Brightline West kicks off construction on high-speed rail between Las Vegas and Southern California
Shovels are in the ground on a high-stakes project to link Southern California with Las Vegas by high-speed rail.
In Las Vegas Monday, Brightline West officially broke ground on its new system that, within four years, is expected to offer travelers a two-hour ride between the two metropolitan areas at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour.
Once operational, this "dream for decades," as Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV) put it Monday, will be the nation's first true high-speed intercity rail system.
And, this project will, in many ways, expand on Brightline's innovative concept and service in Florida that currently connects the Sunshine State's southeast coast with Orlando.
A $12 billion project
Discussed for years, the estimated $12 billion Brightline West project got a significant leg-up in December, when the Biden administration announced $3 billion in grants supporting Brightline West, made possible through partnerships with California and Nevada via the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law.
Though the scope of the project is immense, Brightline appears to be in a strong position to see it to completion: The project has full environmental clearance, the company said Monday.
Brightline West trains will run along the Interstate 15 corridor in Nevada and California, right down the median of the highway.
That should help the company avoid many of the time-consuming permitting processes that come with clearing land or cutting across properties — often factors that can delay major infrastructure projects.
Brightline's Florida system similarly avoided the trappings of bureaucratic red tape by relying on existing tracks and rights of way for its routes.
When will Brightline West open?
Construction on the Brightline West project is expected to last about four years. If all goes according to plan, that timeline could see the new system open just in time for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
“A short four years from now, this will be one of the world’s great transportation centers,” Brightline founder Wes Edens predicted at Monday's ceremony.
The plans for Brightline West
The groundbreaking at Brightline's future station in Las Vegas marked the official start of construction on the planned 218-mile rail line.
In Las Vegas, travelers will be able to catch the new Brightline West trains at an expansive station near the city's iconic Strip, not far from Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport (LAS).
Renderings shared by the company Monday show the rail operator's signature bright yellow signage at the Vegas station, along with a premium bar — amenities familiar to travelers who have traveled with Brightline in Florida.
From there, the all-electric trains would cross the Nevada desert en route to Southern California stops in Victor Valley and Hesperia before reaching the westernmost station in Rancho Cucamonga, outside Los Angeles.
The entire 215-mile trek should take just over two hours, a far cry from the frequent four hours-plus travelers face while navigating the I-15 corridor between the two regions by car.
The 80,000 square-foot Ranco Cucamonga station will be located a short distance from Ontario International Airport (ONT) and steps from a California Metrolink stop, which will allow travelers to connect with regional transportation to other parts of Southern California.
In total, a Vegas-to-Rancho Cucamonga trip followed by a Metrolink connection to central Los Angeles should take closer to three hours, the company says.
The trains will run on all-electric energy, reducing emissions while simultaneously providing incentives for drivers to take the train between California and Vegas instead of driving.
An eye toward a rail-centric future
For Brightline, the Western system is just its latest foray into pushing the boundaries of America's innovation in rail travel.
Monday's Brightline West groundbreaking came exactly seven months after the company opened the extension of its Florida line, connecting its coastal stations with the terminals at Orlando International Airport (MCO), providing travelers with unique new opportunities to explore both Central Florida's theme parks and South Florida's Beaches.
And it could well serve as a launching pad for future high-speed rail corridors, Edens predicted at Monday's event.
“In short order, I believe there will be many train systems developed using the blueprint that we’re using," Edens said, rattling off other U.S. city pairs that meet the company's "too short to fly, too long to drive" criteria, specifically calling out Houston and Dallas, Portland and Seattle, and Atlanta and Charlotte.
His predictions surely drew an eager audience in U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who, as part of the Biden administration, has been a major proponent of passenger rail — and similarly predicted Brightline West will be just the beginning of high-speed rail development in the U.S.
“I am firmly convinced that, once the first customer buys that first ticket to ride true high-speed rail on American soil, there will be no going back," Buttigieg said, speaking at Monday's event.
“In this particular case," Buttigieg said, "what happens in Vegas should absolutely not be confined to Las Vegas.”
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.