The US Surface Transportation Board has authorised the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) to start building a 114-mile high-speed passenger rail line between Fresno and Bakersfield.

The new line would connect stations in Fresno, Bakersfield and a Kings/Tulare regional station in the Anford/Visalia/Tulare area.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Go deeper with GlobalData

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The line will be the second segment of the planned state-wide California high-speed train system, which would provide high-speed intercity passenger rail service over more than 800 miles throughout the state.

Upon completion, the complete rail system would connect Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area, the Central Valley, Los Angeles, the eastern region of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, Orange County and San Diego.

"Partnering with Arcadis will help provide California with a high-speed rail system that is worthy of our state."

The authorisation is subject to environmental mitigation conditions, including a condition that CHSRA build the route designated by the US Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) as environmentally preferable and comply with mitigation imposed by FRA, as well as three additional environmental conditions.

CHSRA has also awarded a contract for design and construction supervision services on construction package 2-3 (CP 2-3) to the US subsidiary of Arcadis.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

The CP 2-3 covers the 60-mile stretch of the initial operating section between East America Avenue south of Fresno and the border between Kern and Tulare counties.

Under the agreed upon contract, Arcadis could receive approximately $71.86m based on actual work performed over a period of roughly five years.

CHSRA CEO Jeff Morales said: "Partnering with Arcadis will help provide California with a high-speed rail system that is worthy of our state.

"Their experience, expertise and employment opportunities will be a tremendous asset to the high-speed rail programme and the Central Valley."

Railway Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Railway Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact across the defence sector.

Excellence in Action
MTR Corporation and Dragages Hong Kong triumphed in three categories – Research & Development, Environmental and Safety – for their Kwu Tung Station project . Learn how this future Northern Link–East Rail Line interchange sets new benchmarks in digital construction, decarbonisation and safety management.

Discover the Impact