Nations first high speed railway? Yeah right. Brightline West’s rail system will span 218 miles and reach speeds of 200 mph. The route, which has full environmental clearance, will run within the median of the I-15 highway with zero grade crossings. The system will have stops in Las Vegas, Nev., as well as Victor Valley, Hesperia and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
First issue is union labor will build this. Second is environmental clearance. They may be fine until they reach the California border. California has been working on their own high speed railroad. Remember that one?
15 years and a 100 billion dollars short. So why will this be any different? Granted so far it’s mostly private money, but that can change real fast. The idea started in 1979. Passed in 2008, and what was to cost about 30 billion for the whole railroad is now projected to cost 100 billion for only one 115 mile stretch.
