LAS VEGAS – Plans are underway to construct a high-speed bullet train that will connect Southern California to Las Vegas. Brightline West has announced a landmark agreement with multiple craft rail unions, allowing for the use of highly skilled union labor in critical jobs required to operate and maintain the historic project. The company has also signed a memorandum with the High Speed Rail Labor Coalition, which represents 13 rail unions representing more than 160,000 freight, regional, commuter and passenger railroad workers.

The Brightline West is a 218-mile system that will connect Las Vegas and Southern California, with trains capable of speeds of 200 miles per hour. The system includes stations near the Las Vegas Strip, and in Rancho Cucamonga, Apple Valley, and Hesperia, California. Plans show that the terminal in Las Vegas will be located on Las Vegas Boulevard between Warm Springs Road and Blue Diamond Road, providing easy access to the Strip, Harry Reid International Airport, and Allegiant Stadium.

The $10 billion investment will create nearly 35,000 jobs during construction, and the system is expected to create over 1,000 permanent jobs once operational. Brightline West is confident that the project will help boost tourism in the region, as it has been a long-awaited dream for many. “It’s a tourism dream that we’ve been looking forward to for so many years. We couldn’t afford property on the Strip and I figured maybe if I live long enough, the Strip will come to us and it is,” said Lorraine Hunt-Bono, who owns the Bootlegger Italian Bistro, a restaurant across from the planned terminal location.

The Brightline West high-speed bullet train project is expected to be a game-changer for the region, allowing for faster travel between Southern California and Las Vegas. The establishment of the agreement with the rail unions is a significant milestone in the construction of the project, as it will ensure that the project is constructed using highly skilled union labor. The project is expected to create jobs, boost tourism, and improve transportation infrastructure in the region.

Credits: KTNV

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