Will Brightline’s Las Vegas station get travelers where they need to go?

By Shannon Miller

Las Vegas Weekly

Las Vegas was once just a stop on the way to LA on the Old Spanish Trail. And while we’ve become our own destination, our ties with Southern California continue. In fact, three in 10 visitors last year came from the region.

Rail company Brightline has promised to strengthen those ties with Brightline West. The $12 billion all-electric, high-speed transportation option will link Rancho Cucamonga—which is connected to LA through Southern California Regional Rail Authority’s Metrolink train—and Las Vegas.

“With trains capable of reaching speeds up to 200 miles per hour, guests can expect a trip from Southern California to Las Vegas in half the time as driving,” Brightline’s director of public affairs Antonio Castelan wrote in an email.

Several questions have arisen about the practicality of the rail line. For one, will anyone be willing to spend the $400 that Brightline’s CEO Wes Edens told the Los Angeles Times it might cost for a roundtrip?

According to the company website’s FAQ page, ticket prices “can be expected to be priced on par with the cost of gas and parking, but without the stress and extra time in traffic and other things that can add time and money to your trip.”

The success of the train also depends on travelers being able to get where they need to go when they arrive at the future Las Vegas station. The 110-acre parcel situated on Las Vegas Boulevard at Warm Springs Road (just south of the busy I-15 and 215 Beltway interchange) is miles away from the tourist action on the Strip and Downtown.

Castelan says travelers will have access to “a range of ground transportation options” including rideshare pick-up zones, taxi stands, limo services, hotel shuttles and connections to public transportation.

“Brightline is also working closely with local partners and hospitality groups to make sure there is an easy transition from station to resort, whether guests are headed to the Strip, Downtown or beyond,” he says.

Brightline also had in mind the station’s relative proximity to Harry Reid International Airport, the Las Vegas Convention Center and Allegiant Stadium when selecting the station site.

Construction of the rail line, which started in April 2024, is projected to be completed in 2028.