A high-speed rail line is coming to Las Vegas, set to link Southern Nevada and Southern California by train for the first time in decades.
Brightline, a privately owned and operated intercity passenger rail company, has announced plans of a high speed rail corridor between Las Vegas and Victorville California.
The company has already launched a passenger service in Florida, running between Miami and West Palm Beach.
Talks of rail service returning to the Las Vegas alley have come to a hault many times over the years, but
officials in Florida say Brightline is the real deal.
“You can work and be productive and save a ton of time piercing through traffic,” says Francis Suarez, City of Miami Mayor.
The first phase of the corridor is expected to be built along I-15, traveling 185 miles with no street crossings. Trains could reach top speeds of 120 miles per hour.
In Victorville, the city is already serviced by Amtrak, but not with a route to Las Vegas!
Locals like Monica Lockett say the Brightline tracks would be key.
“It’s good it’s necessary actually,” says Lockett. “I know people that actually work in Vegas and take uber from the high desert.”
When passengers get off the train in Victorville they can check out Historic Route 66, which runs right through town and is filled with mom and pop shops and restaurants.
“Hopefully people come by and check us out,” says Miguel Murillo, local.
Brightline says construction will start in 2018, and service to start in 2022.
Future plans include a complete route to Los Angeles.
MORE DETAILS: Brightline to Build Express Intercity Passenger Rail Connecting Southern California and Las Vegas
