SoCal–to–Las Vegas High-Speed train cost now expected to exceed $21 Billion

CALIFORNIA — The estimated cost for the Brightline West high-speed rail line connecting Southern California and Las Vegas has climbed to more than $21 billion, according to a recent federal loan application.

Brightline West applied for a $6 billion federal loan on September 26 through the Build America Bureau. The application lists the project’s cost at $21.05 billion.

The 218-mile project, initially estimated at $12 billion, will connect Rancho Cucamonga to Las Vegas, with stops in Apple Valley and Hesperia along the route.

Brightline West says the higher estimate reflects updated construction costs and supply chain challenges.

The company has already secured a $3 billion federal grant and plans to finance the remainder through loans and private investment.

When completed, Brightline West is expected to carry passengers from Southern California to Las Vegas in about two hours, cutting travel time in half compared to driving.

Construction work is underway along the I-15 corridor, with completion targeted for 2028.

Cost parallels with California’s High-Speed Rail

Brightline West’s cost jump mirrors the growing price tag of California’s High-Speed Rail project, which plans to connect San Francisco and Los Angeles.

That project, approved by voters in 2008 at an estimated $33 billion, is now projected to cost up to $128 billion.

While California’s publicly funded rail line has struggled with delays and funding shortfalls, Brightline’s project is privately led, relying on public-private partnerships rather than direct taxpayer funding.

Duffy previously praised Brightline West for being ‘on budget’

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy praised Brightline West for being “on budget, on time” and effectively connecting major cities.

He contrasted it with California’s high-speed rail, which he criticized as “massively over-budget and delayed,” calling for greater oversight and accountability.

The department revoked $4 billion in federal funding previously allocated to the project, arguing that the state failed to make sufficient progress and mismanaged federal resources.