Last year, construction finally began on the high-speed rail line that’ll connect L.A. (or rather Rancho Cucamonga) and Las Vegas. And though it’s still aiming to open in 2028, it might be a little later than you were hoping—specifically, after the L.A. Olympics have already passed.
That information comes from a new bond document that was issued earlier this month. According to the memorandum, “passenger service availability date is currently expected to occur in December 2028.”
The report also goes into detail about potential ticket prices, though it floats a few potential numbers: One section estimates that a standard one-way ticket will cost just over $100 in 2029, with a first class ticket averaging over $175; another section forecasts a $119 standard fare in 2031, and $133 for the premium cabin. In other words: Don’t necessarily expect these to be the finalized prices.
Regardless of the exact numbers (which, again, have yet to be officially announced) that ranges seems to be more than the estimate on Brightline’s website that it “can be expected to be priced on par with the cost of gas and parking”—but less than the $400 round-trip quote that the company’s CEO once told the L.A. Times. Regardless, plenty of folks online have been grumbling about the potential pricing; after all, Brightline’s 235-mile, three-and-a-half-hour route between Orlando and Miami starts at only $29. But Brightline West will run at considerably higher speeds, up to 200mph—enough to complete the 218-mile trip between Rancho Cucamonga and Las Vegas in only two hours.
Given how awful the drive between the two cities usually is, the excitement behind the project should come as no surprise—and the mere thought of being able to hop on a train to embark on the journey personally fills us with excitement.
The project, which was awarded $3 billion in funding from former President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, will otherwise be privately funded. Upon completion, it will offer stops in Vegas, Victor Valley, Hesperia (on select trains) and Rancho Cucamonga; it will connect the latter to Vegas in abut two hours, which is nearly half the time it would take you to make the drive. And although it technically doesn’t reach Los Angeles, it will allow riders to transfer to Metrolink from Rancho Cucamonga (about an hour-and-20-minute ride).