If you’ve been daydreaming about zipping over to Southern California without touching your brake pedal – or getting in the car, at all – you’re gonna have to wait just a little bit longer. Brightline West, the high-speed rail project promising to connect Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga, has officially shifted its completion target to late 2029.
Original plan for SoCal – Vegas train
For those keeping score, or for those who are just now hearing the news, the original goal was to have the “party train” rolling by December 2028. That would’ve been just in time to shuttle visitors for the Los Angeles Olympics. However, that benchmark has now been eclipsed. While Brightline hasn’t mentioned a specific reason for the slide, it’s not exactly shocking for a massive infrastructure project to need some breathing room.
Ok – but is it happening?
Before you roll your eyes and mutter under your breath (yep, we’ve all done it), know that stuff is actually happening. Crews are currently in the civil construction phase, prepping the route along the I-15 median. If you drive past the South Premium Outlets, you might spot work on the future Las Vegas station.
The vision remains the same: a 218-mile electric track blasting trains at speeds up to 200 mph. That cuts the drive down to a breezy 2-hour ride. Once you hit Rancho Cucamonga, you can hop on the Metrolink to get into downtown LA.
Oh, the price tag has jumped, too. Estimates have climbed from $16 billion to around $21.5 billion, which means the the company had to seek a sizeable federal loan.
So, hang in there, Vegas. The dream of skipping the Sunday traffic jam is still alive – the wheels are definitely in motion, even if they aren’t on steel just yet.