In the U.S., the World’s Richest Rail Modernization of the West is taking shape, jamming billions into high-speed lines, state-of-the art inftrastructure, etc. California to Washington, D.C., and they promise faster, greener and more reliable train travel.

U.S. Rail Modernization: Major Projects in the West
Photo: media.amtrak.com

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

No place is the rush to modernize more vigorous than in California and the Pacific Northwest, where state agencies are channeling public and some private money to reshape the future of train travel in the western United States.

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California High-Speed Rail and Brightliftheyne West

With California High-Speed Rail, upgrade the West. Building in the Central Valley is still underway, though officials have set their sights on phased openings. Electrified tracks are projected for 2026, with the full San Francisco–Los Angeles route opening by 2038.

Meanwhile, Brightline West is constructing a high-speed railway corridor, measuring 218 miles, between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Funded with $3 billion in federal aid, the project is scheduled to open in 2028, providing service at speeds up to 200 miles an hour and easing highway congestion.

Cascadia and Regional Upgrades

The bullet train … in the Pacific Northwest Should the United States ever have a bullet train, it’s a project that seems more plausible in the Pacific Northwest than many other places. Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia have been working together on to create a line connecting Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, B.C. to supplement existing Amtrak Cascades trains.

Significant improvements are also underway in Seattle. The King Street Yard expansion will provide 100,000 square feet of new maintenance facility by 2027 to support next-generation Cascades trains, leading to increased reliability, and efficiency in the region.

The Western Rail Renaissance

In the West, where modernization is poised to be the fastest, most comfortable and sustainable. Fed by federal funding and pitched as regional partnerships aimed at transforming rail travel, these are aspirational endeavors to rewire regional transportation and reduce carbon.

Additionally, these projects underscore the strategic nature of rail in providing efficient, green links between major western destinations.

Source: constructionreviewonline.com

How is U.S. Rail Modernization shaping the West?

U.S. Rail Modernization in the West is powering high-speed projects such as California High-Speed Rail, Brightline West and Cascadia to deliver faster, cleaner and more efficient passenger service.

When is Brightline West going to be operational?

The Brightline West, connecting Las Vegas to Los Angeles, should begin running in 2028, allowing travel by 200 m.p.h. train and slashing travel times.

How long until the California High-Speed Rail is complete?

California High-Speed Rail is planning phased openings, beginning by around 2026, according to the rail authority, with full service between San Francisco and Los Angeles scheduled by 2038.

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