After the most recent update on Brightline’s high-speed train connecting “Sin City” to “The City of Angels,” more details have come to light. The new transportation system will reach up to 218 mph and will significantly reduce the time travelers spend reaching these two main hubs. Still, the current plan reveals that the train won’t stop at Union Station.
According to information published on the company’s project overview website, the bullet train route will consist of just four stops: Las Vegas, Victor Valley, Hesperia, and Rancho Cucamonga. But wait, isn’t it supposed to connect L.A.?
Rancho Cucamonga will serve as the southern terminus of the Brightline West bullet train for now. While the train won’t reach Union Station directly, passengers will eventually transfer to the Metrolink commuter rail system at Rancho Cucamonga to reach L.A. and other SoCal cities. The station will act as a key regional hub, providing connections to multiple metro lines that link to downtown L.A.
Still, future plans for Brightline West may extend service further west, potentially providing a more direct connection to Los Angeles, but in the first phase, Rancho Cucamonga will be the main gateway for travelers coming from Vegas.
Once finished, the bullet train will reach up to 218 mph, averaging 186 mph. Siemens, the construction partner, states that each train will carry around 434–450 passengers per trip, while Brightline estimates annual ridership at roughly 9 million. It will be the fastest train in the U.S. and the first officially recognized as high-speed by the International Union of Railways, which requires a minimum speed of 155 mph. Completion is expected in December 2028.