Last week, officials from the Department of Transportation marked the groundbreaking of America’s inaugural high-speed rail line connecting Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Named Brightline West, this rail service is set to operate at speeds up to about 200 mph, aligning with global high-speed rail standards. The project, expected to be completed within four years, aims to enhance tourist infrastructure, notably for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Financed by $9 billion, with an additional $3 billion grant from the Biden Administration’s infrastructure funding bill, the venture marks a historic milestone in U.S. transportation. At the groundbreaking event, the Brightline founder emphasized the project’s significance for initiating a new industry model and hinted at its potential expansion to other city pairs across the nation.
Brightline West anticipates serving 11 million passengers annually, providing an alternative to the heavily trafficked US Interstate 15. The rail line seeks to alleviate congestion that typically affects the 50 million vehicles traveling between these cities each year, potentially saving around 700 million vehicle miles annually and eliminating 400,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions yearly.
This ambitious project will introduce state-of-the-art, all-electric trains equipped with modern amenities, offering Americans a transportation experience akin to the well-established high-speed rail networks in Asia and Europe. Brightline West represents the second high-speed rail operation for Fortress Investment Group, following the successful launch of a luxury connection between Orlando and Miami in 2018.