Brightline West, the United States’ first high-speed rail network, is set to connect Las Vegas and Los Angeles with an estimated length of 218 miles (350 kilometers) of tracks, running entirely on electric energy.
The network will operate a green bullet train that can reach a cruising speed of 200 miles per hour (321 km/h), resulting in a travel time of just over an hour between the two busiest cities in the United States. Compared to driving, which takes over four hours, the new system will provide an alternative and sustainable way to travel.
This will transform transportation in Southern California and Las Vegas for generations by providing a fast and efficient connection that gets people out of their cars, reduces traffic congestion and decreases air pollution.
Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer
1. Sustainable travel
The fully electric, emission-free system will be one of the greenest forms of transportation in the U.S. With an annual reduction of 3 million cars and 400,000 tons of CO2, it is set to make a significant impact on the environment. This project is also unique as it will be the first high-speed rail system operated and maintained by workers from the various rail unions.
Americans want high-speed rail and Brightline West and the High-Speed Rail Labor Coalition are ready to bring this transformative transportation project to them.
High-Speed Rail Labor Coalition
“Brightline West will be the most elegant travel by rail experience you can have in America, and it will be the catalyst for America’s renaissance of travel by high-speed rail,” shared the High-Speed Rail Labor Coalition in a statement.
2. Labour market
Brightline recently announced that it had reached a $10 billion agreement with a collective of various rail worker unions, including the High-Speed Rail Labor Coalition. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by the 13 unions representing more than 160,000 workers in the freight, regional, commuter, and passenger railroad sectors.
The project is expected to create nearly 35,000 jobs during the construction phase and around 10,000 permanent jobs, providing a boost to the economy.
“As the nation’s largest transportation labor union federation, we are proud to support monumental projects like Brightline West, which will deliver a modern, efficient, and green transit system while putting skilled union members to work,” said Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO.
Our nation’s first high-speed rail system will be operated and maintained by union labor, a statement of the strength of the American workforce.
Mike Reininger, CEO of Brightline Holdings
The State Building Trades is excited to announce a partnership with @BrightlineWest and the Southern NV Building Trades to build a high speed rail project connecting Southern California with Las Vegas.
— California Building Trades Council (@CA_Bldg_Trades) March 9, 2023
10,000 good paying jobs and economic benefits are coming to the southwest! pic.twitter.com/woinaMENj8
3. Preliminary plans
Brightline is currently the only private provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity passenger rail service in America, serving Florida’s Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach, with its Orlando station beginning service in 2023.
The company expects to break ground for the Las Vegas – Los Angeles project this year and estimates that all necessary work will be completed in the next four years. The Brightline West network will include stations near the Las Vegas Strip, Rancho Cucamonga, Apple Valley, and Hesperia, California.
“As the most shovel-ready high-speed rail project in the United States, we are one step closer to leveling the playing field against transit and infrastructure projects around the world, and we are proud to be using America’s most skilled workers to get there,” said Mike Reininger, CEO of Brightline Holdings.
