Brightline West broke ground this week on a high-speed rail line that will connect Las Vegas and Southern California. It is expected to open in 2028.
Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined Brightline West executives and local government officials for the official groundbreaking ceremony held at the future Brightline West train station in Las Vegas.
The Brightline West route will be built within the median of I-15. The train will span 218 miles and include stops in Victor Valley, Hesperia and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Brightline West trains will be fully electric and capable of reaching speeds of 200 miles per hour. Service between Las Vegas and Southern California is estimated to be a two-hour trip, about half the time it takes to drive the route.
The Las Vegas station will be located near the Las Vegas Strip on a 110-acre property that will provide convenient access to Harry Reid International Airport, the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Raiders' Allegiant Stadium.