Brightline Orlando extension

[railbuck]

And of course there are rental cars available at MCO, more conveniently that at most train stations in the US.

 

[jis]

And of course there are rental cars available at MCO, more conveniently that at most train stations in the US.

Hopefully the Rental Car Shuttles will start pick up/let down at the Intermodal Center in addition to the Terminal C pickup that they have now. Many here fail to realize that the Intermodal Center is a terminal quite distinct from Terminal C and you basically have to walk through the Terminal C parking structure to get from one to the other since the planned direct walkway has not been built yet.

 

[Palmland]

I didn't realize that Sunrail had decent connections to Terminal A. About 15 -20 minutes ride from Sand Lake Sunrail. So in my case I can use public transit - after a 15 minute drive to Debarry, 1 hour Sunrail to Sand Lake, 15 minutes to the airport. So, about 2 hours including waiting time. Not ideal, but at least it can be done. - as long as you go on weekdays.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

Since Brightline seems to want to make sure they address 'last mile' choices at destination I wonder what their plans are for MCO. While there will certainly be those flying in or out of there, how about those going to the Orlando area destinations. I would hope they would work with Orlando's Lynx transit to have a dedicated shuttle to the nearest Sunrail station and perhaps the theme parks.

Mears offers shuttles (large bus) to the Disney hotels so that’s always an option if you are staying at a Disney resort.

 

[McIntyre2K7]

Since Brightline seems to want to make sure they address 'last mile' choices at destination I wonder what their plans are for MCO. While there will certainly be those flying in or out of there, how about those going to the Orlando area destinations. I would hope they would work with Orlando's Lynx transit to have a dedicated shuttle to the nearest Sunrail station and perhaps the theme parks.

So there's already LYNX service from MCO to SeaWorld/Universal.

LYNX Route 11 serves the Sand Lake Rd SunRail Station during peak hours (5:30am-8am and 4pm-7pm M-F) every 30 minutes.
LYNX Route 111 services the Sand Lake Rd SunRail Station as well as SeaWorld from MCO. Service runs every 30 minute peak service/60 minute non peak service.

You can jump on SunRail at Sand Lake and get off at the Orlando Amtrak station. Then jump on Route 40 to get to Universal.


I know Brightline has a shuttle service but I thought it was limited to like 5 or so miles from the station.

 

[joelkfla]

So there's already LYNX service from MCO to SeaWorld/Universal.

LYNX Route 11 serves the Sand Lake Rd SunRail Station during peak hours (5:30am-8am and 4pm-7pm M-F) every 30 minutes.
LYNX Route 111 services the Sand Lake Rd SunRail Station as well as SeaWorld from MCO. Service runs every 30 minute peak service/60 minute non peak service.

You can jump on SunRail at Sand Lake and get off at the Orlando Amtrak station. Then jump on Route 40 to get to Universal.

You'd have to be a real hardcore transit lover to want to deal with that mess.

 

[jis]

MODERATOR'S NOTE: About two dozen posts on grade crossing elimination in South Florida have been moved to its own thread as this is a subject in its own standing quite independent of Brightline. It is an issue with TriRail and also with any new commuter service on the North East Corridor a.k.a. FECR line.

https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/south-florida-grade-crossing-elimination-possibilities.83543/
Please continue the grade crossing issues discussion in this new thread and reserve the Brightline Orlando extension thread to discuss Brightline construction and service extension to Orlando related issues.

Thank you for your understanding, cooperation and participation.

 

[jis]

Testing 110mph in Martin and St. Lucie Counties...

https://www.wptv.com/lifestyle/trav...trains-at-speeds-of-110-mph-on-treasure-coast

 

[crescent-zephyr]

You'd have to be a real hardcore transit lover to want to deal with that mess.

Some of us are out there!

 

[user 1215]

Perhaps more of an ICYMI.... They are using the new bridge and ROW over Crane Creek. They are now working on the 2nd line. Melbourne Ave is back open.

This could have happened months ago, but I just noticed last week.

 

[user 1215]

Not ideal, but at least it can be done. - as long as you go on weekdays.

I think they're talk about running on weekends when Brightline opens. IDK if that's when BL makes it to MCO, or to the Resorts (through the Sandlake station) or all the way to Tampa.

 

[cirdan]

According to posts elsewhere on various boards from usually reliable sources the timeline for work on the Cocoa - Orlando section is as follows:

- Loaded ballast train run between Orlando and Cocoa Monday - Friday and ramp up the speed to 50mph starting in December.

- Begin full corridor testing and certification in December.

- January will be 110-125mph testing.

- Open system by Valentine's Day.

sounds quite ambitious to me. but i hope they can pull it off.

any idea when the signals will go live?

 

[jis]

sounds quite ambitious to me. but i hope they can pull it off.

any idea when the signals will go live?

On the Cocoa - Orlando section, I suspect it will be by December. The track ballasting is mostly done and they should be able to run a train from Cocoa to Orlando imminently. Frankly I don't doubt about the ability to get the Cocoa - Orlando segment into service by Feb. I think what is ambitious is getting the West Palm Beach - Cocoa segment in service by that date. There is still a lot of bridge work to be completed. @VentureForth may have a better feel for it than me since he seems to have been tracking progress more closely than me.

 

[user 1215]

I think the 2nd main line between Cocoa and WPB is a LOT slower to be completed than the Orlando extension from what I've seen. That being said, it does appear that many of the bridge upgrades have completed ONE main, and they are working on the 2nd Main. I don't know what they expect their initial TPH to be, but it wouldn't surprise me to see 110 MPH between Cocoa and WPB in areas soon. It'll just be on one track for now. I guess they aren't too worried - after all, Cocoa to MCO is only 1 track with some passing sidings. Double track the whole way is still years to come, I feel.

 

[jis]

They will be 1tph each way for quite a while since that is all that they have rolling stock for.

 

[west point]

some slower schedules can be had with the various bridgs that are just 1 main track for now. It may be july 2023 before all bridges are 2 main tracks except for the one briddge that is not schedued to be worked on.

 

[Anderson]

They will be 1tph each way for quite a while since that is all that they have rolling stock for.

In the foreseeable term, I can't see Brightline going much above 1.5tph north of WPB (or thereabouts). You might see a "spare" train at rush hour or something like that (the train would have to come from one of the other runs, but they'll clearly do this), but I'm also not sure that even with JAX, we'd get a full 1tph MIA-JAX.

 

[Caesar La Rock]

You'd have to be a real hardcore transit lover to want to deal with that mess.

It's not that bad as the airport isn't far from the Sand Lake Road station. The bus only took a good ten minutes to get there when I last did it and quite a lot of people do those type of commuters based on personal experience. Changing the subject back to Brightline, I also doubt it'll open by Valentine's Day too. Realistically, maybe around Summer is when they'll start service. Summer in this state is one of the busiest times of the year, so the passengers they'll get will not only be locals, but tourists from all over the country and the world.

 

[user 1215]

It's not that bad as the airport isn't far from the Sand Lake Road station.

...so long as they are on schedule. I've tried using them where one bus was running 29 1/2 minutes late and the next bus was literally right behind it.

 

[Caesar La Rock]

...so long as they are on schedule. I've tried using them where one bus was running 29 1/2 minutes late and the next bus was literally right behind it.

You got lucky, I've been in several situations where the buses showed up even later then that or didn't show up at all, but I didn't have to use Sunrail during those times as I was heading home in those situations. A bus driver several years ago admitted to everyone on his bus that I was on that Lynx routinely misses trips, due to driver shortages. They're just really good at hiding the elephant in the room. One of the reasons I miss old man Skoutelas, it may have been odd to paint the buses in the various colors of skittles, but he knew what he was doing at least.

As for Brightline, some of you called this. The construction looks to be finished by early 2023 as indicated in this article.

https://www.wftv.com/news/local/cha...h-orlando-stretch/PSNJKHP47ZDG7KRX4VZTXYKO4Q/

 

[JWM]

I find the double track issue somewhat amusing. Before the FEC strike in 1963 that ended through passenger service and then all passenger service, the FEC had double track all along that route. It was torn up over a number of years. That being said, the roadbed, ballast and welded rail, single track or not, was some of the best in the country for fast freight trains.

 

[jis]

I find the double track issue somewhat amusing. Before the FEC strike in 1963 that ended through passenger service and then all passenger service, the FEC had double track all along that route. It was torn up over a number of years. That being said, the roadbed, ballast and welded rail, single track or not, was some of the best in the country for fast freight trains.

It is back to double track now south of Titusville, except for one short segment on a bridge in St. Lucie. (and a few segments yet to be completed) and it is generally 110mph (being certified progressively) between West Palm Beach and Cocoa with the exception of several PSRs at bridges and curves.

 

[JWM]

It is back to double track now south of Titusville, except for one short segment on a bridge in St. Lucie. (and a few segments yet to be completed) and it is generally 110mph (being certified progressively) between West Palm Beach and Cocoa with the exception of several PSRs at bridges and cgeurves.

Thanks. Did they replace the New River Bridge in Ft. Lauderdale?

 

[jis]

Thanks. Did they replace the New River Bridge in Ft. Lauderdale?

That will be a while. There is a Draft EIS with several alternatives -

1. just double track bridge and leave it at that
2. new medium clearance lift bridge
3. new high clearance fixed bridge
4. tunnel under the river

Now the horse trading begins about which one the city wants and which one is affordable. Naturally the cost rises as you go down that list. Ideally the city prefers the last one. My guess is realistically probably the third one will eventually happen. The single track ground level I think will be kept as is for freight since the high bridge alternative involves 3-4% grade.

 

[JWM]

That will be a while. There is a Draft EIS with several alternatives -

1. just double track bridge and leave it at that
2. new medium clearance lift bridge
3. new high clearance fixed bridge
4. tunnel under the river

Now the horse trading begins about which one the city wants and which one is affordable. Naturally the cost rises as you go down that list. Ideally the city prefers the last one. My guess is realistically probably the third one will eventually happen. The single track ground level I think will be kept as is for freight since the high bridge alternative involves 3-4% grade.

If memory serves me correctly, there is a road tunnel for U.S. 1 and Las Olas close by. Of course, the tunnel is the most expensive option. The original bridge was double tracked at one point, so that would be the least expensive. A 3% to 4% grade even for Brightline is not ideal, I think. Thank you for bringing me up to date on this.