Nevada-based XPressWest has been working for 10 years on a 230 mile (370 km) railway project to connect Los Angeles with Las Vegas. With the required environmental reviews complete, all federal right of way approvals granted, and the receipt of all required licensing and approvals to operate, XPressWest is ready to begin construction. The cherry on top came last week when China’s largest train maker, CCRC, signed on through its US unit, China Railway International USA, to make the project a reality. The project is expected to break ground in September 2016. The project currently has $100 million pledged to it.
US High-Speed Rail Plans
According to Railway Technology, the US has plans in place to add 16,777 miles (27,000 km) of high-speed rail lines by 2030. China currently has about 6,213 miles (10,000 km) of high-speed rail lines, including the world’s longest, the Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed rail line, at 1,428 miles (2,298 km). China’s long-term plan is to have 167,770 miles (270,000 km) of high-speed rail lines by 2050.
According to Yang Zhongmin of CRI, “this is the first high-speed railway project where China and the US will have systematic cooperation and shows the advancement of China in high-speed railways.” One of China’s goals is to play a significant role in bringing high-speed rail technology to advanced economies.
The following image shows the full build out of the US High-Speed Rail:
