Construction on Brightline's High-speed Rail Between Los Angeles and Las Vegas Is Officially Underway
The Brightline West groundbreaking, on Earth Day, took place at the site of a future station in Las Vegas on Monday.
Courtesy of Brightline West
Construction of a high-speed railway between southern California and Las Vegas officially broke ground on Monday, bringing the West Coast one step closer to a sustainable transportation option between the two states.
The Brightline West groundbreaking, on Earth Day, took place at the site of a future station in Las Vegas, the company shared with Travel + Leisure. Following the groundbreaking, the project is expected to take about four years to complete.
“This day is a major milestone in building the future of American rail and the jobs that come with it,” Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg wrote in a Facebook post, adding, “We're investing in the future of America's passenger rail system — funding high-speed rail projects in the West and enhancing service for communities across the country.”
When it is finished, the railway will feature an all-electric, 218-mile train service connecting Las Vegas with the Los Angeles area. The flagship station will be located in Sin City with additional stations located in Apple Valley, Hesperia, and Rancho Cucamonga, California.
The train is expected to travel with speeds up to 200 mph and take about two hours to get between Las Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga. Work on the high-speed rail line started earlier this year with field investigation work, including along I-15 in California.
The project is part of a larger investment from the Department of Transportation (DOT), which allocated $8.2 billion in funding for several key rail projects across the country.
Beyond the West Coast, Brightline has built several high-speed train routes in Florida. The company, which first launched there in 2018, offers service to popular cities like West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Aventura, Boca Raton, and Orlando. The company plans to add a brand-new station on the Treasure Coast in Stuart, Florida, in the second half of 2026.
Brightline also recently partnered with Princess Cruises in Florida to make getting to the port easier with a new “Rail & Sail" service.
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