California High-Speed Rail Begins Procurement for 2026 Track Installation

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has approved plans to begin procurement of track and other key system components, marking a step towards installing the first electrified high-speed railway in the United States.

At a meeting of its Board of Directors on Thursday, the Authority confirmed that invitations for bids will be issued to suppliers for rail, ties, overhead contact system poles, fibre optic cable and ballast. The total value of the contracts is expected to reach 507 million USD, funded by the State of California.

This decision enables the Authority to purchase directly from American manufacturers.

Ian Choudri, Authority CEO said:

Purchasing the track and materials needed to launch the nation’s first high-speed track and systems installation within the next year is a major milestone. This procurement will not only accelerate construction of high-speed track, but by purchasing directly from American manufacturers, we will deliver significant savings to the state.

California High-Speed Rail is the only high-speed rail system under construction in North America. Today, we are taking concrete actions to build faster, smarter, and more economically to deliver a modern, high-speed rail system that promotes economic mobility, affordable housing, and a cleaner environment throughout the state.

Materials will be staged at a 150-acre rail yard in Kern County, close to the southern end of the Central Valley construction segment, before being moved to installation sites along the initial 119-mile route.

The Authority plans to divide the procurements into six contracts, open to competitive bidding. Once awarded, notices to proceed (NTP) will be issued in phases:

• NTP 1:Mmaterials for the 119-mile section between Madera and Poplar Avenue, funded entirely by the state
• NTP 2 and NTP 3: Optional future procurements for extensions, potentially supported by both state and federal funds

All goods will be newly manufactured and must comply with federal Buy America and Build America, Buy America requirements. Lead times for delivery are expected to range between six months and one year.

Construction of the Central Valley segment continues, with 171 miles of the network under design and build between Merced and Bakersfield. Nearly 70 miles of guideway are now complete, alongside 57 structures, with another 29 under development in Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties.

Across the state, 463 miles of the planned 494-mile system linking San Francisco and Los Angeles/Anaheim have been environmentally cleared and are ready for construction.

Since work began, more than 15,800 jobs have been created, the majority filled by residents of the Central Valley. On an average day, around 1,700 workers are active on high-speed rail sites.