THE SOUTHWEST NETWORK

The Demand for High Speed Rail in the Southwest Network

XpressWest serves a “captive demand” for transportation in the Corridor linking approximately 22 million people living in Southern California with Las Vegas.1  Approximately 39 million visitors travelled to Las Vegas in 2011.2 Over 25% of all Las Vegas visitors travel from the Southern California region.3 As Las Vegas has grown into an international tourist and business / convention destination, demand for travel between Southern California and Las Vegas has substantially increased. Approximately 90% percent of visitors from Southern California drive on I-15,4 the only highway connecting Southern California with Las Vegas. Over the last decade, the trip on the I-15 has become a time-consuming, stressful, and congested travel experience.

In 2011 Southern California's adult population is estimated to be 15.7 million and in 2030 will grow to 19.5 million5 . The lack of alternative transportation to Las Vegas and the Southwest threatens the region’s economic stability and future growth. XpressWest will add service and capacity to enhance the national rail system by providing a modern, state of the art high speed rail service between two major population centers and visitation destinations where no service presently exists.  As the first leg of what will ultimately become the Southwest high speed rail network, XpressWest will play a major role in introducing high speed rail transportation to the region and U.S. market.