Posted on 04/30/2023 11:40:52 AM PDT by DFG
A high-speed bullet train connecting LA to Sin City is currently in the works - thanks to a billionaire private equity investor and some prospective federal funding.
Billed as Brightline West, the planned desert route is the brain child of Wes Edens - a part owner of both the Bucks and Aston Villa FC - and will cost at least $12 billion to create.
Its part of his vision to create high-speed lines between some of America's least traversable - and most traveled - paths, with the 270-mile stretch between the starcrossed cities a prime candidate for the gargantuan undertaking.
Edens, who is worth $3.7 billion, estimates the project will cost $12 billion to complete by 2028. It will be carried out by his corporate partner, Brightline - the only private passenger rail firm in the US.
The company this summer is set to unveil another project with Edens - an anticipated rail that connects the Florida metropolises of Orlando to Miami, at a cost of roughly $6b, $100m of which came out of the 61-year-old's own pocket.
However, unlike Wes' latest venture, the Florida train utilizes preexisting tracks - and runs on diesel that grants it a top speed of just 125 mph. The new line, however, will run on renewable power, Edens says - similiar to systems seen in Japan and China.
Not yet seen in the US, the technology will grant the train the ability to traverse the notorious Nevada desert in just two hours - as opposed to the usual four or five. Travelers will make the journey at speeds of roughly 200 mph, Edens says, along routes that follow highways rather than more costly viaducts.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Should be easy as frankly there are almost no municipalities in the way.
It will be necessary for election times in Nevada.
90 minutes from New York to Paris
Well by ‘76, we’ll be A-OK!
Brightline already has rail from Miami to Orlando.
I suspect, that Dallas to Houston will be next.
Hope they’re building a water pipeline too cuz without abundant, potable water, Vegas will be a ghost town.
For less than 12 billion they could build a new regional airport on each end in half the time.
Is this the “fabled” billion dollar LA-LV bullet train that the California gov’t has wasted millions on? Or is it a private investor doing it in competition with the Calif gov’t boondoggle?
Zero sum destinations if there ever were.
Yes, but it will take people in the LA Basin at least two hours to drive to the train’s western terminus.
What a glorious time to be free.
This is literally the only route in the entire USA where high-speed rail could work - but the economics still don't make sense.
It’s 275 miles it’s a 3.6 hour drive. Fast enough
“It’s 275 miles it’s a 3.6 hour drive. Fast enough”
...except on weekend rush hours.
Don’t you remember that Obama promised the money for this train to Harry Reid in his big give away after the 2008 crash? I remember it because our local news paper kept a comment board running while the negotiations went on into the night. I remember making fun of the promise and posting an altered version of the words to People Get Ready (there’s a train a coming). Of course like most of Obama’s promises, it never came to fruition.
“This is literally the only route in the entire USA where high-speed rail could work - but the economics still don’t make sense.”
Agree, given interest rates today, it will take a boatload of passengers just to cover that expense...and then you have principal and operating expenses.
The thing is with flying, there is all that extra time dealing with baggage: checking it in, waiting for it in baggage claim, etc.
Then of course for the most part, airports are located far from city centers.
With a train, you grab your luggage, walk a few minutes to a taxi, a short ride, and you’re at your hotel. So in the end, it pretty much evens out, plus a train ride is much less stressful.
One wouldn’t want to be aboard such a thing when a wheel bearing goes out.
Will make it easier either direction to lose your money and get the clap.
Trains can carry a lot more people - cheaper.
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