Five teams vie for California's high-speed rail operations

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has received statements of qualifications from five international teams looking to serve as the agency's early train operator.

The chosen team will assist CHSRA in the system's initial development, including procurement of rolling stock and track. Additionally, the team eventually will operate and manage the Silicon Valley to Central Valley segment, according to the agency's request for qualifications (RFQ) issued in December 2016.

The five teams are:
• China HSR ETO Consortium;
• DB International US, which includes HDR Inc. and Alternate Concepts Inc.;
• FS First Rail Group;
• Renfe, which includes Spain's state-owned rail infrastructure company ADIF; and
• Stagecoach Group plc.

The first phase of the contract is not expected to exceed $30 million, according to the RFQ.

The entire high-speed rail line is slated to operate from San Francisco to Los Angeles, with the initial Silicon Valley-to-Central Valley segment slated to open in 2025.