WASCO, Calif. — In a ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 3, California Gov. Gavin Newsom marked the completion of the Southern Railhead Facility for the California high-speed rail project.
The rail yard at the 150-acre site in Kern County near the community of Wasco will be used to receive, store, and distribute materials for track construction and other work on the 171-mile segment between Bakersfield and Merced. Nearly 80 miles of guideway are complete, as well as 58 structures such as bridges; another 29 structures are under construction.
In a press release, Newsom called completion of the railhead facility “another critical step in the track-laying phase,” while state Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin said, “This milestone underscores the progress California is making by moving from planning to implementation. With track installation now within reach, completing the railhead puts real momentum behind the work ahead.”
Newsom took part in groundbreaking at the site last January [see “Ceremony marks start …,” Trains.com, Jan. 7, 2025]. Actual track construction for the long-delayed, over-budget project is in the Request for Proposals stage, with proposals due in March [see “California high-speed project issues request …,” Nov. 28, 2025].
The federal government has pulled its support for the project, but the state has committed to providing $1 billion in annual funding through 2045.
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A major milestone for California’s high-speed rail project that will benefit the Golden State’s economy in the long run…
I’m wondering if it’s an effective yard? Yes it’s part of a larger property, and HSR video shows where the offices for various functions are; plus tie storage… is it effective for loading ballast (or does that arrive by train and sojourn here until needed?). Loading rail (maybe same)? Or if most of the materials arrive by train, perhaps this is more for arrivals/departures/staging of materials out to milepost du jour, than for collection and loading of materials. Still, it woudl seem to require some setout, passing, and interchange tracks with BNSF, for instance.
Ever since the exposure of all that fraud in Minneapolis with Billions given for well fair work never done, never started, never attempted, I have wondered how many big government programs exist just for the grift.
CA has taken enough money for this project so that there should be some track laid and sections running, but there isn’t. Where did the money go, as it is gone, and is there any intention on completing it or are they just doing enough to try to justify being given more money to steal?
Am I reading this correctly? After all these years, only 80 miles of roadway are ready for track. Less than half the 171 mile length. And only 2/3 of “structures” are complete.
Unbelievable!!
Given the history, I can imagine the probable fiasco when they start to order rolling stock. Battery powered, probably.
And that’s the easy segment, Merced to Bakersfield. Imagine Bakersfield – Burbank – Los Angeles. Or imagine Merced – San Jose.
While I’m at it, I’m going to circle back to Brightline West. Some right-wingers (notably not me) have drunk the Brightline West Kool-Aid because it’s a private company, not a government bureaucracy like ClaHSR. Bosh. Brightline West is a bigger scam that CalHSR.
Sorry for the fat-finger typos in my post of 8:24 AM. I had a mouse slip and it posted before I could review.
I’ve been involved with plenty of construction projects- first time I’ve ever seen a celebration for opening a laydown yard.
Must be a slow day in CA…
This is all California can afford? $1 Billion over 10 years? State needs to step up more with funding in my view.
If the Feds had not forced CA to start construction in the San Joaquin Valley with a new R/W paralleling the BNSF R/W (into which CA has invested millions over the past thirty years and on which Amtrak’s Gold Runners operate), but instead started on the Bakersfield to Palmdale segment, we would be close to having an operational LA to Oakland (or Sacramento) one seat train ride in far less time than the once a day Coast Starlight takes. Yes, it would be conventional rail, but an incremental step towards HSR. And the public would have something to see what they limited money would have bought (i.e., the supply would induce the demand, which would justify the expansion to HSR later.)
Instead, the system under construction might be completed – if ever – after most of us in the forum will no longer be around to ride it.
I think it was California and not the feds that pushed for the High Speed Rail option. The original plan was just for a conventional passenger route to tie the two existing services together. But the lure of free federal funds was once again too great for sensible minds.
Material handling is a part of construction but it’s not something that the state’s governor normally gets excited about. Unless, of course, there’s no other progress that he can point to.
Since he’s running for president maybe he would be better off avoiding this boondoggle. Billions of dollars for the Bakersfield-Merced Corridor aren’t likely to impress out-of-state voters (not to mention California;’s other problems).
Robert, the article states 1 billion annually.