Recently, the Los Angeles Metro and DesertXpress signed letters committing to work together to define what would be necessary to deliver high-speed rail service between Los Angeles and Las Vegas through the High Desert Corridor between Victorville and Palmdale to connect with existing rail service.
DesertXpress Enterprises renamed its Las Vegas to Southern California high-speed rail service “XpressWest” to more accurately reflect its role as the first leg of a larger western high-speed passenger rail network.
Recently, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) and DesertXpress signed letters committing to work together to define what would be necessary to deliver high-speed rail service between Los Angeles and Las Vegas through the High Desert Corridor between Victorville and Palmdale to connect with existing rail service.
Ad Loading...
XpressWest is an exclusive, dual-track high-speed train which will be the most advanced and fastest in the U.S. With a top operating speed of 150 mph, the service will reduce travel between Las Vegas and Southern California to 80 minutes at an average cost of $89 for a roundtrip ticket.
XpressWest is the only construction-ready dedicated high-speed rail project in the U.S. as it has completed all of its permitting requirements and has applied for a Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing loan established through Federal Rail Administration in 1998, according to officials. Once the loan is approved and secured, XpressWest will be the first high-speed rail project developed in the U.S.
The delivery marks the first car in a 374‑vehicle order and begins the arrival of a new generation of higher‑capacity, more reliable, and more comfortable trains for one of the country’s busiest commuter rail systems.
BART recorded 5,403,140 exits in March, making it the highest monthly ridership since the pandemic and surpassing the previous high set in October 2025 (5,346,890 exits).
The station was rebuilt as part of SEPTA’s Station Accessibility Program, making it fully ADA accessible with new elevators, ramps, and high-level platforms.
The announcement highlights the long-standing partnership between the Class I railroad and the commuter rail system, dating back to Metra's creation in 1983.
Crews completed a significant portion of the testing required before commissioning the new, digital signaling system, which will bring important upgrades that strengthen Red Line service reliability for riders and provide Red Line Operations the ability to route trains more quickly, turn trains around faster, and recover from unplanned disruptions more efficiently, said MBTA officials.
In addition to new projects, progress continues on a multiyear effort to upgrade track, electrical, and signal systems on the Metra Electric Line to accommodate the expansion of service on the South Shore Line.
The Maryland Transit Administration is advancing the nearly $1.4 billion Light Rail Modernization Program, which modernizes the Baltimore Central Light Rail Line from Hunt Valley to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport with new, low-floor vehicles and upgrades to all light rail stations, systems, and maintenance facilities.
The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board recently met for a budget workshop, during which staff outlined the significant service reductions Caltrain could be forced to make without new external funding.
Funding for the purchase of the railcars comes from the nearly $220 million in additional capital dollars Gov. Josh Shapiro allocated in November 2025 to support urgent safety upgrades and infrastructure improvements.