Shocking news from the high-speed rail industry, as Brightline announced its purchase of XpressWest, which is underway with plans to link Las Vegas to Victorville, California and eventually to Los Angeles.
"XpressWest, the high-speed rail proposal to link Las Vegas with Los Angeles via Victorville, California, has been acquired by a company that provides rail service in Florida," reports Richard N. Velotta.
"Brightline, a privately owned and operated intercity passenger rail system serving Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, on Tuesday announced plans to take over the rights to XpressWest’s 185-mile federally approved rail corridor along Interstate 15," adds Velotta.
A press release from Brightline reveals additional details of the project, such as Brightline's intention to "acquire 38 acres of land adjacent to the Las Vegas strip for the construction of a station and mixed-use development."
If completed, the current plan for the XpressWest high-speed rail line would build "a dual-track line free of grade crossings would be built between Las Vegas and Victorville," according to Velotta. "Eventually, the plan envisioned a 60-mile link west between Victorville and Palmdale, California, where the line would meet with Southern California’s Metrolink commuter rail lines and the California High Speed Rail line that is under construction."
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