LAS VEGAS — Brightline West no longer expects to launch operations in time to capitalize on visitors to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, according to a company bond offering.
KTNV-TV reports that the 1,200 pages of documents related to that bond offering indicate that passenger service is now likely to begin in December 2028.
The bond offering is aiming to raise about $2.5 billion through the bond offering for the estimated $12.4 billion project. The company and Federal Railroad Administration have already signed off on a $3 billion federal grant [see “FRA finalizes …,” Trains News Wire, Sept. 26, 2024].
While the company has yet to finalize its ticketing strategy, the documents project the average one-way fare will be $119, or $133 for a premium ticket.
I knew they weren’t going to make the 2028 Olympics for launch, that should have been a given. As for how construction will proceed, just go back and look at how they built Brightline in Florida, it’s going to be the same…multiple crews working at different stages on different parts of the line, which is the most expeditious method possible. Also, starting at both ends and working towards the middle, but it would even be faster if you started and both ends and both middle points at the same time and worked towards each other that way…so 4 directions at once.
This will be boondoggle too! There isn’t enough experienced firms to spread between two projects, plus the remote location where it starts & let’s not forget the possible clawback of the taxpayer part of the project which would instantly sink it!
A big unknown for construction is will there be enough non documented workers left to keep construction on schedule. Need more H2N workers.
What a contrast to California’s high-speed project. That boondoggle may finally have some actual track laid in the Valley by 2928. Whoopie!!
If the December timeline is accurate, I would think on such a long linier project more crews could be working at one time to finish the project earlier. Bonuses to contractors for meeting time limits? 218 miles equal 22 ten mile work zones, not separate contracts just crew resposibility areas. Priority for bridges, underpasses, elevated sections and stations.
Your priority list is correct. It only tasks one of those items to put the whole project trying to wade through molasses to reach the finish line.
This assumes they can find a sufficient number of contractors with availability in their schedule and bonding capacity to take on the work. Not to mention suppliers and fabricators. For much of the country this is an issue, I suspect California is not much different.
Peter is correct. Plus, as pointed out by others, CA is not known for making it easy for anyone to navigate the government required paperwork. It would be a major achievement for Brightline if it was completed before the end of 2030.
I don’t think they have all their permits in order just yet. As the victims of the LA Fires have found, no permit, no work.
I can’t say I’m surprised they’re not going to make the Olympics; while they’ve announced groundbreaking and conducted geotechnical borings, I haven’t heard anything about heavy construction starting (other than “later this year”). Hopefully they are able to get started soon.
I wonder when the project will really get completed and how much more it will cost .