Construction began Monday on the $12 billion Brightline West high-speed passenger rail line between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area, the company announced in a press release. Brightline CEO Mike Reininger said the goal is to open to passengers by 2028, when Los Angeles is set to host the Summer Olympics.  Crowds of supporters and dozens of elected officials, including U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, attended the groundbreaking in Las Vegas of the privately led effort, which is one of the largest infrastructure projects in the nation.  

With speeds of 200 miles per hour and no grade crossings, the 218-mile rail link between Rancho Cucamonga, California, and Sin City would cut travel times in half compared to driving, to about two hours, via fully electric trains. That speed will surpass Amtrak’s Acela in the northeastern U.S., currently the country’s fastest train, which can run up to 150 miles per hour.  Read the Full Article Here.