Promoting passenger trains as a transportation alternative in Florida since 1983.  We are citizens who advocate for Amtrak, commuter rail, intercity rail and transit for Florida's future.

The Silver Rail Blog

  • 23 Mar 2010 5:07 PM | Jackson McQuigg (Administrator)

    The New York Times this week chose to cast a critical eye on the state's plans for high speed rail between Tampa and Orlando.

    The following two items focus on the Tampa-Orlando segment only and do not consider it as part of a planned Tampa-Orlando-Miami high speed rail network in Florida.

    The Times also questions a lack of connectivity between HSR and other modes in the state's plan (other than municipal transit buses).

    http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/us/23train.html

    http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/03/22/us/0322RAIL_index.html

     

    --Jackson McQuigg

     

  • 20 Mar 2010 11:54 AM | Jackson McQuigg (Administrator)

    If passenger trains eventually run over the Florida East Coast Railway in the Ft. Lauderdale area, FDOT believes that a large new bridge must be built over the New River to accomodate them.

    Commuter services could eventually run 12-16 trains per hour, making a movable bridge impractical. 

    The conceptual plans for a high fixed bridge, in turn, have some officials in Ft. Lauderdale worrying about the potential impact to that city's downtown, the Sun-Sentinel reports. 

    --Jackson McQuigg

  • 13 Mar 2010 12:00 PM | Jackson McQuigg (Administrator)

    The issue of the present lack of a viable connection between Florida's planned high speed rail system and SunRail continues to make news in the Orlando area, Central Florida News 13 reports.

    --Jackson McQuigg

     

  • 13 Mar 2010 11:57 AM | Jackson McQuigg (Administrator)

    As Leo King in the Jacksonville Examiner writes, ridership on Amtrak's long-distance trains is up.

    This article also mentions the changes which Amtrak is planning to the Los Angeles-New Orleans portion of the Sunset Limited route. How these changes might impact the restoration of New Orleans-Florida service in the future are of concern to FCRP.

    --Jackson McQuigg 

  • 13 Mar 2010 11:54 AM | Jackson McQuigg (Administrator)

    Floridians aren't the only ones seeking the return of New Orleans-Florida Amtrak service.

    The New Orleans City Council continues to advocate for its return, as well: http://www.wdsu.com/news/22790347/detail.html

    --Jackson McQuigg

  • 07 Mar 2010 8:57 AM | Jackson McQuigg (Administrator)

    Florida's rail advocates have much more work to do in order to make high speed rail a reality, as the St. Petersburg Times reports:

    http://www.tampabay.com/news/transportation/masstransit/high-speed-rail-still-has-many-challenges-to-overcome-supporters-say/1077505

    --Jackson McQuigg

  • 05 Mar 2010 6:10 PM | Jackson McQuigg (Administrator)

    The lack of connectivity between SunRail, and high speed rail got a lot of attention at the U.S. High Speed Rail Association's conference in Orlando this week.

    Here is one example of the coverage this issue received. 

    Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty is applying pressure to FDOT to change the plans so that they will include connectivity between the systems.

    FCRP supports Mayor Crotty's efforts.

    --Jackson McQuigg

  • 02 Mar 2010 5:53 AM | Stephen Sayles (Administrator)

    Here is a letter FCRP wrote to Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty who in a recent article (see blog few stories back) aired his concerns for the lack of connectivity between HSR and SunRail.

    March 1, 2010

    The Honorable Richard Crotty

    Mayor

    Orange County, Florida
    201 S. Rosalind Ave., 5th Floor
    Orlando, FL  32801

     

    Dear Mayor Crotty,

     

    I read with interest your comments in the Orlando Sentinel item “Scramble is On to Link SunRail, Fast RailundefinedWhy No Plan?” (Orlando Sentinel, February 17).  

    Your perspective is shared by our members in Central Florida. Without true connectivity between SunRail and high speed rail, both systems would be less likely to succeed. Indeed, it would be like building an Interstate highway with only one on /off ramp.

    Our organization, the Florida Coalition of Rail Passengers (FCRP) was formed in 1983

    to preserve and to improve passenger rail service for Floridians and visitors to our state. We’ve advocated for both SunRail and the high speed system, but think that the failure to link the two is a major oversight.

    Incidentally, we also think a lack of connectivity between the high speed system and the Amtrak services which serve our state is a major blunder.

    Please let us know what our members can do to assist you in encouraging FDOT to create true connectivity (shared stationsundefinednot bus connections) between high speed rail and SunRail. You or your staff are welcome to telephone me at 727-515-3822.

    Sincerely,

     

    Stephen Sayles
    President FCRP

     

  • 24 Feb 2010 5:39 PM | Jackson McQuigg (Administrator)

    The Orlando Sentinel updates the Amtrak-SunRail liability issue:

    http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/os-amtrak-sunrail-liability-20100223,0,6707795.story

    --Jackson McQuigg

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