From the official website-Dessert Xpress: Desert Xpress set to debut 2014

Link: Desert Xpress set to debut 2014 | California Excursions

June 10th, 2009
Desert Xpress set to debut 2014

The DesertXpress is a unique project that is based on using proven, steel wheel on rail high speed train technology to connect Southern California and Las Vegas.



A new transportation alternative will alleviate the congestion on I-15 facilitating both Las Vegas-bound and Southern California-bound travelers. Las Vegas has consistently been the fastest-growing large city in the country over the past decade. This growth has only strengthened the demand for travel from Nevada to Southern California. And in the wake of the current economic downturn, hotel occupancy in Las Vegas has remained strong at nearly 90%; and, traffic counts on the I-15 freeway at the CA-NV State Border have shown increases in 2009.

The DesertXpress will travel 184 miles from Victorville, CA to Las Vegas, NV in 84 minutes.
The DesertXpress will travel 184 miles from Victorville to Las Vegas in 84 minutes.

The Route
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From Victorville, a completely separate, dedicated two-track passenger railway would be constructed, largely following the north side or median of I-15, making maximum use of excess freeway right-of-way, and minimizing the impact upon the largely undeveloped land alongside the highway. There will be no grade crossings, thereby maximizing speed and safety.

Two passenger stations are proposed, one in Victorville located along the west side of I-15 between the North and South junctions with the Stoddard Wells Road interchanges on about 60 acres of land, plus parking, and the other station in Las Vegas at one of three possible locations designed to interface with proposed extensions of the Las Vegas Monorail™, with shuttles serving the resorts and the central business district.

In Las Vegas, the line will be conveniently located close to the airport, the Strip, and downtown Las Vegas. In addition, if desired by the resort owners at Primm, located adjacent to the state line, a station could be provided to accommodate separate excursion trains operating to and from Las Vegas.


Link: click here.
Why Victorville?

Of course it would be great if DesertXpress could be extended to downtown Los Angeles, Anaheim and Ontario, and someday it might. But for this initial project, it is critical for the station to serve the Southern California market and be financeable without public tax dollars.

Victorville makes a lot of sense because it is the first major population center northeast of the Cajon Pass through the San Bernardino mountain range separating the High Desert from the Los Angeles basin. Victorville is within only a 30- to 45-minute drive for roughly 5 million people who live in the Inland Empire, Antelope Valley, and the eastern portions of Los Angeles County, and only a one to two hour’s drive for most of the rest of the Southland’s 21 million residents—many of whom routinely drive at least an hour to and from work each weekday.
Fares & Schedules

The comprehensive ridership forecasting work that was independently vetted by the Federal Railroad Administration shows that at a $50 one-way fare, which is at the mid-point of the range of fares we have studied, the annual ridership in the first full year of operation is estimated to be over 10 million trips.

Trains would operate between 6 am to 10 pm (or later), daily, 365 days a year, at 20 to 30 minute intervals during peak periods and 1- to 2-hour intervals during non-peak periods.

DesertXpress will operate at a top speed of 150 mph, making the 180-mile trip in about 84 minutes, like clock work, no matter what time of day, every day of the year.
A Fully Expandable System

The DesertXpress line could be extended over approximately 50 miles to interface with the inter-modal facility planned in Palmdale on the voter-approved California High Speed Rail Project. And because the system will use non-proprietary, high quality, standard gauge steel rail technology, it does not tie the hands of the public sector. This ensures that the lowest possible cost can be realized for such expansions.