Construction has officially begun on a $12 billion high-speed passenger rail line between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area, with predictions that millions of passengers will be boarding trains by 2028. Brightline West, the company behind the project, aims to lay 218 miles of new track between Las Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga, California, with almost the entire distance to be built in the median of Interstate 15. The project received $6.5 billion in backing from the Biden administration, including federal infrastructure funds and approval to sell tax-exempt bonds. The high-speed trains are designed to reach speeds of 186 mph, offering a travel time of just over two hours across the Mojave Desert. The trains will feature amenities such as restrooms, Wi-Fi, food and beverage sales, and the option to check luggage, with ticket fares expected to be well below airline costs. Brightline West also plans to link other U.S. cities that are too near for air travel but too far for driving. The project is seen as a historic moment, with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg participating in the groundbreaking ceremony. The goal is to relieve congestion on Interstate 15, where drivers often face long delays returning from Las Vegas. Brightline already operates a high-speed line between Miami and Orlando, offering 16 round trips per day at speeds of up to 125 mph. The company's expansion to the West Coast marks a significant milestone in the development of high-speed rail in the United States, with hopes of connecting more cities in the future.