Amtrak - Brightline connections?

[Jdub]

I'm curious to know whether there are plans to connect Amtrak LD trains to Brightline.

 

[user 1215]

Currently there is no track sharing, so I would say no. The closest they will get in the future is when they cross paths at the Sunrail station just west of MCO at Sand Lake Road.

First thought is, why? Amtrak serves Tampa and Miami. Currently with no stops between WPB and MCO, I don't think there is a need. But, in the future I could see someone in Cocoa wanting to connect with Amtrak to points north.

 

[jis]

Currently there is no track sharing, so I would say no. The closest they will get in the future is when they cross paths at the Sunrail station just west of MCO at Sand Lake Road.

There are no current plans for Brightline to get to Sand Lake Road. The paths will cross at the yet to be built transfer station between Sand Lake Road and Meadow Woods. It is unlikely that Brightline will stop there though. It will be a SunRail transfer station between SunRail's current North-South Corridor and the proposed new East-West Corridor.

To answer the OP's question, there are no current plans to provide an Amtrak - Brightline transfer station in the Orlando area.

 

[Jdub]

The idea is to maximize connectivity. Amtrak currently has limited service NS but passenger delivery to a more frequent continuing on service (and visa versa) seems like a reasonable objective when passenger travel can be improved. About 20 years ago I was part of a planning effort to identify enough right of way along (as yet unbuilt) SR 528 to allow addition of a rail corridor -- now part of the Brightline route. It's important to make connection plans well before the first spade of dirt is turned.

 

[cirdan]

Maybe history is repeating itself all over again , with different railroads building their own separate stations, and 30 years from now or so somebody will come up with the revolutionary idea of connecting them

 

[Steve4031]

Based on the current information that I can find, Brightline does not stop between West Palm Beach and Orlando. IMHO a stop in the Melbourne area would be a no-brainer. If that stop existed, then it would make sense for Brightline to figure out a way to get passengers to Amtrak. It currently advertises a partnership with Uber, which could probably work to get passengers from Orlando Airport to Amtrak.

If Brightline runs non-stop between West Palm Beach and Orlando, then it would make sense for Amtrak passengers to simply board in West Palm Beach for a one-seat ride for their trip north.

One way that Brightline could be advantageous for Amtrak passengers is that it would allow for a later departure from Miami to catch up to the train in Orlando. Brightlines trip time is 3 hours. Amtrak's is closer to 5 or 6 IIRC.

 

[jis]

Based on the current information that I can find, Brightline does not stop between West Palm Beach and Orlando. IMHO a stop in the Melbourne area would be a no-brainer. If that stop existed, then it would make sense for Brightline to figure out a way to get passengers to Amtrak. It currently advertises a partnership with Uber, which could probably work to get passengers from Orlando Airport to Amtrak.

Given Brightline's last mile service using various road vehicles, I suspect it is quite easy to get to Orlando Health/Amtrak from any Brightline station in Orlando by simply booking the last mile service from Orlando International Airport to Orlando Health/Amtrak. Given Orlando traffic it can be a 20-30 min drive. So be safe and generous and call it 45 mins from arrival on Brightline in Orlando to arrival on the platform at Orlando Health/Amtrak.

As it turns out I happen to do this each time I travel out of Orlando on Amtrak or return to Orlando by Amtrak, since I park my car at one of the discount airport parking places. It is much safer there than parking for extended time at Orlando or Kissimmee stations, though considerably more expensive. Better to have a safe undamaged car than save a few bucks.

 

[joelkfla]

As it turns out I happen to do this each time I travel out of Orlando on Amtrak or return to Orlando by Amtrak, since I park my car at one of the discount airport parking places. It is much safer there than parking for extended time at Orlando or Kissimmee stations, though considerably more expensive. Better to have a safe undamaged car than save a few bucks.

I agree the Orlando station seems a bit sketchy, but the parking structure in Kissimmee feels pretty safe, even though it's ungated. Have you heard of incidents there?

 

[jis]

I agree the Orlando station seems a bit sketchy, but the parking structure in Kissimmee feels pretty safe, even though it's ungated. Have you heard of incidents there?

Other than a few shootings in its vicinity, no.

I still like the fenced and guarded lots of parking lot operators. Don't want my Catalytic Converter snitched either

 

[Steve4031]

I would think that any parking area that is not gated and fenced-in would be a risky place to leave a car overnight.

 

[Chris I]

Once Brightline expands to Tampa, wouldn't it make sense to either terminate services or at least make a stop at the Brightline MCO station? The Amtrak service south of MCO is so horribly slow as it is. I would prefer to transfer at that point and then either head to Tampa or Miami on a 125mph, hourly train.

 

[jis]

Once Brightline expands to Tampa, wouldn't it make sense to either terminate services or at least make a stop at the Brightline MCO station? The Amtrak service south of MCO is so horribly slow as it is. I would prefer to transfer at that point and then either head to Tampa or Miami on a 125mph, hourly train.

There are no plans for Amtrak to go to MCO, or use any Brightline tracks for anything for that matter. You can always use Brightline's last mile facility to transfer from Orlando Health/Amtrak to Brightline Orlando Airport station.

The most logical place to do such a transfer would be at the new transfer station just south of Taft-Vineland, but there are no such plans right now.

 

[cirdan]

Just because nobody is talking about this now does not mean that there won't at some point be such a change. Who would have believed as little as 20 years ago that there would ever be anything remotely like the Brightline we have today?

They say success breeds success and I can well imagine that the success of Brightline as well as of the various Florida commuter trains, not to mention increasing congestion and concerns over pollution and climate change, will over time breed appetite for more passenger rail in Florida.

I understand there is space at MCO to add additional platforms. Amtrak wouldn't need more than one platform probably and could even potentially share that with commuter trains, as it does in other places.

But let's just be honest and say there would be quite a few other things that would have to change before this scenario became even remotely graspable.

 

[user 14106]

Connecting to the national rail network could also result in Brightline becoming subject to normal railroad retirement and regulatory structures. As I understand it as a stand-alone regional service their labor costs are significantly lower than Amtrak’s. When sunrail opens up the previously mentioned east west route it will be possible to make the connection between Amtrak and Brightline via Sunrail.

 

[bonzoesc]

If Amtrak ever moves to the Miami Intermodal Center just outside MIA, taking Metrorail between Brightline and Amtrak wouldn't be too bad. As it is now, the walk from the existing Amtrak station to the Tri-Rail/Metrorail transfer station isn't nice but I found it fine a year ago (and kind of welcome after 30h on the train).

Of course, that's not particularly useful since Miami's the terminal for both Brightline and Amtrak. Nobody's talked about restoring the old Flagler right-of-way down to Key West…

 

[jis]

There is space for only one more platform with two tracks that is set aside for a low level platform for SunRail at Orlando Airport Station

 

[Jdub]

I'm thinking also of a breaking point at Melbourne to a NB / SB passenger connection to JAX. I think there was some chatter about that in Brightline concept planning. That would involve old FEC line. Again problem is with how many grade crossings would need attention or outright elimination.

 

[PaulM]

I would think that any parking area that is not gated and fenced-in would be a risky place to leave a car overnight.

This points out the difference between the thinking of a Chicagon and someone from downstate Illinois. I've left my car at stations all over Illinois and Iowa for weeks at a time with no problems.

 

[Steve4031]

Of course. I parked my car in the paid lot at Union Station and someone still broke in and stole my radio. This was about 15 years ago. I was pretty sure it was an inside job. The people at the garage were acting pretty nonchalant and snickering. I told them I had something at home for them and would be back if they kept laughing. That shut them up.

 

[01piglet_patinas]

Currently there is no track sharing, so I would say no. The closest they will get in the future is when they cross paths at the Sunrail station just west of MCO at Sand Lake Road.

First thought is, why? Amtrak serves Tampa and Miami. Currently with no stops between WPB and MCO, I don't think there is a need. But, in the future I could see someone in Cocoa wanting to connect with Amtrak to points north.

The reason for me would be to just ride a new transportation option and experience it.

 

[railiner]

Currently there is no track sharing, so I would say no. The closest they will get in the future is when they cross paths at the Sunrail station just west of MCO at Sand Lake Road.

First thought is, why? Amtrak serves Tampa and Miami. Currently with no stops between WPB and MCO, I don't think there is a need. But, in the future I could see someone in Cocoa wanting to connect with Amtrak to points north.

I would rather see Brightline connect with Amtrak in the future at Jacksonville for points north…