An American-led consortium of Kiewit, Stacy and Witbeck, and Herzog has been selected to install track, power, train control, and communications systems for the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s 119-mile Central Valley segment.

The authority’s board recently approved the first phase of the work, advancing development of the future 220-mph electrified rail system.

The board action follows completion of track installation at the 150-acre southern railhead in Kern County, which will serve as the staging and distribution hub for high-speed track and systems installation.

The facility is now prepared to receive freight deliveries of rail and other long-lead materials directly procured by the Authority, enabling rapid deployment once work begins later this year.

“Bringing on board the team that will build California’s high-speed rail track and systems marks the moment this program transforms from major civil construction into delivering an operating railway,” said Ian Choudri, CEO for the Authority. “With the railhead track installation complete and many critical rail materials already under contract, we are now accelerating toward installing the first true high-speed rail track ever built in the Western Hemisphere and doing it in a way that delivers for California quickly and economically.”

The Track Installation Contract

The Track and Systems Construction Contract covers the 119 miles currently under construction in the Central Valley and extends north and south into the future Merced and Bakersfield extensions. Its phased structure allows track and systems work to begin as soon as civil construction is complete in each segment, accelerating the seamless transition from guideway construction to the installation of an electrified high-speed railway.

The Authority’s contract award follows a competitive procurement process launched in November 2025, after the board authorized it to bring one of the nation’s largest rail infrastructure contracts to market.

To accelerate delivery and improve cost efficiency, the Authority has also directly procured long-lead materials, including rail, concrete ties, ballast, and other key components needed for track installation, ahead of schedule.

The Authority said the contract also includes strong commitments to supporting California’s small and disadvantaged businesses. It carries a 25% small-business participation goal, including a 3% microbusiness component and a 3% disabled veteran business enterprise goal.

The contractor has reportedly certified its commitment to meeting these requirements, ensuring that small and diverse businesses across the state benefit from this major investment.

California’s High-Speed Rail Progress

Work continues daily on the high-speed rail project, with 171 miles currently under design and construction from Merced to Bakersfield. More than 80 miles of guideway are complete, along with 60 fully completed major structures and 30 more structures underway across Madera, Fresno, Kings, and Tulare counties, according to the Authority.

Officials said the project also continues to advance statewide, with 463 miles of the 494-mile San Francisco-to-Los Angeles/Anaheim system fully environmentally cleared and construction-ready.

According to the Authority, the project has created nearly 19,200 good-paying jobs — most of which are filled by Central Valley residents — and generated nearly $25 billion in economic impact and growth across the state. Up to 1,700 workers report to high-speed rail construction sites each day.