**Submission Statement:** Costs continue to soar on California’s High Speed Rail (CHSR) project. Originally authorized in 2008 at a cost of $33 billion and a completion date of 2020, currently has 0 miles of operating track. With cost exploding to $231 billion and functionality still years out, current estimates have the first passenger operation slated for 2033, with full operation planned for 2040. As it stands, California High Speed Rail is planned to be 7x more expensive than originally intended and 20 years behind schedule. The future of CHSR remains cloudy, as debates about how to raise additional funds are being discussed.
FCKABRNLSUTN2 on
It could be a trillion and Redditors would still call you stupid and carbrained for thinking it’s a tad out of hand.
markusthemarxist on
how the fuck is that even possible legitimately please someone explain this to me?
> If you live in a fact-based universe, you were probably surprised by this morning’s headlines on California High-Speed Rail. “California’s high-speed rail now ‘worst project in history’ — as insiders reveal unbelievable new cost,” blared the right-wing tabloid California Post. ”California high-speed rail price tag jumps to $231B, nearly seven times 2008 estimate,” continues the Central Valley’s KMPH/FOX 26. “CA High-Speed Rail Cost Explodes to $231 Billion, From Original $33 Billion,” echoes the California Globe.
> Wasn’t it just two months ago that the California High Speed Rail Authority (CAHSRA) unveiled a new business plan that put the price of the project between Los Angeles and San Francisco at $126 billion, a number that was actually lower than the previous business plan?
> Last week, the California State Senate Transportation Committee held a hearing on the project to review a report put together by the non-partisan Legislative Analysts’ Office (LAO). The report summarizes and reviews the business plan presented by CAHSRA in February. In one line, the report mentions the cost of the project under a worst-case scenario if the Assembly and Senate don’t pass a series of reforms they are widely expected to pass. The information is presented as cautionary to encourage legislators to act responsibly.
> State Senator Tony Strickland (R-Orange County) sent out a press statement taking the $231 billion number as fact, and the right-wing press took that “truth” and ran with it.
centurion44 on
This is pathetic and frankly criminal misuse of public funds
ixvst01 on
How is that even possible? The Chuo maglev Shinkansen is estimated to be ~$72 billion and that’s for a project where most of the track is going through literal mountains.
rphillish on
It’s such an outrageous lie to say “zero miles of track built”. Yeah, because they’ve been building all the bridges and foundation and to put the track on. There’s over a 100 miles of track being built right as you’re reading this
These figures are blatant propaganda by the right to shut down a valuable infrastructure project they’ve had a hate boner for since 2008.
Butwhy113511 on
The best time to build anything was way before today. We need to streamline some of the permitting process and let things get built. This kind of thing is why people keep leaving blue states and why California is going to lose a bunch of reps in 2030. We have to find ways to bring the cost of construction down.
10 Comments
**Submission Statement:** Costs continue to soar on California’s High Speed Rail (CHSR) project. Originally authorized in 2008 at a cost of $33 billion and a completion date of 2020, currently has 0 miles of operating track. With cost exploding to $231 billion and functionality still years out, current estimates have the first passenger operation slated for 2033, with full operation planned for 2040. As it stands, California High Speed Rail is planned to be 7x more expensive than originally intended and 20 years behind schedule. The future of CHSR remains cloudy, as debates about how to raise additional funds are being discussed.
It could be a trillion and Redditors would still call you stupid and carbrained for thinking it’s a tad out of hand.
how the fuck is that even possible legitimately please someone explain this to me?
[https://cal.streetsblog.org/2026/04/29/media-fact-check-no-the-budget-for-california-high-speed-rail-didnt-just-grow-by-100-billion](https://cal.streetsblog.org/2026/04/29/media-fact-check-no-the-budget-for-california-high-speed-rail-didnt-just-grow-by-100-billion)
> If you live in a fact-based universe, you were probably surprised by this morning’s headlines on California High-Speed Rail. “California’s high-speed rail now ‘worst project in history’ — as insiders reveal unbelievable new cost,” blared the right-wing tabloid California Post. ”California high-speed rail price tag jumps to $231B, nearly seven times 2008 estimate,” continues the Central Valley’s KMPH/FOX 26. “CA High-Speed Rail Cost Explodes to $231 Billion, From Original $33 Billion,” echoes the California Globe.
> Wasn’t it just two months ago that the California High Speed Rail Authority (CAHSRA) unveiled a new business plan that put the price of the project between Los Angeles and San Francisco at $126 billion, a number that was actually lower than the previous business plan?
> Last week, the California State Senate Transportation Committee held a hearing on the project to review a report put together by the non-partisan Legislative Analysts’ Office (LAO). The report summarizes and reviews the business plan presented by CAHSRA in February. In one line, the report mentions the cost of the project under a worst-case scenario if the Assembly and Senate don’t pass a series of reforms they are widely expected to pass. The information is presented as cautionary to encourage legislators to act responsibly.
> State Senator Tony Strickland (R-Orange County) sent out a press statement taking the $231 billion number as fact, and the right-wing press took that “truth” and ran with it.
This is pathetic and frankly criminal misuse of public funds
How is that even possible? The Chuo maglev Shinkansen is estimated to be ~$72 billion and that’s for a project where most of the track is going through literal mountains.
It’s such an outrageous lie to say “zero miles of track built”. Yeah, because they’ve been building all the bridges and foundation and to put the track on. There’s over a 100 miles of track being built right as you’re reading this
These figures are blatant propaganda by the right to shut down a valuable infrastructure project they’ve had a hate boner for since 2008.
The best time to build anything was way before today. We need to streamline some of the permitting process and let things get built. This kind of thing is why people keep leaving blue states and why California is going to lose a bunch of reps in 2030. We have to find ways to bring the cost of construction down.
Brightline West will cost about $21 billion after increases [source.](https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/brightline-west-high-speed-train-cost-now-21-5-billion-document-reveals/) They might be better off asking Brightline to help then with the California project.
For context, this single project is approaching a significant fraction of the **entire** interstate highway system in the US.