Brightline West high-speed rail: What to know about Vegas-to-LA project
Brightline West will link Las Vegas to Southern California with trains reaching speeds up to 200 mph. The 218-mile route will run along the I-15 corridor, with stops in Apple Valley, Hesperia, and Rancho Cucamonga.
- Brightline West is conducting field work in Southern California for its high-speed rail project connecting Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga.
- The 218-mile, all-electric rail system is expected to reach speeds of up to 200 miles per hour.
- Construction and field testing are underway in both Las Vegas and along the Interstate 15 corridor in California.
- The projected start date for passenger service has been updated to late 2029.
Brightline West will perform field investigation work on the Southern California side of the Las Vegas, Nevada to Rancho Cucamonga high-speed rail project.
Work will be performed this week along the Interstate 15 right-of-way for the 218-mile project that also includes stops in Apple Valley and Hesperia.
Field investigation work includes geotechnical borings and samplings, utility potholing, and land surveying at the following locations:
- Hesperia: Near North Main Street to Oak Hill Road on I-15, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. from Feb. 23 to 27.
- Devore: The southbound interior shoulder of I-15 between the SR-138 interchange in the Cajon Pass and the SR-215 interchange in Devore. Southbound lane No. 1 will be closed between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. on Feb. 26 and 27.
Work will take place primarily during daytime hours, with some work at night to minimize disruption to traffic. In some instances, short-term closures of freeway shoulders will be required.
Motorists should proceed with extra caution through work zones and adhere to posted detour signs, speed limits, and other signage.
Brightline West boasts the first true high-speed passenger rail system in the nation.
The all-electric rail service promised to reach speeds up to 200 miles per hour, with trains taking passengers from Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga in about two hours, twice as fast as the normal drive time.
Groundbreaking, field work, construction
Field testing along the high-speed rail route began soon after Brightline West hosted a groundbreaking for its high-speed passenger rail system in Las Vegas in April 2024.
In October 2025, Brightline West told the Daily Press that construction was expected to begin “early next year” on the Southern California side of its high-speed rail project.
During that time, Brightline West stated that crews would soon begin infrastructure improvements along Las Vegas Boulevard between Eldorado Lane and Robindale Road.
The work east of the project includes removing the existing center median, installing a box culvert, and realigning a sewer line to support future station and roadway enhancements.
In February 2026, Town of Apple Valley Councilman Art Bishop, who has been involved with the project, showed the Daily Press video and photos of the construction of the Brightline West passenger station in Las Vegas.
Brightline West’s initial projected passenger start date was 2027, but it is now expected to begin in late 2029, Bloomberg reported.
Brightline is currently operating its first passenger rail system connecting Central and South Florida with stations in Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, and Orlando.
For more information, visit brightlinewest.com.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
