US High-Speed Rail Stalls as Brightline Bankruptcy Exposes Funding Gap

Brightline filed for bankruptcy in September 2026 after failing to generate enough revenue to cover its debts, underscoring the structural challenges facing high-speed rail in the United States. The Florida-based private rail company continues operating its Miami-Orlando service and is proceeding with plans for a 200 mph line between Las Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga, California. The US remains the only major economy without passenger trains meeting the global high-speed threshold of 150 mph over extended trips. Industry advocate Lou Thompson attributes this to insufficient government funding, noting that federal resources were directed instead to interstate highways and aviation. Auto, oil, construction, and aerospace lobbying further sidelined rail investment. Brightline carried 1.8 million passengers in the second quarter of 2026, up 16% year-over-year. California's publicly funded Los Angeles-San Francisco project remains billions over budget and years behind schedule.