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First true US ‘bullet train’ finally breaks ground with $12 billion line to bring passengers from LA to Vegas at 186mp
The train will be able to travel up to 200 mph, making it the fastest train in America
THE FIRST bullet train in the US is officially in construction, with workers breaking ground on the project that's expected to be finished at some point in 2028.
The bullet train will travel between Las Vegas and California, a journey that's relatively close by plane flight yet involves a four-hour drive.
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The project is being managed by Brightline West and broke ground today, reports NBC affiliate KSNV.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was joined by Wes Edens, the owner of Brightline West, and other representatives from the states of Nevada and California for the ceremonial groundbreaking.
"Partnering with state leaders and Brightline West, we’re writing a new chapter in our country’s transportation story that includes thousands of union jobs, new connections to better economic opportunity, less congestion on the roads, and less pollution in the air," said Buttigieg.
The project is estimated to cost around $12 billion and is expected to be concluded by 2028.
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The timeline hopes to have the train up and running by that year's Summer Olympics, which will be hosted in Los Angeles.
Brightline West already operates a fast train lane between Miami and Orlando.
"Brightline West will be America’s first true high-speed passenger rail system," reads the project's website.
"The modern, eco-friendly system will redefine train travel in America and connect two of our most iconic destinations: Las Vegas and Southern California."
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The website explains that the train will satisfy a high-demand route, with there being over 50 million trips between Los Angeles and Las Vegas every year.
By providing a new method of transportation, the train line hopes to relieve the traffic that arises out of these trips, making the lives of residents and visitors more convenient.
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The route will involve a 218-mile rail system that will have various train stops, including Apple Valley and Hisperia.
Brightline uses trains that are all electric and zero-emission, claiming that they'll be equipped with "state-of-the-art amenities."
The company states that the train will be able to reach 200 mph, a speed that rivals Japan's famous bullet trains.
As of this writing, bullet trains in Japan, known as the Shinkansen, can reach up to 320 mph.
The trains connect various cities to Tokyo, the country's capital.
With Brightline West's new trains, the journey between Las Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga, a city in California, will last around 2 hours and 10 minutes.
The train ride would be half the length of the drive, which currently lasts around four hours.
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Currently, Brightline West's trains from Miami to Orlando can reach speeds up to 125 mph.
Other fast trains in the US include Amtrak's Acela, which can reach up to 150 mph and travels between Boston and Washington D.C.
Los Angeles - Las Vegas bullet train
- Around 50 million trips occur every year between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
- The bullet train hopes to relieve traffic in the area and provide residents and visitors with a more convenient way to travel.
- The rail service will occupy 218 miles.
- The ride will last around 2 hours and 10 minutes, cutting the trip time by almost half.
- It will have various train stops, including stations at Apple Valley and Hisperia.
- The train hopes to be ready by 2028, right around the Los Angeles Summer Olympics.