Denver West Express proposes $30B electric rail line

Denver West Express Inc. has proposed a $30 billion electric rail project designed to transport passengers from Denver International Airport to Avon, Colorado, in approximately 97 minutes. The proposed 178-mile line would feature passenger trains averaging speeds of 90 mph using battery electric locomotive technology.

The project would require significant infrastructure, including a nearly 5-mile tunnel under the Continental Divide and a 6.5-mile tunnel near Fremont Pass. While company vice-president Jay Branch describes the project as a business plan and concept, critics have expressed skepticism, with some local consultants labeling the ambitious plan a ‘pipe dream’ due to the unresolved engineering and logistical challenges.