Brightline to begin construction this year on Las Vegas-California line

As Brightline/Virgin Trains USA makes weekly announcements about road closures while building its link between Orlando and South Florida, could it also break ground this year on its new Las Vegas-to-Southern California passenger rail line?

In a simple sentence in a news release about “carbon neutral” in February, Brightline noted it would begin construction this year on the Las Vegas-California line. The company wouldn’t get specific about a date.

The Fortress Investment unit, soon to be known as Virgin Trains, told west coast authorities it plans to begin service on the 170-mile line from Las Vegas to Victorville, Calif., near Los Angeles, in 2023. That’s just a year after its original company in Florida is scheduled to reach Orlando.

California’s “IBank” -- a government body -- in October approved $3.25 billion in bonds, the largest bond request in its history, for Desert Xpress Enterprises, the name for the California project entity. The private activity bonds, the kind of financing vehicle the rail company used in Florida, would enable the more than 130 miles of the project that runs through California. The bank said the project will create 15,750 construction jobs and employ more than 400 once operational.

Back in Florida, the passenger rail company topped 1 million riders for 2019. It’s adding stations in southeast Florida while continuing the $4 billion project to add service to Orlando.