The California High-Speed Rail Authority has taken a significant step towards installing electrified track on the state’s emerging high-speed rail network.
The Authority has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) valued at approximately 3.5 billion USD, inviting qualified firms to bid for the construction of track and systems along the Central Valley section of the project.
The move follows approval from the Authority’s Board of Directors last week to begin the procurement process. The contract will cover the installation of track, overhead contact systems, train control, communications infrastructure and the associated testing and certification required before services can begin.
The contract is organised into nine packages, each with phased Notices to Proceed, allowing construction to advance progressively as civil works are completed. The scope includes the 119 miles of railway currently under construction between Madera and north of Bakersfield, as well as the planned extensions to Merced and Bakersfield.
Bringing this contract to market today is a major milestone of our new delivery strategy: building faster, smarter, and more economically. Together with our innovative direct purchases of track and systems materials, this action puts us on an accelerated path to laying the first true high-speed rail track in the Western Hemisphere next year.
The RFP’s release coincides with the completion of track installation at a 150-acre railhead facility in Kern County. This site, located at the southern end of the Central Valley alignment, will serve as the central logistics point for delivering rail and systems components. Freight trains will bring materials directly to the facility, enabling distribution along the full 119-mile corridor once the main construction contract is awarded.
Across the wider project, design and construction work continue on the 171-mile section between Merced and Bakersfield. More than 70 miles of guideway have been completed to date, with nearly 60 major structures finished and around 30 others under construction across Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties.
Statewide planning also remains underway. Of the planned 494-mile system connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles and Anaheim, 463 miles have now received full environmental clearance.
The project has generated more than 16,100 jobs since construction began, with most positions filled by residents of the Central Valley. On a typical day, up to 1,700 workers are active across the construction sites.
Further information on the Track and Systems Construction Contract, including anticipated timelines, can be found on the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s website.
