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2/5/2026
The California High-Speed Rail Authority has completed construction of its southern railhead facility, a critical step toward the track-laying phase of buildout.
Located in Kern County near Wasco, the 150-acre site will serve as a logistics hub for the delivery, storage and dispersion of construction materials and equipment required to electrify the Central Valley segment of the high-speed rail system, according to a press release issued by California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office.
CHSRA built about 10 miles of temporary siding and storage tracks in partnership with BNSF Railway. The tracks connect directly to the national freight-rail network for efficient equipment delivery, according to a CHSRA project fact sheet. The site also contains a rail storage yard, warehouse space, maintenance and operations space and a control office.
The southern railhead facility is located at the southernmost end of the 119-mile Central Valley segment under civil construction in preparation for track laying. The segment crosses Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern counties.
On Feb. 3, Newsom joined local leaders and construction crews for a press conference this week announcing the site's completion after breaking ground on Jan. 6, 2025. Since the groundbreaking, CHSRA has secured suppliers for long-welded rail and issued a request for proposals for track and overhead contact system construction on the Central Valley segment. CHSRA anticipates awarding that contract in 2026. The authority has also issued invitations for bids on ballast, overhead contact system poles and concrete ties.