@60minutes: America’s hopes for its first high-speed rail line were kindled in 2008, when California voters approved a ballot measure for a bullet train whisking riders between Los Angeles and San Francisco in less than three hours. It’s a trip that can take six hours or more by car. The estimated price tag: $33 billion. The target completion date: 2020. Status update? Today, California’s high-speed rail authority is preparing to lay its first tracks at roughly that same cost. But the section under construction now will run about one-third of the original distance, connecting Bakersfield and Merced, and is expected to open in 2033. #train #highspeedrail #california
What happened to all the money? That’s my question
2026-04-06 13:46:42
225
Andrew Kjorlaug :
The issues were two fold:
1. NIMBY immediately popped up along several segments and years of litigation ensued
2. Local politicians wanted their own stop and routes nearby
2026-04-06 11:25:42
293
SPARTACUS:) :
In China, this would take 2 years with half the price
2026-04-06 18:54:14
133
Andrew :
This is just the first section. This is what happens when you try to build a capability in a country that has never done it before. Once we build it, we’ll learn so much that every similar project after will be faster and cheaper.
2026-04-05 23:43:48
95
soowo72 :
China started building hsr around the same time, now it has 50000kms of hsr.
2026-04-06 00:19:58
126
Juan Pe5936580630310 :
Companies first Americans last…
2026-04-05 23:55:19
567
Gio 🇵🇸 :
If only fossil fuel lobbies would just let us develop our rail system :(
2026-04-06 14:05:47
174
Son_of_Holland :
It does bug me the most advanced country on the planet cannot build a high speed rail options on time, within budget. Absolutely mind blowing. I understand the geography, privately owned land, federally owned land are all massive obstacles…. But come on.
2026-04-06 17:36:55
24
The OG KG :
The original company for Ca HSR quit after too much red tape. They then built HSR in Morocco. Longer and more challenging terrain at $2B. It’s been running for a few years.
2026-04-06 16:29:57
22
Conmanx :
That's all corruption btw. They have the money and the means but getting lobbied by the automotive industry
2026-04-08 20:36:41
5
Alex _sokolov🇺🇦🦁 :
As a Californian hurry up bruh
2026-04-06 05:29:09
26
jrich2lit :
It’s simple really California is to over regulate
2026-04-07 13:15:49
5
Danedad22 :
Just got back from Japan. Bullet trains were everywhere. Connecting small towns to large cities. Every. Seven. Minutes. Just saying.
2026-04-06 17:31:05
54
Sam I am 😍😍 :
Not even a single track
2026-04-07 21:57:22
5
🐸 :
One of Gavin’s failures to accomplish. The CHSR could’ve done wonders for his presidential election
2026-04-07 23:18:13
5
Kick rocks :
The train is a big eye sore going over HWY 99 in Fresno and it's getting worse
2026-04-07 00:05:06
5
MiQ :
Haha
2026-04-06 19:05:24
5
Mike-Bowers :
At that rate, California is going to get a steam train in 2036 😂 The 4th economy in the world can’t even lay a single mile of track for its high speed train after 15 billions spent in decades 🤨 .
2026-04-06 15:45:43
8
D-Jam :
I also wouldn't be surprised if one of the problems is that the minute government looks at any contractor for something, those contractors triple their price. government needs to do more to push that back down to the same price a private entrepreneur would be paying.
2026-04-06 12:09:21
12
badtiger85 :
So let me see if I got this right. Its way over due on schedule. Extremely over budget and won't even be running the route it promised
2026-04-07 04:19:47
11
Cruz The Creatorr :
@Cruz The Creatorr: All imma say as someone who lives in the Central Valley, many have fell for the “it’s a corrupt waste” agenda. After traveling abroad and seeing how amazing it is to hop on a train and be at my destination. This is a necessity for California infrastructure
2026-04-06 17:02:49
5
Kenni 💙 :
Yeah, well, there’s more to this. And yes, some mismanagement and realignment, bad contracts etc. but also, the original plan was San Francisco of LA straight shot, then the Central Valley state Congress members derailed it.
2026-04-07 00:49:33
7
JYX-Man路漫漫 :
slight correction here: complete date 3302, not 2033😅
2026-04-06 18:52:55
6
Lorenzo :
in Spain 🇪🇦🇪🇺
2026-04-06 12:21:17
8
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