from Steven Sharp of Urbanize Media
A 54-mile corridor separates Palmdale from Victor Valley
Along the I-15 Freeway in the Inland Empire, heavy construction is set to commence next year for Brightline West, the $12-billion high-speed rail line which will connect Southern California with Las Vegas. Simultaneously, California High Speed Rail continues to make progress in the Central Valley, and could one day make its way southward into the Los Angeles area. In anticipation of a day when both services are up and running in Southern California, steps are being taken to connect them.
A September 2024 presentation published by the High Desert Corridor Joint Power Agency offers a look at the proposed High Desert Corridor high-speed rail line, which would span a roughly 54-mile corridor between Palmdale and Victor Valley. This would allow for direct service on Brightline West between Los Angeles Union Station and Las Vegas, rather the current route which is to terminate outside of Los Angeles County in Rancho Cucamonga.
Currently in the environmental review phase, the rail line would commence from the proposed Palmdale Transportation Center, which would connect California High Speed Rail and Metrolink’s Antelope Valley Line. From there, the High Desert Corridor Line would veer east through mostly undeveloped land in unincorporated Los Angeles County, primarily between State Route 138 and State Route 18.
In the eastern half of the route, approaching Victory Valley, the alignment would cut between the Victorville Federal Correctional Complex and the Southern California Logistics Airport, then cross the Mojave River channel on a large viaduct. Eventually the route would veer north to merge with the Brightline West corridor within the I-15 right-of-way. Transfers to Brightline West would be created by providing a new platform at the Victory Valley Station.
As of 2023, cost estimates for the connector have ranged from $5.8 billion to $6.6 billion, depending on whether or not the station offers direct service between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. A direct train would make the end-to-end trip in approximately 2 hours and 54 minutes, while a transfer would increase that time table to 4 hours and 32 minutes.