Where we started

 

Brightline West has its origins in 2005, when developers in the Las Vegas area formed DesertXpress Enterprises, LLC (DesertXpress) to build a rail service connecting Las Vegas to Southern California.

 

In March 2019, Florida East Coast Industries (FECI) acquired DesertXpress. FECI is one of the oldest and most experienced rail developers and operators in America. Its original system, Florida East Coast Railroad, was built by Henry Flagler in the 1890s. FECI decided to reinvent and expand Flagler’s original system by building a passenger railroad, Brightline Florida, the only privately owned and operated passenger rail system in America in over a century.

 

Brightline Florida began service in 2018 and now serves residents and tourists in South Florida with stations in Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach. Service to Orlando is expected to open in 2023 and will connect South Florida to Central Florida with a station at Orlando International Airport.

 

Where we're going

 

Brightline West builds on Brightline Florida’s success in connecting city pairs that are too close to fly and too far to drive by connecting one of the nation’s most critical corridors: Las Vegas to Southern California. Nearly 50 million trips occur between Las Vegas and Southern California each year. Interstate 15 carries the vast majority of these trips, which are characterized by long drives in traffic, taking four hours on average and much longer during peak periods. Air travel is often impacted by unpredictable delays and ticket prices that change daily. A viable alternative is needed to combat worsening travel delays and negative climate impacts.

 

Brightline West meets this need by providing an alternative to car and air travel that is safe, clean, and reliable. Brightline West will be the second American intercity passenger rail system to be built by the Brightline portfolio, connecting Las Vegas and Southern California with all electric, zero emission high-speed trains and state-of-the-art stations in Las Vegas, Victor Valley, Hesperia, and Rancho Cucamonga, with seamless connection to downtown Los Angeles through our Metrolink partner.