The long-awaited train linking the state’s major cities is set to begin service first in this Central Valley region.
The California High-Speed Rail, perhaps the state’s most ambitious transportation project, has been in the works for over a decade. In 2026, it’s set to finally take off: a 119-mile portion of the 171-mile Merced-to-Bakersfield initial operating segment is slated to be the first to run high-speed passenger service, marking a landmark moment in American rail history.
The 119-Mile Spine: California’s High-Speed Rail key
This so-called 119-mile spine refers to the central backbone of civil works, bridges, viaducts, guideway, and graded right-of-way, where crews are already building the physical line that will carry trains capable of hundreds of miles per hour.
The CAHSR Authority has been aggressively pushing forward here because it’s the easiest section to build: relatively flat terrain, mostly secured land, and fewer environmental hold-ups than the urban bookend cities.
When will passengers ride the first trains?
According to the latest project updates, the initial operating segment (IOS), including this spine, is targeted to begin service between 2030 and 2033. That’s when officials hope to have the systems, testing, certification, and staffing in place.