Brightline, a privately-owned passenger rail company, revealed Tuesday its plans to build an express intercity passenger rail system that will connect more than 22 million people living in Southern California and Las Vegas.
The company announced the project would be possible through the acquisition of XpressWest, a high-speed rail project which has rights to develop a federally approved corridor connecting the two states.
Travelers make more than 50 million annual trips between Las Vegas and Southern California but are currently making the journey by air or car.
The new high-speed rail will offer a more efficient and effective form of transport to them.
"Brightline is changing transportation in our country by connecting heavily trafficked corridors that are too long to drive and too short to fly," Wes Edens, co-founder and co-chief executive officer of Fortress Investment Group, said in a news release.
Brightline will spearhead the development, construction and operation of the project, working alongside federal and local transportation officials to bring the corridor into fruition.
Construction is slated to kick off next year, with plans for initial service set for 2020.
"The introduction of high-speed rail between Las Vegas to Southern California will bring significant economic and environmental benefits to our state and support increased tourism," Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval said in the news release. "Brightline has built a proven model for privately funded high-speed rail service in Florida and we are excited to welcome them to Nevada."
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