California's high-speed rail officials approved the contract to begin laying tracks along the 119-mile segment under construction in the Central Valley.

Track installation is expected to begin later this year from the Southern Railhead in Kern County, which will serve as the staging and distribution hub for materials.

https://kmph.com/news/local/california-approves-contract-to-begin-installing-high-speed-rail-tracks

60 Minutes takes a look at, and sums up, the California (is there really any other state even trying?) high speed passenger railroad

A new state bill aims to shield certain information about California’s High-Speed Rail project from the public. The project is set to one day connect Los Angeles and San Francisco and, eventually, maybe, San Diego and Sacramento.

the state has already spent about $15 billion on it over the last decade and a half, while the total cost projections for the full project have ballooned from the original $45 billion estimate presented to voters in 2008 to anywhere between $88 billion-$128 billion today.

a new state bill would limit public access to certain information about the project. AB 1608 would bar the inspector general from releasing what the bill describes as “project weaknesses,” including security risks, fraud controls and pending lawsuits.

The first phase, running from Kern County to Merced, is scheduled for completion in 2033.

The California High-Speed Rail project is actively constructing a 171-mile, electrified "Initial Operating Segment" (IOS) connecting Merced, Fresno, and Bakersfield. As of early 2026, 119 miles are under construction with major progress on structures, and track laying is beginning. This segment aims to revolutionize Central Valley transit, with passenger service projected between 2030 and 2033.

https://hsr.ca.gov/project-overview/project-sections/central-valley/

Amtrak TurboTrain was designed by United Aircraft and built by Pullman-Standard, was an articulated, lightweight trainset with gas-turbine propulsion funded by the U.S. DOT as part of a program to explore the future of high-speed rail service in the 1960s

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=768717289470480&set=a.369187376090142

The projected cost of the high-speed electric train connecting Las Vegas to the Los Angeles area just went up by nearly 40%.

 Initially, that was expected to be in 2028, in time for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, but it will not be finished in time, according to recent reports.

https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/brightline-west-high-speed-train-cost-now-21-5-billion-document-reveals

a concept plan to connect 39 European cities, and the United Kingdom, Portugal and Spain. A number of high-speed trains on a high-speed rail network similar to a subway.

https://milanosegreta.co/en/starline-21st-st-europe/

Austria and Italy complete the digging of the world’s longest rail tunnel under the Brenner Pass in the Alps.

Envisioned as an important connecting vein that will one day see trains running from Helsinki, Finland, to Palermo, Sicily, it will slash commuter times across Europe.

The Benner Tunnel will reduce rail commutes between Munich and Verona by two-and-a-half hours.

The Brenner Pass Tunnel is one of a series of EU railroad projects that the bloc hopes will reshape travel and freight maps by seriously incentivizing rail travel between Italy and the surrounding countries.

The second consists of tunnels and high speed rail that will connect Genoa, one of Italy’s largest port cities, with Milano, while another running through Valle d’Aosta will reduce the transit time between fashion capitals Milan and Paris by 30%

It currently takes 7 hours to get from Milano to Paris, and the Lyon-Turin High Speed Line is estimated to reduce that down to four-and-a-half.

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/austria-and-italy-finish-digging-worlds-longest-rail-tunnel-ready-to-reshape-travel-maps/

A private rail venture, AmeriStarRail, a startup from Delaware really, so, not likely to make anything happen, has proposed a high-speed rail partnership with Amtrak to launch the "Transcontinental Chief," a route that would from LA and New York City in under 72 hours.

 

Unlike past rail startups that have required federal funding, AmeriStarRail says its model is entirely privately funded (or will be, or can be) 

"Subject to operating agreements with the host railroads (BNSF, Norfolk Southern and New Jersey Transit) the Transcontinental Chief can start operations on National Train Day, Sunday, May 10, 2026 to begin serving tourists for America 250 celebrations and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

"The Transcontinental Chief can be privately operated and funded, without new congressional legislation or additional federal spending."

because it would be on a route that is mostly double track, the company says the operation could begin as soon as May 10, 2026

ASR says in its letter to Harris that its “proprietary operating techniques will help prevent the chronic train delays and service disruptions of Amtrak’s previous inefficient operation of lengthy trains for mail and express services.”

https://www.newsweek.com/high-speed-rail-new-york-los-angeles-2093565

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/private-company-ameristarrail-proposes-cross-country-auto-train-service-with-amtrak/

https://nypost.com/2025/07/14/us-news/la-to-nyc-high-speed-train-proposed-ahead-of-fifa-world-cup/

Nothing I read said how this will be any faster than current rail, or not be delayed byt he problems that hamper the pervious ideas for fast rail... like that thing about American built engine, which there aren't any of, or the tracks we have being unable to handle the speed of a train, or the curves currently on the rails, requiring a high speed train to slow down so much that they can't accomplish a run any faster than the trains already do

And this skips Las Vegas? How does that make sense? 

Africa’s only operational HSR system — the Al Boraq line between Tangier and Kenitra — has inspired Morocco to double down on its rail ambitions with this new phase, setting itself apart as a case study in sustainable transport and regional integration.

In a move to consolidate Morocco’s position as a continental leader in infrastructure development, King Mohammed VI launched the construction of the Kenitra–Marrakech high-speed rail (HSR) line on Thursday 24th of April. The new 430-kilometer corridor will link the country’s political, economic, and tourism hubs — Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech — while significantly cutting travel times and bolstering Morocco’s long-term mobility strategy.

Once operational, the extended line will connect Tangier to Marrakech in just 2 hours and 40 minutes — a time savings of more than two hours. It will also enable rapid access from Rabat to Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport in only 35 minutes, making it a critical infrastructure link for both travelers and investors.

https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/moroccos-king-mohammed-vi-launches-africas-longest-high-speed-rail-line/4e1b85t

California High-Speed Rail Authority’s 2025 Project Update Report

 Here's the plan. 

https://railway-news.com/california-high-speed-rail-provides-2025-project-update/

California High-Speed Rail Authority officials say they “remain committed and aggressive in moving this historic project forward while actively pursuing additional funding.” However, California legislators would rather move that funding to the General Fund so they can spend it on pet projects

On the agenda this year is trainset procurement. The authority “expects to issue notice of proposed award this spring” the statement says.

Last year, the authority’s board of directors approved issuance of a Request for Proposals for a supply-maintain contract for trainsets, a driving simulator, and related services. Alstom Transportation and Siemens Mobility were pre-qualified as candidates 

The recently installed authority CEO told the board the authority is looking to connect with Brightline West through the High Desert Corridor between Palmdale and Victor Valley. 

“We are working to take the benefit of (common) standards and types of construction we will be doing."

There are currently close to 30 active construction sites. By the end of 2025, all 100 structures eliminating 55 at-grade rail crossings on the four Central Valley construction packages between Madera, Calif., and the site of the railyard south of Wasco will be well underway or complete.

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/california-high-speed-project-targets-spring-for-trainset-decision-committed-and-aggressive-on-continuing-construction/

California High-Speed Rail, a $12.4 billion project, won’t meet its 2028 Olympic deadline due to construction delays. Officials confirm operations are expected to begin in December 2028. This was reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Brightline West officials previously promoted the rail as an essential service for Olympic spectators. In May 2023, Brightline CEO Mike Reininger envisioned connecting Las Vegas and Los Angeles seamlessly. This plan included enabling fans to attend events in both cities within the same day.

However, current projections confirm the line won’t open before December 2028, months after the Olympic closing ceremony in August.

https://www.newsweek.com/high-speed-rail-brightline-west-california-nevada-olympics-2028-2021357

https://www.railway.supply/en/california-high-speed-rail-delayed-until-after-the-2028-olympics/

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/california-legislator-seeks-to-block-state-funding-for-high-speed-rail-project/

Tesla might not be doing everything right... but, respect where it's due, their cars park themselves at the factory when they roll off the factory assemblyline. That's pretty damn cool

I don't think it's clear that I'm absolutely not involved in the electric car vs internal combustion engine powered argument. 

I know just what a waste of energy, and how much pollution is added to the atmo to mine the amount of raw metals it takes to make the electric car... and how easy electric cars become useless due to the 100 year old power grid infrastructure the govt can't afford to upgrade, due to wasting money (hello 2023 Biden administration for throwing 73 billion dollars to foreign country aid instead of upgrading USA bridges, roads, high speed rail train tracks, solving the homeless issue, installing water resevoirs in California to provide water to prevent wildfires from destroying 14,000 homes in So Cal in jan 2025, feeding the poverty level kids in public schools 2 meals per school day, etc) 

But, I can certainly admire when a robo car can take itself from the factory, and efficiently park itself in synchronicity with hundreds of other cars, and await transportation for distribution. Makes me wonder... with the Tesla cars ever be allowed to DELIVER THEMSELVES to the buyer? After all, with manned charging stations? The cars would go from factory to new first buyer, without a driver, just getting charged along the way. Well, maybe robots from Boston Dynamics (those Terminator T-800 making bastards) could work the Super Charging stations... 

And I think everyone that has had a ride in a Tesla can say it's a good car. Plus, everyone that's had a ride in the underground tunnels around the Las Vegas convention center will agree, that's a damn remarkable accomplishment too.. and the rocket delivery of satellites by the Space X (another Elon Musk corporation) has done NASA's job with unbelievable cost savings to the tax payer, with superb results for Starlink, now available to T Mobile cell phone users (plus all the unknown to me phone users) in areas without cell tower reception, like the wildfire zones of So Cal. 

So, credit where it's due... Musk has accomplished as much or more than Henry Ford, or Edison, in a very different way, 100 years later. 

Now, if he could pull off a high speed rail that links San Diego to LA to San Fran to Seattle/Vancouver then to Denver to Omaha, with a line then running south to St Louis, and linking back up with the outer circle of rail at Dallas.. meanwhile, back to Omaha to Minneapolis to Milwaukee to Chicago, Indy, Columbus, Wash DC, Baltimore, Philly, NYC, Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis, link at Dallas with the North/South line, then west to El Paso then Tucson, Phoenix, and back to San Diego

So, both coasts would have a line through the biggest cities, from North to South, and across the north states from West to East, and one line in the midwest from North to South, and across the South states from West to East. 

That would get rid of the monopoly the airlines have on fast transportation, (anyone with a car can drive from California to Baltimore in 3 days, and Minneapolis to Orlando in 2) give the tourists a better way to see this country (similar to the European rail system) and possibly, if smart people realize how much power can be soaked up by solar arrays in the south west desert, the high speed rail could be powered without direct use of coal or oil burning power plants, but less expensive than nuclear power.

 If there are super smart people, they will add to the right of way given to the high speed rail, a power grid, for the trains and distribution of power from coast to coast, and even water or oil pipelines. 

It's potentially, as problem solving as the steam locomotive railway infrastructure was to pioneers who settled the west, installed power, telegraph and telephone, then finally got a power grid in the 1930s through the farming states, and the military was able to move vast amounts of materials and soldiers during WW2. 

Just a thought

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/30/is-the-us-sending-50m-in-condoms-to-gaza-as-trump-claims

California $100 billion boondoggle project for high speed trains, produced very little, and has little to nothing to show for that fortune blown on the project, except this bridge that does nothing, and took 7 years to build

here is the “Fresno River Viaduct,” high speed railway bridge after 3 years and 11 billion dollars

https://nypost.com/2024/05/04/us-news/california-mocked-over-high-speed-rail-bridge-to-nowhere-that-took-9-years-to-build/

France's TGV set a speed record yesterday of 357.2mph on a new high-speed track between Strasbourg and Paris (thanks George!)

the absolute world record of 361mph was set in 2003 by the Japanese with their Maglev train.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/apr/04/france.travel#:~:text=France's%20TGV%20set%20a%20speed,or%20train%20%C3%A0%20grande%20vitesse

The California High-Speed Rail is looking to obtain six trainsets that are capable of operating at speeds of 220 mph and tested at speeds as high as 242 mph.

The manufacturer who is chosen to receive the High-Speed Rail contract will be be responsible for designing, building, integrating and commissioning the trainsets, as well as maintaining them and their spare parts for 30 years. The manufacturer will also be responsible for testing and maintaining a driving simulator.

The California High-Speed Rail is tentatively planned to open in 2030, operating in the large middle section of the Central Valley which and connecting Merced to Bakersfield along a 171-mile track.

Construction on the project officially began in Fresno in 2015 after decades of discussion and voter approval for initial funding in 2008.

The Authority said it hopes to have service going by 2030, but transportation advocates and supporters of the project have urged the governing body to accelerate that timeline, possibly having the entire track from the Bay Area to Los Angeles up and running by 2028.

Despite clamoring from advocates and overall enthusiasm for the project, the Authority stresses that there’s simply not enough funding to get the project completed any sooner.

Construction is currently underway along 119 miles of the proposed 171-mile track across the Central Valley. There are more than 30 active construction sites in the state, and the 422 miles of the program’s design has received environmental clearance.

https://ktla.com/news/california/california-takes-first-step-in-acquiring-trains-for-high-speed-rail

how the high speed rail is going to ever recoup any of the costs of operation, regardless of construction costs, in Merced to Bakershield? Along highway 99, not even interstate 5. Asking because IF there was a need for more cargo or commuter traffic, then 99 would have been expanded. 

So, is this limited area chosen because it's simply the least problematic, based on being the least populated, in the bigger project goal of LA to San Fran, the most populated cities in California, and on the West Coast

I just learned there is a high speed rail project from Washington DC to Boston... but they haven't replaced the old freight tracks yet, and high speed trains aren't going to work well at high speed on crappy old tracks, and for 2 billion dollars, they saved one hour travel time

Amtrak’s $2 billion effort to replace its fleet of Acela express trains on the Washington-to-Boston corridor has hit a foreseeable snag: The new trains have to run on an old railroad.

Boston New Haven New York Philadelphia Wilmington Washington is the route

The new trains are capable of traveling up to 160 miles an hour. But unlike their factual high speed rail European and Asian trains, they must cope with century-old infrastructure, bridges, tunnels, and roadbeds with numerous curves.

“Alstom, the builder of the Acela trainsets has confirmed the delays are due to difficulties in replicating certain movements of the trainsets and requires further refinement to receive the FRA’s (Federal Railroad Administration) approval to conduct qualification testing on the Northeast Corridor, which is necessary to achieve compliance to launch revenue service,” Amtrak stated.

Amtrak cannot operate them for passenger service until Alstom has completed testing and met all safety requirements.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/05/25/aderrien-murry-mississippi-police-shooting-911

https://www.amtrak.com/acela-train

https://www.brian-coffee-spot.com/2022/01/10/brians-travel-spot-first-time-on-amtraks-acela-service

https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/amtrak-acela-schedule-change-ct-may-2023-18087998.php

https://delawarebusinessnow.com/2023/05/new-amtrak-acela-train-service-delayed-until-2024

In a 5-3 decision, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that Texas Central — the Dallas company planning to build the railway — has eminent domain authority to seize land $30 billion bullet train project

The $30 billion train has been in the works for years. If built, it would travel at a speed of up to 200 miles per hour and enable passengers on an elevated, 672-foot-long high-speed train, to commute  hundreds of miles and over thousands of privately owned parcels between Dallas and Houston in about 90 minutes, according to Texas Central.

The company argues the project will benefit Texas by taking cars off roads, creating thousands of jobs and generating billions of dollars in economic impact.

Many Texas land owners whose properties sit in the proposed path of the train oppose the project. James Miles of Leon County sued Texas Central in 2019 challenging whether the company has the authority to use eminent domain to take property for the project.

https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas-supreme-court-30-billion-bullet-train-project-seize-land-eminent-doman/287-9eaf16ea-b9a9-45b8-912f-7e8ceee5a74f

Brightline has announced plans to finally expand and connect Orlando to Tampa via high-speed rail

The president of Brightline Trains met with transportation leaders in Orlando on Wednesday to discuss the company’s expansion project through Central Florida

The $2.4 billion project extends the company’s current rail line from West Palm Beach to Orlando. Currently, the line runs from Miami to West Palm Beach.

Last week, Brightline and Walt Disney World Resort announced an agreement to build a train station at Disney Springs.

Brightline expansion as it pertains to Disney World Guests really is allowing vacationers the opportunity to explore so much more that Florida has to offer without the stress of having to navigate to travel to those locations.

The Miami to Orlando International Airport service should launch by late next year, while the Orlando-Tampa route is expected to break ground in 2022, with an opening date of 2025.

https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2020/11/05/brightline-plans-to-create-high-speed-passenger-rail-lines-connecting-orlando-to-miami-heres-how

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2020/12/02/brightline-trains-president-provides-update-on-central-florida-expansion/

https://insidethemagic.net/2020/12/disney-springs-brightline-train-ad1/

Virgin Trains’ Las Vegas to LA line on track for 2023 opening (thanks Steve!)

The Las Vegas to Victorville line would be the first step toward linking Las Vegas to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles.

The timeline is contingent on Nevada approving tax-exempt, private activity bonds to go toward the project next month.

Before going in front of the Nevada Department of Business and Industry on Nov. 11, Virgin Trains is seeking the backing of the Clark County Commission, which will vote on a resolution of support for the project at its Nov. 5 meeting.

Bob O’Malley, Virgin Trains’ vice president of corporate development, told the Clark County Commission on Tuesday that the Las Vegas to Victorville, California, rail line is on track to break ground in the middle of next year, with operations slated to begin toward the end of 2023.

Finding a location within easy access to the resort corridor, Allegiant Stadium — which will have a parking lot with shuttle service to the stadium in the vicinity — McCarran International Airport and Interstate 15 made the site ideal for Virgin Trains, O’Malley said.


Virgin is seeking $800 million in bonds to issue $2.4 billion in debt, or half the amount the company needs to finance the trains and the 185 miles of dual tracks along Interstate 15. The amount includes $600 million in bonds from California and $200 million from Nevada.

The Nevada Department of Business and Industry will consider two $100 million requests from Virgin next month, with the first $100 million expected to be decided on at that time.

California last month approved $300 million in tax-exempt, private activity bonds to help finance the proposed Virgin Trains project.

California will consider another $300 million and Nevada an additional $100 million request next year. Obtaining the total bond amount sought between the two states would allow Virgin Trains to be eligible for federal grant funding, amounting to a 4-to-1 match.

O’Malley said the much-hyped Las Vegas to Southern California line will generate $1.98 billion in economic impact, create more than 1,000 construction jobs, transport 5.5 million visitors to Las Vegas annually and remove 4.5 million cars from I-15 annually.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/tourism/virgin-trains-las-vegas-to-la-line-on-track-for-2023-opening-1871032/

Did you hear that there had been a plan to get a high speed train from LA to Las Vegas? Well, there is also one to make a high speed train go from Las Vegas to Victorville - if the state of Nevada will go along with some tax cuts for the work and infrastructure

but they had meetings about it a couple months ago, and Nevada said hell no.

So, the project simply stays an idea until the company that is planning to privately fund it returns to the state capitol when a new group of politicians gets elected.

Seems no elected official is in a real hurry for high speed rail. California simply can't afford it. Nevada won't give a tax abatement for it.

The real issue is that California also won't widen interstate 15 from Victorville to the Nevada border. It's 185 miles, if I read correctly, and that's probably a billion dollars if they do it this year, double that every other year to keep up with inflation and higher fuel costs for all the construction equipment

https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/news-columns/road-warrior/lack-of-nevada-tax-breaks-for-high-speed-rail-line-hurts-project-1677964/