The service is expected to be operational by the time of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. A ceremonial event took place on Monday, April 22, under a white tent just south of the Las Vegas Strip, attended by officials from both California and Nevada.

The rail system will be operated by Brightline West, a company associated with the popular Miami to Orlando fast train service. Trains will be fully electric, signaling a sustainable step towards efficient transportation. Joined by approximately 600 officials at the ceremony, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed his excitement over Brightline's expansion into the West, emphasizing the long-overdue investment in American infrastructure. Buttigieg stated, "We can have high-speed rail if we choose to and now America has decided to."

The Biden administration-backed project is projected to create thousands of union jobs, forge new economic opportunities, mitigate traffic congestion, and reduce air pollution. In a news release, Buttigieg predicted that the construction phase alone will support over 11,000 jobs annually and bring $5 billion in spending to San Bernardino County, as well as $300 million to Rancho Cucamonga.

The Brightline system will span 218 miles along the Interstate 15 Freeway, connecting Las Vegas with Rancho Cucamonga. Developers estimate that the high-speed train will remove 3 million cars from the freeway and decrease carbon dioxide emissions by 400,000 tons per year.

San Bernardino County, where three out of the four Brightline train stations will be located, is poised for transformation thanks to this project. County Supervisor Curt Hagman, who traveled to Nevada for the groundbreaking ceremony, described it as a significant opportunity for progress. The train's stops will include Victor Valley, Hesperia, and Rancho Cucamonga, where it will seamlessly integrate with existing Metrolink platforms and the Omnitrans bus loop.

With service projected to commence in time for the 2028 Olympics, the completion of the high-speed train between Las Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga marks a major milestone in transportation infrastructure. As construction progresses, the project is expected to drive economic growth, facilitate sustainable travel, and unlock new possibilities for Southern California.