The complete cost is estimated to be $12bn and is expected to be completed before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

High-speed rail in the American west has received a major new investment with the Biden administration pledging $3bn for a project connecting Las Vegas to southern California and $3.07bn to connect San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Officials have described the ambitious projects as a “gamechanger” for tourism and travel in the region.

The Las Vegas to Los Angeles project aims to finish before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The California high-speed rail authority program, which has long been stuck in limbo, expects to start initial service as early as 2030, and aims to ultimately move travelers from San Francisco to the Los Angeles basin at speeds above 200mph (322km/h) in under 3 hours.