OpEd: How High-Speed Rail Could Reach LA by 2039...Without Waiting for the Mountains - Streetsblog California

"Under current plans, high-speed trains are expected to reach San Francisco by 2039 while stopping short in Southern California, leaving Palmdale as the southern terminus for an indefinite period. That outcome would force passengers onto a timed Metrolink transfer-at best hourly service with long dwell times-undermining convenience and competitiveness while putting the fate of the Los Angeles terminal connection at the mercy of future funding."

"There is, however, a credible interim solution that would reduce cost, derisk delivery, and deliver one-seat San Francisco-Los Angeles service years earlier: electrify and share the Antelope Valley Line. This approach mirrors California High-Speed Rail's own plan north of Gilroy, where trains will use Caltrain's electrified corridor at speeds up to 110 mph. Applying the same operational logic between Palmdale and Los Angeles would allow high-speed trains to reach LA Union Station using existing right-of-way, while simultaneously modernizing Metrolink service."

"It is fully owned by LA Metro rather than a freight railroad, simplifying electrification and capacity improvements. While Union Pacific operates limited freight service, clearance concerns around catenary are well understood and solvable; comparable corridors across the world carry double-stack traffic under wire. Mixed operations are also not an anomaly in high-speed rail. TGV services share legacy alignments in France, Eurostar and ICE routinely operate on multi-use corridors near urban terminals, and Japan's network includes a shared segment between high-speed and conventional services."

Current plans expect high-speed trains to reach San Francisco by 2039 while stopping short in Southern California, leaving Palmdale as the southern terminus indefinitely. That outcome forces passengers onto hourly Metrolink transfers with long dwell times, undermining convenience and leaving the Los Angeles connection dependent on future funding. Electrifying and sharing the Antelope Valley Line would enable one-seat San Francisco–Los Angeles service years earlier while modernizing Metrolink. LA Metro ownership of the Antelope Valley Line simplifies electrification and capacity upgrades; limited freight and catenary clearance issues are solvable. International examples show mixed high-speed and conventional operations can work with moderated speeds and disciplined dispatching.

Read at Streetsblog