The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has approved a contract with Siemens Mobility to design and manufacture the first trainsets for its high-speed rail network.
The Authority has also completed environmental clearance for the full 494-mile (795km) Phase 1 system between San Francisco and Los Angeles/Anaheim.
The trainset contract follows a multi-year competitive procurement process. It covers the delivery of an initial three high-speed trains, with options for additional units as the network develops.
As well as design and manufacturing, the agreement includes long-term maintenance, systems integration, testing and commissioning required for certification.
The first trainsets are scheduled to arrive in California’s Central Valley for dynamic testing by early 2030. The Authority is targeting the start of passenger services by 2033.
Following approval by the CHSRA Board, Siemens will begin detailed design and schedule development before ramping up manufacturing. Testing will take place on completed sections of the Central Valley alignment, supporting operational training, performance validation and safety certification ahead of passenger service.
In a separate decision, the Board approved the final environmental document for the 30-mile (48km) Los Angeles–Anaheim section.
This completes project-level environmental clearance for the entire 494-mile Phase 1 route between San Francisco and Los Angeles/Anaheim. The clearance covers the route’s remaining section, allowing the Authority to progress planning and development across the full proposed system.
Meanwhile, construction continues on the sections between Merced and Bakersfield in the Central Valley. More than 90 miles (145km) of guideway have been completed, alongside 70 major structures. A further 22 structures are under construction across Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties.
The Authority also reports that the project has supported more than 20,000 construction jobs and generated nearly 27 billion USD in economic output and growth across California. Up to 1,700 workers are reported to be working on construction sites each day.
