The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has entered into a cooperation agreement with the Momentum Alliance Partners joint venture (JV) to accelerate the expansion of the California high-speed rail (HSR) line. Keolis and SNCF Voyageurs are joining the JV, contributing their expertise in operations and maintenance. The joint development phase now underway may last up to 30 months and focuses on extending the HSR line beyond the Merced - Bakersfield section currently under construction. The work involves examining infrastructure expansion phases, implementation models, operational plans and financing strategies as well as exploring opportunities for public-private partnerships (PPP) and private capital investment. According to the authority, this is not a standard consultancy contract but rather a collaborative development model involving companies specialising in infrastructure, finance, engineering, rail operations and system integration. The consortium includes Plenary Americas, CDPQ Infra, Jacobs, Sener, SYSTRA, Setec, Arup and Steer. The CHSRA views the agreement as a sign of market confidence in the project while simultaneously preparing for the construction of the HSR line.
