DesertXpress Enterprises has renamed its Las Vegas to Southern California high-speed rail service “XpressWest” to more accurately reflect its role as the first leg of a larger western high-speed passenger rail network.

Recently, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) and DesertXpress signed letters committing to work together to define what would be necessary to deliver high-speed rail service between Los Angeles and LasVegas through the High Desert Corridor between Victorville and Palmdale to connect with existing rail service.

“As potential for high speed passenger rail in the Southwest has evolved, service between Las Vegas and Victorville has become a critical segment of an interconnected Southwest rail network extending to Los Angeles, Anaheim and all the cities currently served by Metrolink,” said Andrew Mack, chief operating officer of XpressWest.

“XpressWest will be the first and primary high-speed rail line into California, opening up the rest of the west for high-speed rail service,” said Tom Skancke, executive director of the Western High Speed Rail Alliance. “The new name captures the vision of connectivity and mobility throughout the West.”

XpressWest is an exclusive, dual-track high-speed train which will be the most advanced and fastest in the United States. With a top operating speed of 150 mph, the service will reduce travel between Las Vegas and Southern California. XpressWest is the only construction-ready dedicated high-speed rail project in the United States.