Brightline Founder Predicts a Passenger Rail Resurgence

As a new high-speed rail line breaks ground between Las Vegas and Southern California, Brightline founder Wes Edens says “A new era of fast passenger rail is poised to sweep across the US” — and his company is ready for expansion.

“The Texas triangle of Dallas, Houston and San Antonio is among the promising routes, as are Atlanta-Charlotte, Portland-Seattle and Chicago-St. Louis, the Fortress Investment Group co-chair and chief executive officer said in an interview on Bloomberg Television’s Wall Street Week with David Westin.” The Brightline West line is expected to begin service in time for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.

Edens says appropriate regions for expansion are areas with major population centers around 200 to 300 miles apart. “The Texas triangle of Dallas, Houston and San Antonio is among the promising routes, as are Atlanta-Charlotte, Portland-Seattle and Chicago-St. Louis, the Fortress Investment Group co-chair and chief executive officer said in an interview on Bloomberg Television’s Wall Street Week with David Westin.”