Governor Newsom announces major high-speed rail milestone, track installation to begin

What you need to know: Governor Gavin Newsom joined community leaders and construction workers to celebrate the completion of the Southern Railhead Facility in Kern County - a major milestone that allows California to begin receiving and staging materials needed to install high-speed rail track and systems along the California high-speed rail corridor.

KERN COUNTY - Today, Governor Gavin Newsom, alongside state and community leaders, celebrated the completion of the California High-Speed Rail Authority's Southern Railhead Facility in Kern County, marking a significant step forward in building the nation's first high-speed rail system and advancing the future of clean, connected transportation.

"With the completion of the Southern Railhead Facility, we've taken another critical step in the track-laying stage. California is building the nation's first high-speed rail system, and we're proving it can be done. We're laying the foundation for cleaner, faster, and more connected transportation while investing in communities and creating good-paying jobs. California isn't waiting for the future. We're building it."

Governor Gavin Newsom

With track installation now complete at the 150-acre site near Wasco, the facility will operate as a central logistics hub for the delivery, storage, and deployment of critical materials needed to electrify and operate the system.

The completion of the Southern Railhead Facility underscores the real, tangible progress being made on California's high-speed rail project. With 119 miles under active construction, over 80 miles of guideway already finished, and 58 structures like bridges, overpasses, and viaducts completed, high-speed rail is no longer a hypothetical-it's becoming a reality.

"This milestone underscores the progress California is making by moving from planning to implementation," said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. "With track installation now within reach, completing the railhead puts real momentum behind the work ahead. It's tangible progress - building infrastructure that connects communities, supports a cleaner transportation future, and brings high-speed rail closer to service."

"This major milestone reflects the work happening on the ground and a delivery approach focused on partnerships with the Governor and Legislature," said California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Ian Choudri. "The railhead facility is a critical step in the track-installation process and keeps us on pace to deliver this system smarter, faster and more economically. With procurements underway on laying of electrified track and systems, including new and innovative pathways opening for private sector investment, we're building the foundation for long-term success and continued momentum."

Today's event comes one year after Governor Newsom launched construction of the railhead facility. Since then, the Authority has invited industry to bid on laying electrified high-speed rail track and systems. The Authority has secured suppliers for long-welded rail and has begun acquiring key materials needed for installation. These efforts coincide with the Authority's ongoing work to attract private-sector partners to help deliver the system faster and more efficiently.

Creating jobs and growing California's economy

California's high-speed rail project continues to deliver significant economic benefits statewide. To date, the project has generated approximately 121,910 job-years-the combined number of years worked of full-time employment supported by the project-and nearly $25 billion in economic output.

During fiscal year 2024-25, 98.6% of project spending supported Californian businesses and workers. Last year alone, the project supported 13,200 job-years, generated $1.3 billion in wages, and added $2.9 billion to the state's economy.

The Central Valley has seen the greatest impact, with 58,500 job-years of employment and about $11 billion in total economic activity since 2006-supporting not only construction workers, but also suppliers, manufacturers, and service providers across the state.

Learn more about the statewide benefits of high-speed rail through the Authority's new interactive mapping tool.

About the Railhead Project

With the Legislature's recent renewal of California's Cap-and-Invest program, the high-speed rail project has its most stable economic outlook in a decade - securing a historic annual commitment of $1 billion for the program through 2045. The largest guaranteed infusion of funding for California's high-speed rail program to date will enable the Authority to move from heavy civil construction into full systems installation and delivery.

A year after the kick-off of railhead construction in 2025, the Authority has completed installation of freight tracks at the 150-acre project site. The facility is connected to the national freight network and is designed to support the delivery and staging of materials required to build the future electrified high-speed rail system.

The site includes temporary freight lines and storage tracks, material storage and warehouse facilities, maintenance and operations space, and infrastructure to safely coordinate trains, equipment, and personnel.

High-Speed Rail Progress

Work continues daily on the high-speed rail project, with 171 miles currently under design and construction from Merced to Bakersfield. Nearly 80 miles of guideway are complete, along with 58 fully completed structures; an additional 29 more structures are underway across Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties.

The project continues to advance statewide, with 463 miles of the 494-mile San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim system fully environmentally cleared and construction-ready.

Since construction began, the project has created more than 16,400 good-paying jobs with over 70 percent going to residents of the Central Valley. Up to 1,700 workers report to high-speed rail construction sites each day.

For the latest on high-speed rail construction, visit https://www.buildhsr.com.