Brightline West Vegas To SoCal Train May Cost $400 Roundtrip
This ain’t it, Brightline West. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Brightline founder Wes Edens said that the a roundtrip on the planned 235 mile long train line bringing passengers between Las Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga, California could cost as much as $400. If that is the case, we’d like to get off at the next stop.
If you are looking for a vision of what Brightline West will look like, look towards the east. Brightline has been operating a train between Miami and Orlando and will soon expand to Tampa. All destinations that are relatively close to one another that are close enough to justify perhaps not flying. The difference between that project and this one is where the line terminates. Brightline’s Miami stop is in the heart of the city. In Orlando, it terminates at Orlando International Airport and a relatively quick ride to nearby Walt Disney World. The planned extension to Tampa will terminate near downtown.
When it comes to Brightline West, the convenience is a little less pronounced (unless of course you are really interested in shopping at Ontario Mills outlet mall.)
The planned route will shuttle people from Las Vegas Boulevard and Blue Diamond Road to Rancho Cucamonga’s MetroLink station, right near the Ontario International Airport. If you want to get to Los Angeles from there, you’ll have to hop off Brightline, onto MetroLink and spend more time on the train. And if you were looking to go to San Diego or the beaches of Orange County… you may want to get a nice long Uber or Lyft.
What Will Cost More? Brightline West? Flying? Driving?
Time is money and we are short on both. On the high end, we know Brightline West wants to charge as much as $400. Driving the 235 miles to Rancho Cucamonga in an average 28mpg vehicle would take around 8.5 gallons. At $4.50 a gallon that’d cost $76.50 round trip. Oh, and you’ll be able to continue driving to your planned destination.
Flying? It all depends on which direction and when. Las Vegas to Ontario for this Friday, March 15th and returning on Sunday, March 17th is as low as $118 roundtrip on Frontier as of publishing this article. For Southern Californians looking to get to Las Vegas for the same dates, it bumps up to $270 roundtrip. Still far below $400.
What About Time Savings?
So Brightline West will cost considerably more. But hey, you’re not having to drive. Just sit back on Wifi and enjoy, right? Well, true. But don’t think it’ll save you much time. The train company believes the ride will run 3.5 hours. Now obviously on a day of mass exodus (weekends, we are looking at you) things will be a lot faster on the train. That drive will take about 3.5 hours with no bathroom or food breaks.
When you compare that to flying, it’s a bit more complicated. We all know the rule of thumb “you should be at the airport two hours before boarding”. But you don’t do that. No one does. Get there an hour beforehand and go through security. The flight (without a delay) takes around an hour. You’re getting to lovely Ontario International nearly an hour faster. And you’ll have access to the same MetroLink system to head into the city.
We are all for high speed rail in America. But if the trip is going to take just as long, and cost twice as much (or more) than the current options, the project has derailed before it starts.
8 Seemingly Unreal Places to Add to Your Travel Bucket List
Antelope Canyon, Arizona
This Arizona canyon was naturally carved by rainwater streams within the sandstone. The Navajo Nation gave it the name ‘The place where water runs through rocks.’ Visit Arizona explains that the Upper Antelope Canyon tour is more frequented due to increased sunlight and towering walls reaching 120 feet. Alternatively, the Lower Antelope Canyon tour is equally remarkable, providing visitors with an immersive encounter among the swirling sandstone walls.
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Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming
Among the world’s largest springs, the Grand Prismatic measures an expansive 370 feet in diameter, exceeding the size of a football field. Its vibrant appearance stems from bands of orange, yellow, and green that encircle the deep blue waters. These diverse colors originate from different strains of thermophile bacteria, thriving in the progressively cooler waters around the spring, as explained by Yellowstone National Park. For a bird’s-eye-like view of the Grand Prismatic, they suggest visitors follow the half-mile Fairy Falls trail to a lookout.
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The Door to Hell, Turkmenistan
Located in Turkmenistan’s Karakum Desert, the Door to Hell is a large fiery crater. It emerged when a natural gas field accidentally caught fire in 1971 and has been burning continuously since then, according to National Geographic. A well-visited tourist spot, the Door to Hell permits visitors to hike down into the crater for a close view of the flames and an opportunity to experience the unique atmosphere of the site. The Door to Hell, also referred to as the Darvaza Gas Crater, is located in a rural part of the country.
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Diamond Beach, Iceland
Found along Iceland’s South Coast, the Diamond Beach is a volcanic black sand shoreline adjacent to the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Ice blocks from the glacier lagoon wash ashore after breaking into smaller pieces at sea, as mentioned in the Diamond Beach Travel Guide. The beach is also a natural habitat for seals.
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Mendenhall Glacier Caves, Alaska
According to the Tongass National Forest, the Mendenhall Glacier is among the numerous expansive glaciers originating from the Juneau Icefield, an area spanning 1500 square miles of rock, snow, and ice. The glacier gradually advances under the influence of gravity, descending down the slope. Over time, it carves the bedrock and erodes during its 13-mile path until it reaches Mendenhall Lake.
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Thor’s Well, Oregon
Located on the Oregon coast near Cape Perpetua, there’s a large sinkhole that appears to swallow seawater continuously, resembling a bottomless pit. According to Yachats Oregon, it’s often called the “drainpipe of the Pacific.” They explain that the well is actually a hole in the rock that gives the impression of draining ocean water. Some researchers believe this well might have started as a sea cave shaped by waves. Over time, its roof likely collapsed, creating openings at the top and bottom, which spray ocean water.
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Crooked Forest, Poland
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Found close to the town of Gryfino in West Pomerania, Poland, the Crooked Forest consists of 400 peculiarly contorted pine trees. As revealed by Discovery, these pine trees were planted approximately in 1930, back when the area was part of the German province of Pomerania. Starting from the ground, the pine trees exhibit a distinctive feature: they grow with a sharp 90-degree bend towards the north, before gracefully straightening up towards the sky.
Pink Beach, Padar Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia
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The beach is named for its pink sand, which comes from tiny organisms in the coral reefs nearby. Visitors can swim, snorkel, and see marine life like sea turtles and manta rays in the clear water. The beach also has great views of hills and turquoise waters.
