Thousands of Workers Needed for High-Speed Rail Line Between Vegas and SoCal

Image: Brightline West train between Las Vegas and Southern California (Photo Credit: Brightline)
Image: Brightline West train between Las Vegas and Southern California (Photo Credit: Brightline)
Rich Thomaselli
by Rich Thomaselli
Last updated: 5:30 PM ET, Sun January 14, 2024

It might take more than a village to construct the new high-speed railroad line between Las Vegas and Southern California. 

About 11,000 people are needed to help build the Brightline between Sin City and sunny California. The railroad line is expected to be about 218 miles. 

Union leaders have begun the recruitment process.  

Vince Saavedra, executive secretary-treasurer of the Southern Nevada Building Trades Unions, said: “With big projects finishing like the Sphere, Durango, Fontaineblue, F1 has came and gone — we have a lot of workers that will be unemployed. We’ve been waiting for something big to come and this is it.” 

A railroad line between the entertainment mecca and California has been talked about for years. 

Last year, the Biden administration approved $3 billion in funding for the project. 

“Every craft has their position. It’s just like football: everybody has their position to play. We all work together to bring home the win,” Saavedra said. 

Construction is expected to begin soon in both states as the two crews work toward each other. The hope is to be done by the summer of 2028 when Los Angeles hosts the Olympics. 



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Rich Thomaselli

Rich Thomaselli

Associate Writer

Editor Associate Writer true 9281 14744 Rich Thomaselli has written for TravelPulse since 2014 and has been a professional journalist for nearly 40 years. His work has appeared in USA Today, the New York Times and New York Yankees publications. He is an 11-time writ

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