XpressWest, a subsidiary of Virgin Trains USA, has announced that construction work on a high-speed rail link between Las Vegas to Southern California will begin this year.
When trains start running in the second half of 2023, the 274km journey will take 85 minutes. In a press release on its website, XpressWest says taking the privately financed rail option will be twice as quick as driving, and a station will be located on the I-15, the only direct route to Las Vegas by car.
The company adds that the price of a ticket will be comparable with the cost of gas and parking.
Fiona Ma, California’s state treasurer, said: "This will transform transportation in Southern California and Las Vegas for generations by providing a fast and efficient connection that gets people out of their cars, reduces traffic congestion and decreases air pollution."
A possible extension for the line could be approved in the future in southern California, linking the line with communities in Palmdale and Rancho Cucamonga.
Image: The Las Vegas strip (David Watts Jr/Dreamstime)
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