They most likely are going to use the Siemens Velaro Nova wide which is 3300mm wide. that would also mean 7 93ft cars vs 8 85ft cars
Here they are without the ridiculous malware-infested ads:
I have not experienced the Siemans cars in service now but those seats look as they wouldn't be any more comfortable. You hope Siemans and CHSRA will learn from that negative reaction and look to improve the comfort. But, I understand, they are simply concept images and the vendor has yet to be been chosen, so a long way to go.
You have to wonder if the same amount of money (probably less) had been invested in higher speed rail SFO - LAX - SAN on existing tracks including moving the LAX - SAN corridor away from the ocean, whether we would be better off. But that ship has sailed unfortunately.
It’s hard to look at a project like this - a pair of cities where true 350kph HSR makes absolutely perfect sense in every possible way - and have the foresight to know that higher speed rail would be the better option due to any number of factors contributing to ballooning costs.
That is what I have seen and heard as well, including the funding/rescinding issues mentioned by @Tlcooper44, and the delays/inflation resulting therefrom. There's also the matter of not having a robust HSR industry established at the regional, domestic, continental, or hemispheric level. If real HSR does take off in CA and/or NV future HSR projects might get a lot faster and cheaper if the industry and regulators can maintain momentum from one project to the next.
I don't think there is a shelf to buy off. Siemens Velaro is by definition variable in terms of width and height.
Wow, not really. Currently CHSRA has spent about $13B. Current Administrative costs, that include lawsuits are less than $500M. All lawsuits have been settled, most lost by the plaintiffs with the loser paying court costs.
Here is detailed specifications on the Palmdale to Burbank EIR. https://hsr.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Attachment-E-Exhibit-B-Findings-SOC_A11Y.pdf
