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Brightline Train Project
Nearly three-quarters of Americans support creating a nation-wide high-speed rail network. An ambitious expansion and modernization of existing rail infrastructure would spur job creation and reduce emissions from the transportation sector.182 The Biden administration mobilized billions to upgrade rail infrastructure,183 and the American High Speed Rail Act, currently
175 CALSTART, “Summary of Clean Transportation Provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act.”
176 U.S. Department of Transportation, “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Information from FRA.”
178 Hartford; Metra, “Working at Metra | Metra.”
181 Porritt, “Brightline West Inks Commitment with High-Speed Rail Labor Coalition.”
182 Bickerton, J. (2024, June 23). America is Embracing High-Speed Rail. Newsweek.
pending in Congress, would contribute an additional $205 billion to jumpstart construction.184 Investment in our railroads is a popular and practical approach to combating the climate crisis.
IAM members have the skills necessary to build and maintain high-speed rail systems. As part of the High Speed Rail Coalition, the IAM secured a memorandum of understanding (MOU) ensuring that the “Brightline West” high-speed rail project will be built, operated, and maintained by union workers. The project will create 35,000 jobs during construction, 1,000 permanent jobs, and annually remove 400,000 tons of CO2 from the air. Additionally, the IAM has reached a Voluntary Recognition Agreement with Siemens Mobility to represent workers who will build state-of-the-art trains for Brightline West.185
The all-electric Brightline West system will service a 218-mile route connecting Las Vegas and Los Angeles. At speeds reaching over 186 miles per hour, the trains will transport passengers at half the average driving time.186 The project broke ground in 2024 with the goal of being open in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
More than one-third of the world’s track miles are electrified, with China, India, and Europe targeting fully electric and high-speed rail networks.187 Meanwhile, less than 1% of North American rail lines are electrified.188 Building a climate safe rail network, where renewable energy powers high-speed locomotives, is a chance for rail unions to help members, travelers, and communities across the country.
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