The Silver Rail Blog

FDOT has recently established a website describing the proposed Sunshine Corridor and its potential. 

You can access it here. 

This would provide interconnectivity and additional capacity beyond the current passenger rail routes in Central Florida. 

--Jackson McQuigg

From the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2023/07/24/tri-rail-is-set-get-new-passenger-cars-and-locomotives-here-are-the-latest-details/

--Jackson McQuigg

Thanks to a team effort by the City of Tampa and Friends of Tampa Union Station (founded by FCRP), Tampa Union Station is receiving an additional $400,000 in funds for renovations, this time thanks to a State of Florida Special Category Historic Preservation Grant. 

This is in addition to $2 million in funds raised from the City of Tampa Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency for station renovations. 

Renovations will begin later this year. It's been over 25 years since the station's 1990s restoration and reopening.

A grant application to the FRA's State-Federal Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program is also pending. 

Article from Tampa Bay Business Journal (behind a paywall, unfortunately):

https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2023/07/28/tampa-union-station-renovations-update.html

--Jackson McQuigg

More proof that trains drive economic development:

From WFTV:

https://news.yahoo.com/county-offers-land-near-sunrail-211231806.html

--Jackson McQuigg

Service to Orlando is projected to start on September 1. Book Train Tickets Here | Brightline (gobrightline.com)

From CBS News Miami:

https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/brightline-tests-train-speeds-ahead-of-trips-between-south-florida-and-orlando/

--Jackson McQuigg

John and Barb Thomas recently visited Deland station to report on the progress and what's being done. So far parking area and surroundings are being neatly cleared for SunRail commuters. The Station will be repaired and updated which will be a welcome site since its seen its share of patches. The maintenance of way crew has the rail piled to one side and ready to double track he main line. 

John and Barb said to looks like it will be on schedule to begin the middle of next summer.

Thanks Guys.

FCRP was at Train Day in Tampa as an exhibitor and recruited new members at the event!

From WMNF:

https://www.wmnf.org/hopes-for-new-florida-connections-on-national-train-day/

--Jackson McQuigg

The new station will be at the site of the current Amtrak station.

From the Daytona Beach News-Journal: 

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/2023/05/18/sunrail-expanding-deland-brightline-orlando-central-florida-groundbreaking/70231901007/

--Jackson McQuigg

From WLRN:

https://www.wlrn.org/news/2023-04-21/tri-rail-new-train-designs

--Jackson McQuigg

Big milestone!

From Fox 35 Orlando:

https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/brightline-tickets-orlando-miami-west-palm-beach-begins-to-south-florida-when-tickets-go-on-sale

--Jackson McQuigg