The CALIFORNIA High-Speed Rail Authority – CHSRA has initiated tendering a contract of almost $3.5bn in order to undertake the track-laying and supply railway systems for the high-speed line under construction within the Central Valley. CHSRA issued a request for proposals – RFP from bidders on November 26, 2025.
Following a pre-bid conference as well as a workshop for small businesses, which is going to be held in Sacramento on December 19, the proposals are due to be submitted on March 2, 2026.
The Track and Systems Construction Contract – TSCC goes on to include the supply of rail systems, which includes the likes of traction power supply, overhead electrification, signalling as well as train control, and also communications, including radio, fibre optic along with CCTV systems.
According to CHSRA, the contract is going to cover the 190.4 km, which is at present under construction, in addition to the extensions to Merced and Bakersfield, which will complete the Central Valley Section – CVS. The contract is going to comprise nine separate packages having phased notices in order to proceed, helping with Track-Laying and Supply Railway Systems in order to move forward section by section as the civil engineering work gets completed.
The preferred bidder is going to be responsible for the detailed design, with an exception in terms of the track and the overhead electrification system, wherein the CHSRA has gone on to award a separate contract for this task. The contract also goes on to have all integration testing as well as commissioning.
Track-laying materials, including the likes of rail, sleepers as well as ballast, are going to be supplied by CHSRA, in addition to masts as well as other electrification components such as contact wire. Fibre optic cable is also going to be supplied.
As per CHSRA, this hybrid delivery model is going to incorporate the management of cost as well as schedule and also collaboration, partnering, motivation for innovation, in-depth communication, as well as progressive project development pertaining to construction packages.
With the track-laying completed at the construction base in Kern County located at the southern end of the CVS, CHSRA remarks that the new facility is soon going to be ready to get track as well as other materials by rail. This will help the project to move with pace into systems installation once the contract gets awarded.
As per Ian Choudri, the CEO of CHSRA, getting this contract to market today should be seen as a major landmark of their new delivery strategy, which is building faster, smarter, and, of course, more economically.
