California High-Speed Rail Authority Completes Southern Railhead Facility in Kern County

Milestone marks transition from civil construction to rail delivery for state's high-speed rail project.

Published on Feb. 3, 2026

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The California High-Speed Rail Authority has completed construction on a 150-acre railhead facility near Wasco, Kern County. The site will serve as a hub to receive and distribute rail, ties, poles, and other materials needed to build the high-speed rail system along the planned corridor. Authority CEO Ian Choudri, state and local officials, labor partners, and construction workers will gather to celebrate the milestone, which marks a shift from the civil construction phase to the rail delivery phase of the project.

Why it matters

The completion of this southern railhead facility is a critical step forward for California's ambitious high-speed rail project, which aims to connect the state's major population centers via an efficient, modern rail network. The railhead will streamline the logistics of delivering the necessary materials to build out the rail system, helping to keep the project on schedule.

The details

The 150-acre railhead facility is located near the city of Wasco in Kern County. It will serve as a central hub to receive and distribute the rail, ties, poles, and other components required to construct the high-speed rail tracks and supporting infrastructure along the planned corridor. The facility's completion marks a transition from the civil construction phase, where crews have been preparing the rights-of-way and laying groundwork, to the rail delivery phase where the actual rail system will be assembled.

  • The railhead facility was completed on February 3, 2026.

The players

Ian Choudri

CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

California High-Speed Rail Authority

The state agency responsible for planning, designing, building and operating California's high-speed rail system.

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What they’re saying

“This completion marks a major milestone for California's first-in-the-nation system as the program transitions from civil construction to rail delivery.”

— Ian Choudri, CEO, California High-Speed Rail Authority (Bakersfield Now)

What’s next

With the railhead facility now operational, the California High-Speed Rail Authority can begin the process of delivering and installing the necessary rail, ties, and other components to continue construction of the high-speed rail system along the planned corridor.

The takeaway

The completion of the southern railhead facility in Kern County represents a critical step forward for California's high-speed rail project, enabling the efficient delivery of materials needed to build out the rail network and keep the ambitious statewide initiative on track.