Brightline West high-speed rail: What to know about Vegas-to-LA project
Brightline West will link Las Vegas to Southern California with trains reaching speeds up to 200 mph. The 218-mile route will run along the I-15 corridor, with stops in Apple Valley, Hesperia, and Rancho Cucamonga.
Key Points
- Construction on the Brightline West high-speed rail project is expected to begin in Southern California in early 2026.
- Due to rising costs, the projected start date for passenger service has been pushed from 2027 to 2029.
A Brightline West official told the Daily Press that construction is expected to begin “early next year” on the Southern California side of its high-speed rail project between Las Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga.
Brightline West spokesperson Antonio Castelan on Monday provided some information about construction in Las Vegas, but no details about the California side of the project.
The 218-mile rail project includes a flagship station in Las Vegas and additional stations in Apple Valley, Hesperia and Rancho Cucamonga, the Daily Press reported.
Field testing along the route began soon after Brightline West hosted a groundbreaking for its high-speed passenger rail system in Las Vegas in April 2024.
The all-electric rail system will be built along the Interstate 15 median for passenger trains expected to top 200 mph along portions of the route that include the Inland Empire, Cajon Pass, High Desert, Mojave Desert and Mountain Pass.
Las Vegas construction
Castelan reported Monday that crews will begin infrastructure improvements along Las Vegas Boulevard between Eldorado Lane and Robindale Road.
The work east of the project includes removing the existing center median, installing a box culvert, and realigning a sewer line to support future station and roadway enhancements.
Activities will begin on Oct. 23, with one night of median removal, followed by a lane reduction starting Oct. 27 and lasting approximately three weeks.
The improvements are essential to preparing the area for future station construction and long-term roadway functionality, according to Brightline officials.
