[Publius]

It appears that Fortress Capital bought out the original project for pennies on the dollar.

[gubamyster]

They have been talking about a train from LA to LV since at least 1981 when I came out here.

Maybe Jerry Brown could run the project after he is termed out.

[Seruzawa]

Boatloads of taxpayer’s cash forever!

[Scrambler Bob]

How about a design based on capsules propelled through tubes.

Like merchants and their payment tubes, back in the day.

Fill up a ‘vessel’ with people, and ‘shoot’ them to LV.

No interference from surface traffic, whatever form it may be.

Pack them back in the capsule for the trip home.

[DaxtonBrown]

It’s all a huge scam. There was a viable rail system called Mag Lev, but then Harry Reid got into it with his shill Sig Rogich and Desert Xpress. Rogich immediately eaded Republicans For Reid.

[Excellence]

Parking in Victorville is going to be a problem unless the city creates an enclosed, guarded parking structure.

[T-Bird45]

Too much public land, encumbered with various environmentally-sensitive flora & fauna, is the major hurdle to acquiring a dedicated right-of-way. The routes mentioned that already exist and are in use by the UP & BNSF won’t support HSR on the same tracks as freight rail operations. Lots of money down a rathole here...

[Falconspeed]

Brightline: "privately funded high-speed rail service." I approve 100%. LA to LV high speed rail should have been built in 1980. Today, nothing beats the thrill of watching an old steam engine go down the track. A good book on Train History was written by Ambrose. Everyone was building trains in America in the 1850's and no country ever matched American trains. i wonder if a fast train from LA to LV would be popular? I'd try it.

[Oscar in Batangas]

Can we give Willie Green temporary amnesty so he can weigh in on this??

[morphing libertarian]

I support this and would use it. I prefer public funding.

The line should be split. Ontario Airport to Barstow. Burbank airport to barstow. These would be the only stops to ensure higher overall speeds. A high speed train with multiple stops will not be high speed. You go to one of those places to catch the train Then one line barstow to vegas with gambling on the train.

SF and Oakland and Sacramento could do the same.

Vegas hotels should be asked to raise roomfuls to fund the train since they will benefit the most.

[Wuli]

Las Vegas to Victorvile for the “high speed” train will not reduce north bound traffic into, or south bound traffic from Victorville on the I-15 (already a cummuter suburb for workers with jobs south of Cajon Pass).

I-15 along the segments between Cal-60, I-10 & I-210 northbound up & over, and south bound down from Cajon pass are already parking lots at various times of the day & week. It will only get worse, as additional So. Cal. travelers try to use the Victorville train connection to Vegas. Their additions to the traffic are likely to defeat possible time saved between Victorville and Vegas.

And Cajon Pass and it’s single main highway, I-15, could only be offset/bypassed by So.Cal. travelers west of the Inland Empire taking the I-5 north out of San Fernando, getting off below Santa Clarita at Cal. Rt-14, then taking Rt-14 north to Palmdale, to connect to Rt-138/18 over to Victorville. Neither are Interstate grade roads and the additional miles makes that detour not a likely choice for anyone.

That leaves a “high speed” rail line likely to make So.Cal. I-15 traffic worse than the “horrible” state many between Victorville and south of Cajon Pass already see it as.

I think the whole venture will turn out to be a fiancial boondoggle. Another “high speed” train to nowhere.