High-speed rail firm closer to connect Las Vegas with Los Angeles

Brightline West’s planned high-speed rail service connecting Las Vegas and Southern California is now closer to get its services to Los Angeles.

The private rail company signed a memorandum of understanding with several California transportation entities regarding its planned use of 48 miles in Interstate 15 right-of-way through the Cajon Pass. Once the line is built, passengers will be able to travel from Las Vegas to a Victor Valley station, and then through the Rancho Cucamonga. From there, they could transfer to the Metrolink to ride into Los Angeles.

We are on track to Rancho Cucamonga😎! Today, we announced the signing of an MOU with @CA_Trans_Agency @CaltransHQ and @CaHSRA for our project connecting the Victor Valley with a newly planned station in Rancho Cucamonga. Read more: https://t.co/aBcdlkURO6

— Brightline West (@BrightlineWest) October 21, 2021

The Las Vegas station is planned to go on a plot of land on Las Vegas Boulevard between Blue Diamond Road and Warm Springs, across from the South Premium Outlets mall. Brightline has set to use zero-emission electric train sets that can reach speeds up to 180mph. Onboard services include meals and drinks, free WiFi and more. The line expects to support more than 11 million one-way trips annually. 

Brightline West Rancho Cucamonga station (render)

In an official press release, Mike Reininger, CEO of Brightline Holdings, spoke about this memorandum of understanding and said that it “marks a critical milestone in our goal to connect the Los Angeles metropolitan area with the iconic entertainment destination of Las Vegas”. 

“This system will provide an optimal travel solution between Southern California and Las Vegas, and opens up the reality of emission-free, hospitality-focused high-speed rail service to millions of people traveling between these destinations every year”, he concluded.

City pairs that are too short to fly and too far to drive 🚆 #GoBrightline #highspeedrail #HSR #buildHSR pic.twitter.com/HXkD0KOPOB

— Brightline (@GoBrightline) July 30, 2021

According to Brightline, the trip between Las Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga is estimated to take 2 hours, while the connection into L.A. makes a total 3-hour ride.

Brightline’s Rancho Cucamonga station is planned to be constructed in the recently announced Cucamonga Station in the HART District. It will be a full-service transit station that will include the existing Metrolink and an underground tunnel to connect to Ontario International Airport. 

Curt Hagman, chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, expressed in a statement that “along  with planned underground loop service to Ontario International Airport, the upcoming Redlands Passenger Rail Service and the West Valley Connector bus rapid transit system, high-speed rail to and from Las Vegas is shaping up to be a game changer for our region”.

“These projects will provide convenient connections to destinations throughout Southern California and beyond, and provide sustainable transit options for one of the fastest-growing population and economic centers in the country”, he concluded.

Groundbreaking dates for any portion of the system or stations have yet to be released. Brightline planned to break ground on the $8 billion project in late 2020, but that was halted once the company pulled a bond offering that was set to fund a portion of the line amid unstable market conditions brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.