The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) is aiming to officially begin laying high-speed track sometime in 2026.
While civil construction along the route has been underway for over a decade, the CHSRA initiated accepting bids from construction vendors in November 2025, aiming to lay tracks and systems within the year.
This brings us closer to the realization of high-speed rail in California, facilitating travel between San Francisco and Los Angeles in just 2 hours and 40 minutes.
First High-Speed Track Miles in the Central Valley
CHSRA has concentrated most of its efforts on the Initial Operating Segment in the Central Valley, covering a 119-mile corridor between Merced and Bakersfield. Although temporary track has already been laid for freight deliveries, high-speed rail tracks have yet to be installed… until this point.
In November 2025, they initiated a $3.5 billion Request for Proposals for qualified vendors to bid on the track & systems construction contract, which includes the high-speed track, overhead contact system, train control, and communications.
As reported in a January 2026 article by Newsweek, proposals are expected by March 2nd, and CHSRA will award the contract to the selected vendor during Q2 of 2026.
Meanwhile, CHSRA is actively procuring materials like rail, ties, and overhead contact system poles, and transporting them to installation sites from their Kern County facility.
If everything proceeds as planned, the winning vendor will commence laying high-speed track and installing additional systems along the 119-mile Central Valley route by the end of 2026.
The Future of California High-Speed Rail
California High-Speed Rail (CHSR) officially commenced in 2008 when voters approved Proposition 1A, which sanctioned nearly $10 billion in bonds for a high-speed rail line linking Northern and Southern California. Groundbreaking took place in Fresno in 2015.
Over a decade later, the 119-mile Initial Operating Segment (IOS) in the Central Valley is undergoing significant construction, which involves building major viaducts, bridges, embankments, and grade separations. The IOS is projected to open in 2032.
The ultimate goal for CHSR is to connect NorCal and SoCal with 200+ mph electric trains, enabling travelers to cover the distance between Los Angeles and San Francisco in 2 hours and 40 minutes.
While environmental clearance has been granted for the complete Phase 1 route from San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim, a definitive project completion date is yet to be established. A long-range vision for Phase 2 aims to extend the system to Sacramento in the north and San Diego in the south, extending the network to about 800 miles.
🌐 Learn more: California High-Speed Rail Authority
