Proposed Expansions of High-Speed Rail in the US

Electric high-speed intercity rail is anticipated to take millions of cars off the roads, reduce emissions, and save time and money for average Americans.

High-speed rail is one of the more popular modes of transit in many countries around the world. On a dedicated high-speed rail line, trains cruise up to 220 mph, rapidly transporting passengers to their destinations. High-speed rail can be twice as fast as driving and much more convenient than flying, especially when it is integrated into local train and bus systems within cities.

In December 2023, the Biden-Harris administration announced an $8.2 billion investment to upgrade rail infrastructure in the US. Most of this funding will be directed toward building high-speed rail lines. 

Some of the proposed high-speed rail lines in the works include:

Southern California to Nevada

Expected to serve more than 11 million passengers annually, the Brightline West rail line will link Southern California and Los Vegas. Brightline is a private transportation company that already operates a high-speed rail line between Orlando and Miami in Florida. Brightline anticipates the line will be operational by 2028. It is expected to run from Los Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga (near Los Angeles). 

Los Angeles to San Francisco

A high-speed rail line running through the heavily trafficked central valleys in California, linking the major metropolises of Los Angeles and San Francisco, is expected to have a major positive impact on air quality in this area. When completed, passengers could travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco in under three hours. Additional lines are planned to link San Diego and Sacramento to the system. However, this high-speed rail system was proposed more than 15 years ago and has encountered many challenges, including delays and unanticipated costs. Currently, the focus is on completing the line between Merced and Bakersfield. 

Houston to Dallas

A high-speed rail line in Texas was first proposed in 2013 and is expected to become operational in 2029. It could carry millions of passengers between the two cities in under 90 minutes, less than half the time of driving. However, the planned line has encountered opposition from people who own the land the proposed line crosses, which has caused significant delays in construction. Recent interest from Amtrak has sparked renewed interest in completing the project. 

Vancouver to Portland

The Cascadia high-speed train line is planned to connect Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland. The international line is expected to generate billions of economic activities in the Pacific Northwest. Passengers could travel between Vancouver and Seattle in 45 minutes, and from Portland to Seattle in around an hour. 

Northeast Corridor

Amtrak is expected to start running faster Acela trains along the Boston to Washington, DC rail corridor in 2024. Although they are not technically high-speed trains because they do not use dedicated tracks and only move at 160 mph, the change will reduce intercity commute times and is expected to attract many passengers who previously would have considered driving or flying.

To Sum Up

As successful high-speed rail lines have taken off in countries around the world, the US looks to implement similar advancements. Interest in high-speed rails is growing as seen in a recent poll, where 64% of respondents said that investment in these trains should be a priority. Funding and planning for rail lines can take many years to complete, but high-speed trains will carry passengers to US cities in the near future.