Very interesting video explaining PAB's, if your a taxpayer, worth watching (personally, I think Texas Central is dead but we'll see if Amtrak can revive it):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmpyV4Yf8b0
Interesting. Thanks for posting. I knew that there was some sort of government financial support for Brightline, and this tells me what it is. Essentially a tax break for investors which is overall a good thing.
I'm still very skeptical of any Southern California to Las Vegas train that does not terminate at least as far west as downtown Los Angeles. From where I lived for 60 years, if I got in the car and drove to Rancho Cucamunga, I'd be inclined to stay in the car all the was to Las Vegas. Linking to Metrolink would help some, but that still only gets you to downtown LA from which you'd have to change again to get anywhere that people actually live. And Metrolink service is not particularly frequent, particularly on weekends.
Mind you, I have no desire to ever visit Las Vegas again. I've been many times and at one point in my youth had two sets of grandparents living there. I've had enough.
I'm almost certain that Metrolink would arrange effective connecting service, timed to meet the Brightline West trains. I would also expect a number of ground shuttle operations in the area of the west end to facilitate connections or low-cost secure long-term parking.
Depending on how far California intends to implement zero-carbon, and how the Caltrain electrification works out, I can see the Metrolink connection being compatibly electrified, and run-through or even through-running service provided on some basis. I have seen a number of discussions on the "best" initial vs. final arrangements for the HSR terminal over the last few years.
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