It has recently made the news that the Brightline West high-speed rail project, which will connect Southern California with Las Vegas, has already set a completion date for the end of 2029. With the support of Gavin Newsom, this is a 100% electric proposal that will be able to reduce travel time to just two hours with speeds of up to 218 miles (322 km/h). Construction began earlier this year, 2026, and it has a budget of 12 billion dollars. This state project aims to connect San Francisco with Los Angeles, thus promoting more sustainable mobility.
The high-speed rail construction project connecting Los Angeles to Las Vegas, partly driven by Gavin Newsom, now has a completion date: the end of 2029, according to Fox News. Construction began at the beginning of 2026 under the guidance of Brightline West, the private company responsible for its construction. It is a line located in the middle of Interstate 15, and its future station will be in Las Vegas. Currently, the station parking lot is under construction along with the preparation of I-15 and the surrounding land. This project has a budget of 12 billion dollars, and it aims not only to promote clean energy, as it is a fully electric infrastructure, but also to achieve much faster travel, as its 218 miles (322 km/h) reduce travel time to two hours.
Its main feature is the passenger rail system of this type in the entire country, according to the state Department of Transportation (Caltrans). With stations in Victor Valley and Rancho Cucamonga, and the main one in Las Vegas, it reaches a speed of up to 200 miles per hour (322 kilometers per hour) along 218 miles of track (350 kilometers).
This is not the only project promoted by Newsom; another one is also being developed between San Francisco and Los Angeles, with a length of 494 miles (795 kilometers). In this case, almost 80 miles (128 kilometers) of track have already been completed, nearly 60 structures are finished, and more than 30 structures in the counties of Madera, Fresno, Kings, and Tulare are under development. The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) issued a statement on December 23 stating that, at present, the project is in the design and construction phase of 170 miles (275 kilometers), from Merced to Bakersfield.
With these new projects on the horizon, it is expected to improve mobility between states in the country, focusing on clean energy. Additionally, they also represent a boost for the economy between states. If everything goes as it should and as companies expect, by 2030 it will be possible to travel from California to Las Vegas in 2 hours, with the comforts of a high-speed train and without the need to drive for hours through the desert.
Blanquivioletas EN portal is a reference source for international readers, delivering high-quality news focused on science, mobility, economy, and technology. It provides clear, well-curated coverage of key trends and innovations shaping the United States, offering an informed and forward-looking global perspective.
© www.blanquivioletas.com • All rights reserved
