Governor Gavin Newsom has confirmed a major step forward for California’s high-speed rail programme with the completion of a purpose-built logistics hub that will allow track and systems installation to begin. The newly finished Southern Railhead Facility near Wasco in Kern County is expected to become the operational heart of the electrified rail corridor.
The 150-acre complex was constructed over the past year and will function as the central location for receiving, storing and distributing critical materials such as long-welded rail, sleepers and signalling components. State officials say the site marks a turning point as the project transitions from heavy civil construction to the next phase of rail systems delivery.
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Speaking alongside community leaders and workers at the site inauguration, Newsom described the moment as proof that the long-discussed project is now visibly taking shape across the Central Valley.
With the completion of the Southern Railhead Facility, we’ve taken another critical step in the track-laying stage. California is building the nation’s first high-speed rail system, and we’re proving it can be done. We’re laying the foundation for cleaner, faster, and more connected transportation while investing in communities and creating good-paying jobs. California isn’t waiting for the future. We’re building it.
The railhead connects directly to the national freight network and contains multiple freight lines, warehousing, maintenance zones and operational yards to manage equipment and workforce movements. With internal track already installed, suppliers can now deliver materials straight to the corridor for immediate deployment.
Procurement is advancing for major track and systems contracts, while suppliers for long-welded rail have already been confirmed. Officials believe this will allow construction schedules to accelerate through 2026 and beyond.
This milestone underscores the progress California is making by moving from planning to implementation. With track installation now within reach, completing the railhead puts real momentum behind the work ahead. It’s tangible progress – building infrastructure that connects communities, supports a cleaner transportation future, and brings high-speed rail closer to service.
Across the Central Valley, 119 miles of the route are currently under active construction, with more than 80 miles of guideway completed. Fifty-eight major structures – including bridges, viaducts and overpasses – have already been finished, while dozens more remain in progress across Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties.
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The project recently received a financial boost through the renewal of California’s Cap-and-Invest programme, which guarantees roughly 1 billion USD annually for high-speed rail through to 2045. The Authority said this long-term certainty will allow planners to shift focus from basic construction toward full systems installation, electrification and eventual operations.
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Ian Choudri said:
This major milestone reflects the work happening on the ground and a delivery approach focused on partnerships with the Governor and Legislature. The railhead facility is a critical step in the track-installation process and keeps us on pace to deliver this system smarter, faster and more economically. With procurements underway on laying of electrified track and systems, including new and innovative pathways opening for private sector investment, we’re building the foundation for long-term success and continued momentum.
Beyond transportation benefits, the programme continues to be promoted as a significant economic catalyst. Since ground was first broken, the scheme has generated an estimated 121,900 job-years of employment and nearly 25 billion USD in economic output. During the 2024–25 fiscal year, almost all spending flowed to California-based businesses and workers.
The Central Valley has received the largest share of activity, supporting roughly 58,500 job-years since 2006. Employment has extended well beyond construction crews to include manufacturers, engineering firms, professional services and local suppliers.
Work is continuing on the initial operating segment between Merced and Bakersfield, where 171 miles are in design or active construction. Statewide, environmental clearance has now been secured for 463 miles of the planned 494-mile corridor linking San Francisco with Los Angeles and Anaheim.
Officials say the completion of the Southern Railhead Facility represents one of the most tangible signs yet that California’s high-speed rail system is moving from vision to reality, with steel on the ground expected to follow in the months ahead.
Originally reported by Tiana May in Railway News.
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