High-speed train connecting LA and Las Vegas to further drive visitation to gambling mecca

The State Building and Construction Trades Council of California (SBCTC), Southern Nevada Building Trades Union (SNBTU) and Brightline West have announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to construct "the first true high-speed rail system in the US," connecting Las Vegas and Southern California.

The agreement will ensure that Brightline West will be built with unionized labor in California and Nevada, creating nearly 10,000 construction jobs and career opportunities, as reported by Global Railway Review. The train is set to connect Las Vegas and Southern California with what has been described as “a green, efficient, high-speed rail system.”

It will further drive visitation to the gambling mecca, as getting to Las Vegas from Los Angeles had always been problematic. Flying is fast but expensive, while driving is cheap but slow. The train will get visitors across California and into Nevada in half as much time as it takes by car. The 218-mile trip will take about 85 minutes.

LA is the top market of origin for Las Vegas visitors, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Prior to the pandemic, in 2019, 1.6 million Angelenos visited “Sin City,” reports Spectrum News. Approximately 50 million one-way trips are made annually between these two destinations with 85% of them by car or bus.

At full operations, Brightline expects to attract approximately 12 million one-way trips each year. Amenities for travelers include free onboard WiFi, ADA accessibility from station to train, a wide selection of food and drinks, checked luggage, and hotel check-in services.

Andrew Meredith, President of the SBCTC, said: “The SBCTC is excited to partner with Brightline West and the SNBTU on this historic project bringing high-speed rail and thousands of new construction jobs to Southern California and Southern Nevada. Our members are ready to get to work building this vital transportation project linking California to Las Vegas.”

Vince Saavedra, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of SNBTU, said: “This is a momentous day for the workers of Southern Nevada, specifically members of the SNBTU, as we announce our partnership with Brightline West and SBCTC to create our country’s first true high-speed rail system.”

Brightline West is a 218-mile system connecting Las Vegas and Southern California within the Interstate 15 right-of-way with trains capable of speeds of 200mph. The journey will begin with a station in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. that will offer direct connectivity with California Metrolink. Additional stations will be built in Hesperia and Apple Valley, Calif. and Las Vegas.

The project is expected to generate more than $10 billion in economic impact to California and Nevada. The fully electric, emission-free system will also be “one of the greenest forms of transportation in the U.S.,” removing three million cars and 400,000 tonnes of CO2 each year.

Construction on the $10 billion project is expected to begin later this year. Brightline West expects operations will begin in 2027. Brightline has received $1 billion in private activity bonds from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help fund the project.