Workers began construction on Monday (22) of a new high-speed rail system that will connect Southern California and Las Vegas.
The Brightline West system will reach average speeds of about 185 kilometers per hour and a maximum speed of around 320 km/h, comparable to other high-speed systems around the world. The Eurostar between London and Paris reaches average speeds of about 240 km/h and a maximum of around 320 km/h.
The Brightline West system, touted as the “first true high-speed rail system” in the U.S., will cover a route of 350 kilometers between Las Vegas and three stops in California, including Rancho Cucamonga, about 64 kilometers east of Los Angeles.
The project has received $3 billion in funding, with the remainder of the amount to be privately financed, according to the company.
Brightline West aims to be operational by 2028, when Los Angeles will host the Summer Olympics. The train will take passengers from Southern California to Las Vegas in about two hours, roughly half the driving time, according to the company.
The project is expected to have an economic impact of over $10 billion and create more than 35,000 jobs in Nevada and California during construction, according to the statement.
The first Brightline rail system was launched in Florida, with the route extending between Miami and Orlando. The trains reach speeds of up to 200 km/h, connecting the two cities in about 3.5 hours.
“People have been dreaming of high-speed rail in America for decades – and now, with billions of dollars in support made possible by President Biden’s historic infrastructure law, it’s finally happening,” the company said in a statement.
Source: CNBC