightline’s service between Miami and Orlando, it’s potentially the first fully completed high-speed rail line in the country.

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