Construction on a high-speed rail connection between Los Angeles and Las Vegas is currently underway, and a peek inside the cars shows it will be a luxurious option when complete.
Brightline West, which will connect the two cities through an all-electric, 218-mile train service, will welcome passengers with ultrawide cars, sleek seats, and a light-filled “party-car” with green banquettes and soft pink lounge seating to make the about 2-hour journey more fun. Each trip will carry up to 450 passengers.
Courtesy of Brightline West
“For the first time ever in the U.S., we will be manufacturing trains that will compete with the best in the world,” Michael Reininger, the CEO of Brightline, said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure. “Reaching speeds of over 200 mph, these trains will be marked by the latest innovations designed for the modern traveler and establishing a new benchmark in transportation.”
Each train will feature plenty of comforts like storage for both carry-on and checked luggage, high-speed Wi-Fi, and the choice of both Brightline’s “Smart” and “Premium” seat categories in either a 2-2 configuration or 1-2 configuration, respectively. The train will also be fully-ADA accessible and passengers in wheelchairs will be able to move between cars.
Courtesy of Brightline West
A high-speed rail production facility will be built in New York. Production there is expected to start in 2026.
Construction on the project first broke ground earlier this year and is expected to take about four years to complete. Once finished, the rail line will feature several stations, including a flagship station in Las Vegas and additional stations in Apple Valley, Hesperia, and Rancho Cucamonga, California.
Courtesy of Brightline West
At the time, Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called the project a “major milestone in building the future of American rail and the jobs that come with it.”
Brightline also operates a train system in Florida with service to popular cities like West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Aventura, Boca Raton, and Orlando. In 2026, the company plans to add a brand-new station on the Treasure Coast in Stuart, Florida.