On April 22, 2024 local time, the much-anticipated Western Light Line of the Los Angeles to Las Vegas high-speed railway in the United States officially broke ground. The total investment in the project is up to US$12 billion, of which the federal government will contribute US$3 billion to promote the smooth progress of the project.

The high-speed rail will extend from southern Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga, a suburb of Los Angeles, with a total length of approximately 350 kilometers. The train is expected to run at a speed of 300 kilometers per hour, providing passengers with fast and convenient transportation options. The project is scheduled to be put into operation before the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, which will provide strong support for transportation during the Olympics.

The high-speed rail project was initially planned in 2017, with construction scheduled to begin in late 2018 or early 2019 and completed in 2023. However, the start of the project has been repeatedly delayed due to complex environmental, legal and land ownership disputes, as well as political wrangling and rising costs.

Currently, U.S. passenger rail transportation is faced with the dilemma of aging lines and outdated train technology, which has led to many Americans being unwilling to choose trains as a mode of travel. At the same time, the US aviation industry has developed rapidly, covering almost all major cities, providing people with diverse travel options. In addition, the United States has a very high car ownership, a well-developed highway network and low tolls, which also makes rail passenger transportation face fierce competition.

However, in the context of private ownership of land, the construction of high-speed railways in the United States faces huge difficulties in land acquisition and demolition. This not only increases the cost and time of the project, but also makes it vulnerable to resistance from the local government and public dissatisfaction. Therefore, the start of construction of the Western Bright Line is undoubtedly a major breakthrough and challenge, and will open a new chapter in the development of high-speed rail in the United States.Editor/Cheng Liting