California-Nevada Interstate Maglev

Infobox Public transit
name = California-Nevada Interstate Maglev


imagesize =
locale = California, Nevada
transit_type = Maglev
ridership =
system_length =
operator = TBD
website = The California-Nevada Interstate Maglev project is proposing the construction of a 269-mile Maglev train line from Las Vegas, Nevada to Anaheim, California. The first 40-mile segment was appropriated $45 million in 2005 for the planning phase. This segment would run from Las Vegas to Primm, Nevada, with proposed service to the new Las Vegas Airport. The top speed would be 310 MPH.cite news |first=Jasmin Aline |last= Persch |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= America’s fastest train moves ahead |url= http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25265682/ |work= |publisher=msnbc |date= 2008-06-25 |accessdate=2008-07-31 ]

The project is being researched seriously, particularly by the German consortium behind the Transrapid, who hope to build it as a demonstration line in the hope of attracting future business; it would be the first long-distance application of Transrapid technology. However, American Magline Group, working with the California-Nevada Super Speed Train Commission, has received most of the government funds released so far.

History

In the late 1970s and 1980s, Nevada politicians talked of a "bullet train" to connect Southern California to Las Vegas. Since the 1997 termination of the Amtrak Desert Wind, Las Vegas has been without any passenger train service. Plans to resume service using a Talgo train have failed to gain traction due to the high cost of upgrades to the existing track, much of it being only a single track as of 2006. With McCarran International Airport expected to reach capacity in a few years and I-15 upgrades for more lanes an on-going project, an alternative mode of transportation between Southern California and Las Vegas is considered important by many transportation planners. As a result, a maglev train was proposed in the late 1990s.

Operating on a dedicated track, it would not be subject to delays from freight trains, a problem that plagued the old Amtrak service. As a high-speed service, it would be able to compete with airlines for passengers, especially from the outlying areas of Southern California.

Funding received to date:
* $1 million on December 8, 2004 in the 2005FY appropriation bill
* $45 million for planning in the 2006FY appropriation bill for the Las Vegas to Primm segment, [*cite news| author=Illia, Tony |publisher=Las Vegas Business Press | url=http://www.lvbusinesspress.com/articles/2005/08/22/news/news02.txt |title=New federal funds revive Maglev project |date=August 22, 2005 |accessdate=2006-04-06] money may be authorized in 2008 for FY2009. [Mascaro, Lisa. " [http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/news/2008/apr/15/new-life-high-speed-train-california/ New life for high-speed train from California] ", April 15, 2008 "Las Vegas Sun". Retrieved on April 17, 2008]

Route

*Las Vegas, Nevada
*Ivanpah Valley Airport
*Primm, Nevada
*Barstow, California
*Ontario, California
*Anaheim, California
*Los Angeles, California

Alternative projects

Amtrak

Amtrak has proposed upgrading the existing rail line to allow high-speed Talgo trains. [ [http://www.latimes.com/travel/destinations/lasvegas/la-tr-insider6jun06,1,2295344.column?coll=la-travel-las_vegas Speedy new transit coming to Vegas soon?] ] [ [http://www.trainweb.com/news/1999l01b.html December 14, 1999 announcement] ] [ [http://www.frommers.com/destinations/lasvegas/0013020012.html Getting Around the U.S.] ] The implementation of this option appears to be in limbo since the Union Pacific claims to lack capacity on the existing rail line. [ [http://www.cuerpo8.es/STOL/reportajes/STOLRTalgoUSA1.html TALGO CONQUESTS THE AMERICAN PACIFIC COAST] ]

Desert Xpress Enterprises

Desert Xpress Enterprises has proposed Desert Xpress, a privately owned high-speed rail line running nonstop from Victorville, California to Las Vegas, a 200-mile run along the I-15 corridor. The Federal Railroad Administration public scoping meetings on July 25, 2006 and July 26, 2006 could lead to an environmental impact statement for the project.

Notes

References

* [http://www.progressiverailroading.com/transitnews/article.asp?id=4809 Progressive Railroading.com]
* [http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/trans/hpw107-27.000/hpw107-27_0.HTM 2001 Congressional hearings on railroads]
*Las Vegas Review-Journal
*Las Vegas Sun

External links

* [http://www.transrapid.de/cgi-tdb/en/basics.prg?session=473420194484cdc9&a_no=15 Transrapid page on this project]
* [http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/files/superspeedtrainmap.pdf Map of planned Maglev line]
* [http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/1703 DesertXpress - Las Vegas to Victorville Environmental Impact Statement]
* [http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/1473 Las Vegas to Anaheim Maglev Environmental Impact Statement]