LAS VEGAS — Brightline West, the planned high speed rail line between Las Vegas and Southern California, has announced an agreement with a coalition of 13 rail unions for the project to use union labor.
In another development, a news report says a group of California agencies have agreed to build wildlife overcrossings to span Interstate 15 and the planned Brightline West route across the desert.
Tuesday’s announcement of a memorandum of understanding between Brightline West and the High-Speed Rail Labor Coalition was heralded by the two parties as a demonstration of union labor’s support for the development of the project, and Brightline West’s commitment to provide the safest possible operations and high-quality working conditions.
“Our nation’s first high-speed rail system will be operated and maintained by union labor, a statement of the strength of the American workforce,” said Brightline Holdings CEO Mike Reiniger. Greg Regan, president of the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, said, “As the nation’s largest transportation labor union federation, we are proud to support monumental projects like Brightline West, which will deliver a modern, efficient, and green transit system while putting skilled union members to work.”
Labor coalition members include the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division; Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen; International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Mechanical and Engineering Department; National Conference of Firemen and Oilers 32BJ/SEIU; Transportation Communications Union, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; Brotherhood of Railway Carmen; International Brotherhood of Boilermakers; Transport Workers Union of America; American Train Dispatchers Association; International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Department;Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen; and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Meanwhile, the Victorville Daily Press reports that agencies including the California Department of Transportation and the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife will build three dedicated overcrossings to provide a path for wildlife, especially desert bighorn sheep, to pass over the existing highway lanes and future rail route.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife has identified three locations in San Bernardino County to build those overpasses. The Brightline West project will also maintain or improve more than 600 existing culverts or other crossings under I-15, and will restore or install desert tortoise fencing and other fencing to direct wildlife. The project will seek federal funding to go along with Caltrans, Fish and Wildlife, and Brightline West funds.
The Brightline West project at one time aimed to begin construction in late 2020 [see “Las Vegas high speed project …,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 26, 2020]; a website with details on its construction plans that was launched that year is no longer active. Planning work for the project does continue, with recent developments including a partnership agreement on an extension from Victorville to Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. [see “Brightline West announces partners …,” News Wire, Oct. 22, 2022]. Environmental review of that extension is progress, with a projected completion date of March 31.
Brightline West has purchased land for a new Las Vegas passenger station at the junction of I-15 and the formerly named McCarran Airport, since re-named Harry Reid International Airport. About 120 miles of new right-of-way tracks would, if built, complete a pathway for a new passenger train connecting Las Vegas & Phoenix. Which utilizes existing PHX-Parker rail tracks, +new 40 miles via Lake Havasu City to Topock, +existing 12m BNSF to Needles, +new 80 miles to Boulder City, NV. Then existing tracks to LV. And: hopefully be able to have access to the same new Brightline West passenger train station, whether the LV-PHX line is operated by Brightline West, Amtrak, or some other entity.
After reading Mr Rice’s comments, this is great news and a truly historic moment for passenger rail in America. The electrifcation of Brightline West will be the first major expansion of electric power outside of the Northeast Corridor. While there is electrified commuter lines in the Chicago area as well as the ongoing electtification in Calirornia of the San Francisco- San Jose commuter line, this is first major electrification of a line covering a few states. This is the start of putting the United States on a par with the great electric rail lines that serve and cover Europe. And of course Europe, China Japan and other parts of Asia are miles and years ahead of us when it comes to electric rail lines and high speed dependable and comfortable train service. Hats off and cheers to the Brightline rail company for working to bring passenger rail travel back to relevance and recognition in this country whose present passenger rail network has somehow gone off the track {pun intended} and who now could learn some lessons from how Brightline operates their trains and their great operating plan and future. As the name says Brightline= a bright light and hope and future for American passenger rail and trains
Joseph C. Markfelder
To all who are asking. Brightline West will be using an electric system for motive power with catenary strung across the route.
If you review Brightline’s EIS and submission to the FRA, the electric service is laid out in detail.
As the caption says- an artist’s conception and just that only Brightline West is still in the planning stages and will undergo many changes and design makeovers. In any building project, there are many changes, proposals and discussions before a final design and plan is adopted. Whether the Brightline West route will be electric or some form of diesel/ electric power is still up in the air and being discussed. I would think that in the beginning the line will have trainsets similiar to or copies of the trainsets being delivered and planned operation for the Florida line. Electrification is an expensive proposition and before such a plan can be adopted , the line has to have a healthy and profitable return on its investment and enough ridership to justify electrification and it can any number of years for that to actually happen. For now, diesel/ electric power is a safe bet until results are favorable with growth and steady dependable ridership and a healthy profit that pays for the line and train.
Joseph C. Markfelder
Proposed connection to CalHSR, per the map. Is there a finalized environmental document for this CalHSR segment? Has CalHSR finalized its route to Los Angeles? Or is its route to Los Angeles just a concept. Finalized route is necessary to purchase R/R and to inform utilities to start planning relocations.
All the environmental clearances (which require fixing a route) are complete as far south as Palmdale, where Brightline hopes to connect with the statewide system. Their route from Victorville over Cajon Pass, connecting to the Metrolink line from Rancho Cucamonga to LA Union Station is of far more consequence to Brightline than a Palmdale connection, of course.
The “artist’s conception” of the Brightline West train appears to show a non-overhead electric powered locomotive, similar to, or the same as Brightline Florida’s power source. Can anyone confirm? If Brightline West is actually planning to use overhead electric for power, shouldn’t their “artist’s conception” photo show that? Or: are they maybe planning on battery power? Or perhaps: certain route portions using overhead electric, and other portions battery or diesel powered?