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Future of Amtrak on the Florida East Coast Looks Positive, but Challenges Remain

26 Mar 2012 10:08 AM | Jackson McQuigg (Administrator)

From the Daytona Beach News-Journal:

http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/east-volusia/2012/03/25/liability-settled-but-jax-miami-amtrak-service-still-faces-hurdles.html

--Jackson McQuigg

Comments

  • 27 Mar 2012 1:31 AM | Anonymous
    Question: Now which of the two latest plans proposed for Florida's East Coast Intra/Inter-city Passenger Rail Service - Is the "real deal" ??? And when will it all actually happen? Will these questions get answered and the details all get sorted out in Daytona, FL at this coming Friday, Mar. 30th meeting? Stay tuned folks for the next installment of the epic continuing saga of AMTRAK and Florida's Romance with alternative transportation options for Rail Travel & Trains.
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    • 27 Mar 2012 11:54 AM | Deleted user
      Given that Amtrak is imploding day by day as we piddle around in Florida, I would put my bets on the FEC being the one to get it done, and I would not be surprised to see Tampa and Jacksonville in the system by 2016. Tampa is a worse nut to crack since CSX might be involved, but FEC owns the tracks as far north as Beaver St. in Jacksonville, so that one ought to be a no-brainer. I am surprised that they didn't go with Miami to Jacksonville first, given that tracks are in place, but Orlando is a larger market. There ought to be plenty of ex-Amtrak equipment available by next year.
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  • 29 Mar 2012 9:48 AM | Anonymous
    Good Question: With mid-west (Chicago-IL area)routes having just recently raised rail passenger speed limits to the 100+ mph mark, wouldn't the FEC "The Florida Speedway Route" also be able run faster than the 90 mph limit listed in this news media article after initial start-up (2013-15) in order to shorten overall trip schedule time?
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    • 29 Mar 2012 12:04 PM | Deleted user
      FEC has cab signals already, and to go past 90mph requires those plus some kind of automatic train stop. This latter item may already be incorporated in their cab signals, else it can be incorporated rather easily, especially since only a limited number of engines would require it, so yes, 110mph would be feasible. Likely it would, however, require closure of some grade crossings, and equipping others with 4 quadrant gates, something that FEC already has done on a few grade crossings.
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