NEWS RELEASE: California High-Speed Rail Launches Process to Draw in Private Investors

California High-Speed Rail solicits industry to bring private partner consortium on board by summer 2026

December 23, 2025

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – On December 19, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) initiated a process to bring private investors and developers to the Authority by summer 2026 in an effort to deliver the nation’s first true high-speed rail project faster, smarter, and evaluate new strategies to commercialize assets through private investment at the earliest possible opportunity, supporting future high-speed rail segment delivery.

The Authority’s issuance of a Request for Qualifications for a Co-Development Agreement (CDA) is aimed at selecting a private partner to evaluate opportunities to invest and deliver the project faster and more efficiently, while commercializing assets (e.g. station facilities, track access, fiber, power, real estate, and others) at the earliest possible opportunity.

This recent solicitation is informed in part by the Authority’s June 2025 Request for Expression of Interest (RFEI), which yielded valuable feedback about the potential for public private partnerships and driving creative solutions to more efficiently deliver the nation’s first high-speed rail project.

This solicitation follows last month’s invitation to industry to bid on laying electrified track and systems.

For more information on the CDA procurement, and to view the latest schedule, visit: https://hsr.ca.gov/business-opportunities/procurements/architectural-engineering-and-capital-contracts/co-development-agreement-request-for-qualifications/

High-Speed Rail Progress

Work continues daily on the high-speed rail project, with 171 miles currently under design and construction from Merced to Bakersfield. Nearly 80 miles of guideway are complete, along with nearly 60 fully completed major structures, and more than 30 more structures underway across Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties.

The project continues to advance statewide, with 463 miles of the 494-mile San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim system fully environmentally cleared and construction ready.

Since construction began, the project has created nearly 16,400 good-paying jobs—most filled by Central Valley residents. Up to 1,700 workers report to high-speed rail construction sites each day.

Interviews in Spanish are available upon request. For more information, contact the Authority’s media relations office at: news@hsr.ca.gov.

Se ofrecen entrevistas en Español bajo solicitud. Para obtener más información, contacte a la Oficina de Relaciones con los Medios por correo electrónico: news@hsr.ca.gov.

For the latest on high-speed rail construction, visit www.buildhsr.com.

The following link contains recent video, animations, photography, press center resources and latest renderings: https://hsra.box.com/v/ca-hsr-media-resources. Files are all available for free use, courtesy of the California High-Speed Rail Authority.