Electric high-speed train to connect Las Vegas and Los Angeles by 2027
Electric high-speed train to connect Las Vegas and Los Angeles by 2027
Revolutionizing the realm of transportation, Brightline West emerges as America’s pioneer high-speed rail network, forging a 218-mile (350-kilometer) electrically powered connection between the bustling metropolises of Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
A greener way to travel
Envisioned as a sophisticated, eco-conscious alternative, the high-speed train whizzes passengers between these urban hubs at a remarkable 200 miles per hour (321 km/h), slashing travel time to just over an hour. In contrast, road trips, notorious for their environmental impact, can stretch over four hours. This monumental innovation stands poised to reshape Southern Californian and Las Vegas transportation, easing traffic snarls, shrinking carbon footprints, and offering a sustainable alternative to the car-dependent masses.
The rail system, a testament to sustainability, boasts zero emissions and is hailed as one of the United States’ greenest transportation modes. Its anticipated impact? A staggering reduction of 3 million cars and 400,000 tons of CO2 emissions each year. Moreover, this groundbreaking project distinguishes itself as the first high-speed rail system operated and maintained by various rail unions’ workforce.
With Americans craving high-speed rail, Brightline West collaborates with the High-Speed Rail Labor Coalition to materialize this transformative vision. In the words of the Coalition, “Brightline West will be the most elegant travel by rail experience you can have in America, and it will be the catalyst for America’s renaissance of travel by high-speed rail.”
Photo: Brightline West
Employment opportunities abound
Brightline’s recent $10 billion agreement with diverse rail worker unions, including the High-Speed Rail Labor Coalition, exemplifies this partnership. Thirteen unions, representing over 160,000 workers across freight, regional, commuter, and passenger railroad sectors, inked the memorandum of understanding (MOU).
Construction alone is predicted to create an impressive 35,000 jobs, while 10,000 permanent positions will invigorate the economy. Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, expressed pride in supporting “monumental projects like Brightline West,” which promise a modern, efficient, green transit system, while also employing skilled union members.
Photo: Brightline West
The journey ahead
Currently, Brightline is the sole private provider of eco-friendly intercity passenger rail service in America, connecting Florida’s Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach. Orlando joins the network in 2023.
Construction for the Los Angeles – Las Vegas project commences this year, with completion slated within four years. Stations are planned near the Las Vegas Strip, Rancho Cucamonga, Apple Valley, and Hesperia, California. Brightline Holdings CEO, Mike Reininger, proudly declared, “As the most shovel-ready high-speed rail project in the United States, we are one step closer to leveling the playing field against transit and infrastructure projects around the world, and we are proud to be using America’s most skilled workers to get there.”
