When the California High-Speed Rail Authority was established in the 1990s, the requirement was a two-hour and 40-minute travel time from LA to downtown San Francisco for a nonstop train with a peak speed of around 220 mph. That promised a substantial improvement over the six-and-a-half hours minimum required to drive or the hassle of getting to LAX or John Wayne Airport, flying to SFO, and taking ground transport to San Francisco. It also had the benefit of running on 100% renewable energy. But now it’s 2024. What has happened since then?
Most notably, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CA HSR) received $3.1 billion in funding in December of 2023 from Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Also, $3 billion was awarded to the Brightline West project to build a high-speed rail from Rancho Cucamonga to Las Vegas. The CA HSR is looking for ways to connect with Brightline West HSR. Where is the project now?
In summary, the California High-Speed Rail will offer high-speed transportation between downtown San Francisco and the Anaheim “ARTIC” station. Stations along the way will be at Millbrae/SFO airport, San Jose, Gilroy, Madera, Fresno, Kings/Tulare, Bakersfield, Palmdale, Burbank, Los Angeles, and Anaheim. There is also an option for an additional station at Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs or Fullerton.
According to California High Speed Rail Authority CEO Brian Kelly, the goal is for electrified operation to happen between 2030 and 2033. The system is being completed in phases. The phase currently in progress is mainly the section from Merced to Bakersfield, which aims to be ready for testing in 2029 and will temporarily be the high-speed “Backbone” for California rail service, with existing Amtrak service providing links to San Francisco and Anaheim until those high-speed rail sections are completed in future phases.
The current activity nearest to Fullerton is a grade separation at Rosecrans and Marquardt to be completed in early 2025. This will separate car and train traffic to prevent driving congestion and reduce noise (train horns) and pollution from idling cars. The track between Anaheim and Los Angeles must also be improved.
In Fullerton, the tracks must be electrified and otherwise aligned or modified. No significant grade or elevation change to the tracks going through Fullerton is anticipated. In addition to the underpass planned for Rosecrans and Marquardt, a new automobile underpass may be approved near Katella and State College.
According to Jim Patrick, Communications Manager for the California High-Speed Rail Authority, once the Environmental Impact Report is completed, the study will decide whether to build a High-Speed Rail station in Norwalk, Fullerton (or none). If the option to put an HSR terminal at Fullerton is selected, more construction will be required.
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Categories: Local Government, Local News
The optional stations are not NSFS *or* Fullerton, they’re independent decisions. We could get stops at both, which would be amazing!
It’s five miles from ARTIC to Fullerton and another 10 to Norwalk. Norwalk is only 15 miles to LA. The thing would have to slow down long before it could get going. Amazing? Take Metrolink and we can save billions.
The amazing thing about California High-Speed Rail is that it is electric trains that stop and start much quicker than the heavy Metrolink diesel trains. Caltrain in Northern California is converting to electric trains for that very reason because they can run more trains, more quickly than with diesel
Can’t wait to see em’ break coming into the Fullerton curve at 200 miles an hour.
LA-Anaheim segment is 110, not 220.
Can’t wait to see ’em brake coming into the Fullerton curve at at 110 miles per hour.
This only works if SCRRA gets their act together and gets SB/AV-like (I’ll even settle for Caltrain-like) service on OC. I don’t know whether it’s just because of BUR or what but the fact that AV is ten times more usable of a line (trains running past midnight!) than OC is absurd to me…. so many more trips I would be doing on Metrolink!
I was under the impression that it was indeed one or the other, based on the info provided at the last CA HSR open house I attended? Maybe it has changed since then, or maybe I misunderstood.
It must’ve changed *into* that. Originally it was “either or none or both”, would be a little disappointing if they dropped consideration of doing both. If the option is Fullerton or Norwalk, I support Fullerton – not because I live here now, but because it’s a much more well-connected station. But as someone who used to live in Norwalk, having a stop there would provide the kickstart Norwalk Transit and Metro needs to add a lot more bus service around Norwalk, which would really help the area and the eastern Gateways at large….. combine it with SGL, C Line eastern extension, COW revitalization, and restoration of more Metro/LBT service, and the eastern Gateways could go from being a complete transit desert to having a transit revolution and being one of the core transit centers of the region.
No comment on the massive cost overruns, seizing farmland, broken promises, and a worthless “backbone” running to and from 2 places no one from LA or SF wants to go. The LA to OC run is completely useless, taking the same time more or less as current Metrolink services. What an utter waste.
There are plenty of other news sites reporting on what you want. If you want negativity, I’m sure you can find it.
I want accountability, chum, and there is NONE from the HSR Authority. How many decades and how may hundreds of billions so that a few people can get to SF in 3 hours instead of 6.
No that’s not what you want. You want the project killed. The government provides full accountability for the project with ongoing estimates, projections and bids down to the penny. Government isn’t an efficient builder but it keeps extensive records for review and oversight.
What a load of BS. Give me the name of one person in the HSR Authority who has fallen on his sword for the years of delay and the massive cost overruns. That’s right, none. And that’s why government isn’t an “efficient builder.” There is no personal cost for failure and every job security benefit for protraction. Since there is no accountability and never was, and never will be, what sane man wouldn’t want it killed. Publishing PR circumlocutions calling failure success is not accountability.
Let’s see. The Cali legislature appointed an inspector general to oversee the project.
The CAHSR authority puts out a business plan every two years outlining what has taken place, and what else is going to happen.
As the person below me stated, you don’t want accountability. It’s there. You are just choosing to be an contrarian and want to be against something because “my tax dollars are being spent on a boondoggle.”
I hope you have this same energy for the BILLIONS of dollars that is spent on highway project. I am wiling to bet you don’t.
How silly you are. The fact that they publish a business plan every 2 years (ah! let’s re-plan since the last one didn’t work out so well) means nothing. Publishing PR circumlocutions calling failure success is not accountability. You’re a fool.
Seizing farmland is going to need to be part of it, but yes there needs to be more transparency on the overruns. I don’t agree w/r/t the LA-OC segment though – keeping the corridor open, particularly while SCRRA gets its act together, is critical. Also allows extension to SD, knocking down the time; I took Surfliner to SD just yesterday, infinitely faster than flying but people see >2hr and aren’t happy with it. CAHSR needs to develop itself in a way where it won’t just be one service pattern, but instead be readily developable into a network spanning the state – with good connections to regional/commuter rail in low-traffic areas, light rail in the suburbs, and subways/above-ground heavy rail in the urban areas. Where CAHSR goes, other rail services can develop – think about the effects of SPRINTER!
This can’t come soon enough! LFG!!!
How funny. Construction started 10 years ago and the first segment (the easiest to build) is still 5+ years away. Soon enough? You mean like the year 2200?
I will be 100 years old before this is completed. How can China and Japan build a high speed rail in less than ten years yet it takes us fifty years to accomplish it???
Because everyone who might be affected / impacted or is opposed for whatever reason can use the courts to drag things out. A lot of this project has been about negotiating and compensating people to get right of way.
Good for them.
Not the words I’d use.
No, you’d gladly surrender your family’s farm for a massive boondoggle. Good for you. What a trooper.
I always want California High-Speed Rail in California and I always love California High-Speed Rail in California.
Yes and yeah of course California High-Speed Rail in California.
I think this is a waste of time and money. Usually you take a train so you can appreciate the scenery. I understand people just want to zip here and zip there, but time goes by too fast as it is. Learn how to enjoy the time you have.
I know this is going to be new and exciting, just know it is going to be very expensive to ride, why throw your money away?
Live today like it was your last.
When I regularly rode the Metrolink it was for commuting to work, meanwhile getting my time back to work or study rather than spend time driving.
Could you zip to SF and have a picnic under the golden gate and enjoy the ocean? That way you have the joy of traveling and the peace of scenery. Like a mini vacation. I think there are many perspectives. As someone who has family in SF, I could day visit and still go to work the next day.
And you want the rest of us to pay $100,000,000,000 for that picnic? How typical.
You’re paying for constant maintenance and expansion of the interstate highway network, even if you don’t have a car. I hope you’re annoyed with THAT too.
Since 99% of people own cars I’d say there’s nothing to be annoyed with. Ha.
Often zipping is necessary to make things practical. It’s not reasonable to say, go testify in Sacramento or speak to a committee on a bill when it takes 8 hours on a limited-service train to get there. Cut that down to 2.5 and I can get there, do what I need to do, and get back in a day. Or take going to the beach – I’d love to be able to go down to Oceanside more, but due to how far away it is it takes too long for most days, only working on weekends/breaks. Make it 45 minutes each way and it’s reasonable, which is exactly why I can go to LA for things when necessary without *much* issue (the specific timing of the trains sucks)
I remember when the dining cars on a French train were a delight
Now on the TGV they have crummy sandwiches on trolling loop like a plane while you can’t read the station signs due to the speed. Hope they keep the cast Starlight with its delightful scenery.
https://hsr.ca.gov/ is my primary source of info, good FAQ section. For me it’s a choice between flying and HSR to SF. HSR means a 25 minute walk to Fullerton station (or quick car ride) and getting out in downtown SF. The slow train option will still be there. Hopefully the electricity used will be green replacing the jet exhaust. I myself did Metrolink bike/train for 6 months to Irvine and I loved it. ( I had to but still I loved it). I understand the 3 station options are Fullerton, or Norwalk, or neither.
It’s about CHOICE. There are people in this country who’d rather not spend time driving everywhere, dealing with airport nonsense, and unruly airline passengers. High speed railways are proven throughout the world. America is behind in that regard. Stop expanding highways, ruining neighborhoods and provide an OPTION for ALL. Kudos to Cali for doing this as no other state in this country has the fortitude to do so (and please, don’t even mention that faux “high speed” railway in Florida because it is NOT high speed).
I couldn’t agree more!
Yet, there is no plan to pay for it. Also, we’re 16 years into this and there are still no tracks. 2033 is a true pipe dream. SF to LA, a fantasy at this point.
The interstate highway network would have never been built had it not been for government investment. Every developed country on this planet with high speed rail realized it cannot exist without government investment. That people in THIS country don’t seem to understand that is one of the biggest barriers to why THIS project has stalled. Without government investment, you get what we’re going through now.
Instead of crying about no plan to pay for it, you should be voting for representatives who will stand behind this project and advocate for more government funding. People in this country seem to find other things more important, like military spending and religion. But you probably are one of those who prefer this project isn’t built so I’m not even sure why I need to explain this to you.
Sorry to see your intense dislike for THIS Country. The faith people have and our ability to protect you, has made it possible for you to voice your opinion.
Listen “DEPLORABLE,” I served 20 years in the military for MY country. If I disliked MY country, I wouldn’t be one of the biggest proponents of this railway. You need to direct your comment to the people who voice opposition to this project because the majority of it is pure selfishness. So before opening your virtual mouth to comment on things about which you know nothing, make sure you ask questions first, lest you look like a jackass.
I agree totally with assessment. Grossly mishandled.
Cali “bullet” train will not be as promised, if it EVER gets done. Who will put up the 200 to 500 BILLION more to finish this frikkn boondoggle, & what century is it predicted to be operational? And NO, the rest of the country wants NOTHING to do with your BS. BTW, how many LA to Vegas tickets do you want at &500 each?(plus plus plus taxes, fees, gratuities)
How delightful. A trip from Southern California to downtown San Francisco for a picnic. Have you been to downtown San Francisco lately.
I have. A few months ago. It was lovely. Have you?
Same here! I loved going to SF recently. Even Oakland was pretty chill, better than Fullerton…
Omg. So much better than going an airport and taking an aeroplane. It’s about time.
Getting to SF in less time than it takes to clear TSA…
None of this matters. It will never be built.
But you can depend on many more million dollar studies done.
I wonder whose political pals/contributors are profiting.
It’s comical how its defenders brag about HSR oversight and accountability on this mess. It’s like the Captain of the Titanic giving rosy updates every 15 minutes: So far so good!
It’s not a brag. It is just a fact. The accountability is there. The point was accountability is not actually what you’re after.
It’s an expensive project. I don’t need anyone to “fall on their sword.” That doesn’t get a project done. If a contractor is incompetent you fire them. If the project gets behind or over budget for other reasons such as the enormous problem of acquiring right of way as happened with this project… figure it out. Get it done.
I want the project to be done. You want the project gone.
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