SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has taken another decisive step toward completing the first operational segment of the long-awaited statewide bullet-train network, issuing a major Request for Proposals (RFP) for the track and systems package for the 119-mile Merced-to-Bakersfield line.
The newly issued RFP represents one of the most significant rail infrastructure contracts in the United States, valued at approximately $3.5 billion. Interested firms have until March 2, 2026, to submit proposals. The package encompasses not only track installation but also the catenary electrical system, train control equipment, and the communications infrastructure needed to operate true high-speed service.
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Authority CEO Ian Choudri emphasized the importance of the milestone in a Nov. 26 announcement, saying:
“Bringing this contract to market today is a major milestone of our new delivery strategy: building faster, smarter, and more economically. Together with our innovative direct purchases of track and systems materials, this action puts us on an accelerated path to laying the first true high-speed rail track in the Western Hemisphere next year.”
The launch of the RFP follows the completion of track installation at a newly built 150-acre railhead facility in Kern County, which will serve as the project’s primary logistics hub. The facility will soon begin receiving large-scale shipments of track materials, electrical components, and other critical elements that will be transported directly to construction zones along the 119-mile segment.
Located near Hanford, the segment already includes major civil infrastructure achievements—such as the recently finished grade-separation bridge at Hanford-Armona Road—demonstrating visible progress after years of delays, redesigns, and evolving funding strategies.
The track and systems contract is expected to determine timelines for when the project can enter the next phase: test runs and eventual commissioning of the first high-speed corridor in North America. Once complete, the Merced–Bakersfield segment will serve as the foundational stretch for a statewide network that aims to ultimately connect San Francisco, Los Angeles, and beyond.
This phase also includes integration of:
Firms bidding on the project will be evaluated not only on cost but also on technical expertise, experience with high-speed rail, and capacity to work within CHSRA’s updated delivery framework. The Authority has said it is focused on cost efficiencies, direct procurement of materials, and a streamlined construction approach.
With federal funding commitments increasing nationwide for rail modernization, the RFP is being closely watched by contractors, rail manufacturers, and transportation policy leaders across the country.
The Kern County railhead—groundbreaking for which occurred in January 2025—will now shift to full operational mode as the hub for materials staging, delivery coordination, and workforce deployment.
As the Authority highlights progress on multiple fronts, the release of this major RFP signals a renewed push to deliver visible progress and meet accelerated construction goals for the nation's most ambitious rail project.
Originally reported by Trains Staff in Trains.
