High-speed train from California to Las Vegas tries to slow rising costs

"But the planned terminal is not in Los Angeles, where you might expect, but 40 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. This is where Brightline West plans to build a terminal to handle millions of travelers a year. The company broke ground last year on what would be the first true high-speed rail line in the U.S., with trains that can make the 218-mile trip to Las Vegas in just over two hours."

"But high-speed rail is expensive. So Brightline West has had to make some big compromises to keep costs down for example, putting the terminal in Rancho Cucamonga instead of downtown L.A., and running track through the median of an interstate, to save on land acquisition costs. Still, the project is expected to cost at least $12 billion dollars, and likely more. The company has raised about $6.5 billion so far in private financing and federal grants, but it's warning investors that construction costs are rising."

Brightline West aims to connect Las Vegas and Southern California with a 218-mile high-speed rail line that can make the trip in just over two hours. The planned terminal sits in Rancho Cucamonga, about 40 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, to reduce land costs. The company made compromises such as placing the terminal outside downtown and running track in an interstate median to lower acquisition expenses. Projected costs exceed $12 billion, with about $6.5 billion raised in private financing and federal grants to date. Rising construction costs, underperforming existing Florida service, deferred interest payments, and bond downgrades raise doubts about successful delivery.

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