With top speeds of 200 miles per hour, the train will whisk travelers along the full route from Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga in just over two hours, about half the time it takes to drive between the two cities, according to Brightline.
The trains themselves will be all-electric and zero-emission. The company estimates that each seven-car train will carry up to 450 passengers, depending on the final layout of the cars. On board, passengers can expect perks like free Wi-Fi, snacks and drinks for purchase, and roomy seats. The standard seating option will offer the same legroom space as a first-class airline seat, Brightline says. There will also be a premium car with extra space and amenities.
Connecting Central and South Florida, the Brightline train is a game changer for multi-city trips in the Sunshine State.
When will Brightline West launch service?
Construction on the train line officially broke ground in April 2024 and is expected to take about four years to complete. Brightline West officials announced in September that the train sets will be built at a new production facility in New York beginning in 2026. The goal is to launch the first service in 2028, in time for the Olympic Games being hosted in Los Angeles.
Although four years is a significant chunk of time, the project is so far moving at a rapid clip compared to similar infrastructure and transportation initiatives. “It is notable because, as with Brightline Florida, this is a privately initiated scheme that has, or will, come to fruition much quicker than some government schemes such as the California Los Angeles to San Francisco High Speed Rail scheme,” says Ian Savage, associate department chair of economics and director of the transportation and logistics program at Northwestern University.
Along with laying the actual track and overhead power lines, a major component of the train’s construction is building five new stations along the route. The Las Vegas station is being built near the Strip between Interstate 15 and Las Vegas Boulevard, providing convenient access to the Harry Reid International Airport, the Las Vegas Convention Center, and the Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium, according to a Brightline release. Meanwhile, the Victor Valley station in Apple Valley, California, will be designed to accommodate possible future rail connections to the state’s High Desert region and other high-speed train projects in the works.
Brightline’s Florida stations are beloved by passengers for their modern design, easy security procedures, and amenities like bars, grab-and-go markets, and premium lounges, all of which will be offered at the Brightline West stations.
How will this change travel in the region?
According to Brightline data, the travel corridor between Las Vegas and Southern California sees more than 50 million trips every year. In the near future, a significant portion of those journeys could be via high-speed rail.
