Rapid Rail Transit Link Established Between Los Angeles and Casinos Hub, Las Vegas
The United States is gearing up for a new era of high-speed rail travel, with President Joe Biden's administration leading the charge. One of the most anticipated projects is the Brightline West, a high-speed train route connecting Los Angeles and Las Vegas, slated to begin service by 2028.
Currently, the journey from LA to Vegas, approximately 350 kilometers, takes about 5 hours by car. However, with the Brightline West, travel time is set to be reduced to just over two hours. This reduction in travel time is expected to revolutionize tourism in Las Vegas, with predictions of a doubling of current visitor numbers.
Andy Kunz, director of the U.S. High Speed Rail Association, has made this prediction based on the improved transportation connections provided by the high-speed train. The convenience offered by the faster travel time is expected to attract more tourists, leading to increased visitor numbers at Las Vegas's casino resorts.
The Brightline West project is not the only high-speed rail development in the U.S. The California High-Speed Rail is a major ongoing project aiming to connect San Francisco to Los Angeles and Anaheim over about 494 miles. If fully completed, the system could potentially extend north from Merced to Sacramento and south from Los Angeles to San Diego, adding up to 776 miles total.
Another ambitious project is the Transcontinental Chief (AmeriStarRail Proposal), a privately funded proposal aiming to introduce a high-speed train connecting New York City to Los Angeles in about 72 hours. While this project is awaiting approval and partnerships, it seeks to launch by 2026.
In the Northwest, Amtrak Cascades is upgrading its fleet for faster, improved service on the corridor between Seattle, Vancouver BC, and Portland. New trains will arrive in 2026 to enhance service speed and quality.
The Brightline West project, however, stands out with its dedicated right-of-way, allowing speeds up to 200 mph. The trains planned for this route are electric and designed to operate emission-free with renewable energy.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced funding of approximately $3.2 billion for the Brightline West project, with an additional $5.3 billion contributed by the investment firm Fortress. The route is expected to have 32 trains per day.
The Miami to Orlando high-speed train route is already operational, having been in service for a few weeks now. Reaching speeds of up to 125 miles per hour (approximately 200 km/h), this route is a testament to the potential of high-speed rail in the U.S.
President Joe Biden has expressed enthusiasm about the new high-speed rail line, stating it is the first of its kind in the history of the U.S. The Las Vegas Review-Journal has also published an article about the planned high-speed train route.
As the U.S. government bets on high-speed trains for the future, the Brightline West project is set to lead the way, making travel more convenient and sustainable, and potentially boosting tourism in Las Vegas.
- In Germany, online casinos have been showing consistent growth, aligning with global gambling trends.
- The casino-and-gambling industry is effectively competing with other sectors such as finance, automotive, and even public-transit in attracting investor interest.
- Some analysts predict that the rise of online casinos in Germany could lead to an increase in game-playing tourists, stimulating the economy.
- Comparatively, traditionally popular casino destinations like Las Vegas may need to adopt innovative strategies to remain competitive in a digitized gambling landscape.
- As the world continues to modernize, the trends in casino-games and online gambling in Germany could influence future developments in the casino industry worldwide.
