The California state will spend $10 billion to build a new high-speed train that will take passengers from Los Angeles to Las Vegas within two hours. The 218-mile (350 km) rail system built by the Brightline company will use a bullet train that can carry 1,200 passengers and reaches speeds of up to 200 miles (320 km) per hour.
Brightline plans to start construction this year, so services can operate in 2026. Brightline, the only private rail company in the US, claims that their high-speed train will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 400,000 tons, as the bullet train is powered by electricity. It is estimated that the train will depart every 45 minutes from downtown Los Angeles to a station located in the Las Vegas strip.
"About 50 million one-way trips are made annually between these two destinations, with 85 percent of them using cars or buses," Brightline said in a statement. "At the time of full operation, we look forward to attracting about 12 million one-way trips each year."
The bullet train will provide several facilities, including free WiFi on top of carriages, wide food and beverage selection, baggage checking and hotel check-in services. Brightline, which plans to start building its system along the I-15 highway, said it protects land and private residents who are usually disrupted by new constructions.
Brightline is already operating a fast train system in Florida connecting Miami and Palm Beach. California is developing its own fast train system that will stretch from Anaheim to San Francisco, but costs about $100 billion to build.
However, the Brightline system will be connected to the state's system, although it has experienced some delays so many officials and engineers have lost hope. California Governor Gavin Newsom revealed a $100 billion project in 2019, starting with a 171-mile segment through the state's Middle Valley.
The proposed cost at the time was 22.8 billion US dollars (Rp353.4 trillion). Currently, the project has increased to 500 miles of track, which will cost $100 billion.
Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) said this month: "The latest estimate suggests that this high-speed train will cost US$206.4 million (Rp3.1 trillion) per mile. Is it made of gold? We already know that this whole project is a total failure since 15 years ago.
"California is looking at a budget deficit and we have more pressing issues that require our attention such as overcoming crime, cutting costs, cracking down on the homeless, and investing in students," the senator said.
The promise that was denied in this project destroyed banks for Californians. It's time to put the brakes on the hot express train and thwart the High Speed Rail," he added.
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