First High-Speed Rail in America Just Broke Ground in Las Vegas

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For so long, many people have been pushing for better rail systems in the United States. Not only is it better for the environment, but it's also less stressful than sitting in traffic if you're driving from Point A to Point B... not to mention far less of a hassle than dealing with the airport and flight delays! For awhile, it seemed like this was going to remain a pipe dream forever, but now, it's finally happening — at least, in one area of the country.

It's official: the first high-speed rail in America has officially broken ground, and now we have the details about what's happening so far and what we can expect in the future.

The update was shared by @itsdaniel.leo on TikTok on Monday, April 22, and he pointed out that this project has been a whopping 30 years in the making, so obviously, this is a very big deal. Not only will the high speed rail connect Las Vegas with southern California, but it's also a zero emissions mode of transportation, so it's going to be helping the environment at the same time!

The only downsides: It's going to take a long time to complete (we're talking years) and the ticket price is going to be hefty — like, in the neighborhood of $400. Yikes!

But it might end up being worth it, and the more common that rail lines like this become, the more accessible and affordable the tickets will be, too. This could just be the start of something pretty cool!

More Details On the High Speed Rail in Vegas

According to the Associated Press, Brightline West is planning to lay 218 miles of track between Las Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga, California, which would then link to a commuter rail to downtown Los Angeles. Another stop in San Bernadino County is also planned.

The train will exceed speeds of 186 mph, and the trip should take about two hours to complete — cutting what is normally a four hour drive (or longer) in half for those who make the trip on a regular basis. That's incredible!

You'll wait to be patient, though; right now, the hope is to have the train up and running for the 2018 Olympians in LA, so we have a few years to go.

Still, seeing that ground has been broken is so exciting. Here's hoping that they'll have another update to share soon.

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