BREAKING: Brightline considers adding one or more Treasure Coast stops

https://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/busi...xa0yXKgW18sjI/

For Tampa station site, Brightline wants connectivity to airports, attractions

https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay...ine-wants.html

Orlando 1st 2020 - Tampa next then Jacksonville ?

It will be amazing if this gets built through private initiative. If it is successful, it will be a lesson for all of North America. Can something that was routine in the 19th century, work in the 21st century?

Brightline considers Ft. Pierce station

https://www.tcpalm.com/story/opinion...fe4bd80d91e064

if you need a lesson for north America Why cant you look at France/Europe/England or japan and china?

Most rails in Europe and the Far East are owned by the government and are subsidized, they are not owned by a private company actually making a profit with freight operations.
FYI, 2010 statistic per Wiki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_freight_transport
Rail freight by network, billion tonne-km 2010
Gt-km Network Countries
2863 North America U.S., Canada, Mexico
2451 China
2351 Russia CIS, Finland, Mongolia
607 India
391 European Union 27 member countries
269 Brazil includes Bolivia (1)
115 South Africa includes Zimbabwe (1.6)
64 Australia
20 Japan
10 South Korea
North America had 732% more goods moved by trains than all of the EU.
Math = 2863/391 x 100 = 732%

If there were 700% more freight trains running on British railroads, would there be as much room for all their intercity passenger trains? The European model is not going to work where there are significantly more freight trains moving goods....and over longer distances.....

I renamed the thread to reflect the fact that it's not really about the FEC announcement from 6 years ago anymore. I'll take off the parens in... I dunno a month or something. Whenever I remember.

Thanks for your efforts! I appreciate your help. I can see Brightline Thread. If I see any news about Brightline for next new station.

Brightline considers Stuart station
 

Stuart Brightline station to be considered Monday

https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/lo...op/1252789002/

Brightline Acquires Xpress West - Cali to Vegas
 

link

The deal apparently includes the purchase of 38 acres of land in Vegas for a station/mixed-use development.

Holy cow! This is FANTASTIC news!

Xpress West is the group going to Victorville, correct?

And a $28 million loss - is that per year, or just the few months that the first segment was opened before the Miami extension? I expected a loss, and I think they are probably still operating at a loss until the Orlando portion opens. But man, $28 million is a lot of money to loose.

[edit - I read the article linked within the article, and that $28 million loss is for the entire company during the first quarter. How much of that is operations vs new construction is not disclosed. Total ticket revenues for the first quarter - between Ft Lauderdale and West Palm Beach - were only $663,667, so not good if the $28 million loss was only operations.]

I hope they are not biting off more than they can chew here, because a lot of future projects are riding on Brightline. If they give up and go bankrupt, so many other potential projects will fade away.

Why do I feel like we are about to learn that a proposal to build electrified true high speed rail from Las Vegas to Victorville with eventual access to LA Union Station is instead going to be downgraded to LV-Victorville with 110 mph diesel hauled trains with fun playing card themed paint jobs? Because in America we shoot for the moon but usually settle for much less.

I hope I'm wrong.

You will be wrong. Brightline's diesel trains will go at least 125 mph. ;)

If they do use the current diesel trains on a mostly single-track line from Victorville to Las Vegas, at least they will be able to run the trains all the way into Los Angeles without forcing everyone to transfer.

Until the California High Speed Rail goes from Victorville to Los Angles, I don't think there is any real incentive to build anything more than that. Brightline may be a niche player in that corridor, but at least it will be better than nothing!

Yes, that is correct. This is where they came from.

I am wondering if the site they are buying is land Wynn Resorts bought last year. The land in question is the old New Frontier site. Wynn Resorts assembled 38 acres in that purchase and that matches the 38 acres that Brightline is said to be buying. It also also adjacent to Las Vegas Blvd and the Union Pacific ROW. The I-15 ROW is somewhat near as well. Not sure what ROW they will be using. The New Frontier site would also make it possible for additional future lines. XpressWest was looking to have lines go to Salt Lake City and also Phoenix. The SLT line could follow I-15 ROW and the Phoenix line the I-11 ROW. If the I-11 ROW uses the I-515/US95/US93 ROW into Las Vegas that would be perfect for this. Not sure if that is still the plan. No other undeveloped site in the resort corridor jumps out to me. Maybe the Bali Hai golf coarse but that is a lot bigger site.

I also hope they still go with an electrified line as well as the target 150 MPH max speed. It would be great if they complete the Victorville to Palmdale link sooner than later. Even if needing to make a transfer at Palmdale and the route down to LA is electrified would be great. I would be using this line at that point. Stopping at Victorville would be useless to me.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/busine...-la-rail-line/

wow BIG news , heck what about tampa and jacksonville

I assume they plan to multitask! I heard from a high up source in the transportation industry yesterday that they do have intentions on expanding to Tallahassee. To get to Tally, you have to go through Jax.

Suspicions confirmed. This won't be true hsr. Because America:

https://urbanize.la/post/new-owner-b...peed-rail-plan

Unless heavily publicly subsidized, speeding $7 billion building "true" high speed rail between Southern California and Vegas makes no sense. Speeds up to 125mph and beating the car to the final destination by an hour are better than nothing. Especially for a privately funded project.

Brightline's specialty is capitalizing on real estate adjacencies, and where could be better to do this than Vegas? While I expect they are planning/hoping to at least break even on operations in the long run, they are probably relying on their real estate plays to finance their capital costs. This is the model that built many railroads throughout the world, from huge concerns like Seibu and Tokyu in Japan all the way down to small town streetcars, but most relevant in this case is the FEC which historically was well-known for placing resorts and developing towns - they are basically the grandfather of nearly all development on Florida's atlantic coast. So this is very much in their DNA.

So, to really follow their business model in Vegas, I expect they will basically be building their own casino.

This is also why I suspect they're pushing forward so quickly with the link from Orlando to Tampa. The route along I-4 puts them through the heart of the I-Drive/Disney World area. I would expect them to have a station there along with a lot of adjacent development in terms of hotels/resorts/condos/timeshares/etc, and lots of agreements with the theme parks and attractions. I suspect that this area has in fact been their Orlando destination all along, rather than the Airport, since there is not much potential to add development at the Orlando airport. Plenty of potential for it on I-Drive.

Everybody repeat after me: Brightline is a real estate company, not a transportation company.

I wonder if Brightline will someday be able to offer some sort of onboard casino gaming on the Las Vegas route. Could be a way to pay for eventual future electrification.

Unfortunately not, I don't think they allowed to. There's no gambling on the train.

FDOT Has Agreed To Provide Funding For A Midtown Miami Train Station

===================
NXT

:previous: Great news ! They say operations will continue "If deemed successful".
How can it not be successful? Midtown is booming!

https://i.imgur.com/SmnplVB.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/SmnplVB.jpg

Done Deal: Brightline Finalizes Construction Bids For Miami To Orlando Route, Financing In Place

https://www.thenextmiami.com/done-de...cing-in-place/

now that is great news.

i am so glad ohio could pitch in on jumpstarting this brightline project via that nitwit governor kasich giving back ohio 3C rail project fed money so that florida could scoop it up. :hell:

I agree - but - your mixing up different stuff
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americ...Transportation
this link info is 10 years old - back when the nitwit governor Scott from florida
gave back money yada yada yada
the florida governor is 2*dumb and also a crook
Also the brightline is separate subject from this.

Curious if its impacting ridership on Tri-Rail?

I'm partly joking but I see another business opportunity for them... being paid to plan, design, build rail projects across the country for local govt/agencies then handing the keys over to them. Not to sound like a pro-business anti-government nut, but its pretty clear they are doing these in a fraction of the time and likely much less cost and unfortunately our governments are just not set up and suited to getting rail projects done efficiently. Its largely our dysfunctional political system and lack of real regional governments (just stupid worthless states or the inept federal government).

Brightline, Virgin form strategic partnership; Brightline will be called Virgin Trains USA
https://www.wptv.com/news/state/brig...ic-partnership

More investment is good, but I'm sad about the rebranding. I like the Brightline brand, and I don't think the Virgin brand has much to offer in comparison.

But whatever, so long as the trains keep running and the system keeps expanding to Orland, Tampa, and Las Vegas.

They hope to have the line to Tampa operational in 2021. Stops would in Downtown Tampa, Lakeland, Celebration and Orlando. The average one-way fare between Tampa and Orlando would be $35.

Brightline-Virgin proposal for Tampa-to-Orlando rail service clears key state hurdle

https://www.tampabay.com/business/br...sion-20181128/

I know we're all supposed to not complain and just be glad we're getting what we're getting and everything, but this is still a far cry from the actual real HSR system the state should have been building if it wasn't for political shortsightedness.

I agree the usa just dosnt do HSR so take what you get, plus I grew up in Fort Lauderdale downtown when it was all dead/homeless/dangerous. Now its pretty fancy nice upscale.
don't get me started on political short sightedness MAYBE 2020???

Yes, it will definitely be slower at max speeds, 125 mph vs 200 mph?
So how much slower will it be between Tampa and Orlando - where the FRA was willing to grant a couple of billion dollars for?
Fact required > Orlando Sentinel reports the rail corridor length as 88 miles
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...128-story.html

Let's do the math:
88 miles / 125 mph = 0.704 hours x 60 minutes / hour = 42.5 minutes
88 miles / 200 mph = 0..440 hours c 60 minutes / hour = 26.5 minutes
Time saved = 42.5 - 26.5 = 16 minutes
State and Federal money saved using Brightline privately funded vs government funded at 2.7 billion dollars...
Source https://reason.org/wp-content/upload...l_analysis.pdf
Back then the FHSR corridor was projected to be only 84 miles in length vs the 88 projected now.

What can government fund with the saved 2.7 billion dollars?
16 minutes for rail passengers between Orlando and Tampa, at a cost of $168 Million per minute.
Some more math = $2.7 billion / 16 minutes = $168.75 million per minute.

Of course, Brightline might spend more or they might spend less, but that's private money being spent, not government money. It is not a terrible state of circumstances for private enterprise to provide a service instead of the government.

The estimated cost of the system between Tampa and Orlando is $1.7 billion:

https://www.tampabay.com/business/br...cket-20181119/

An official Brightline planning document with some maps of the Tampa extension, including detailed maps of how they intend to reach the I-4 corridor, as well as some of the proposed cross-sections. Very cool.

http://www.fdot.gov/procurement/pdf/...%2011-5-18.pdf

wow nice link love me some PDF's
so where is the station location in Lakeland?

The station would have been at Florida Poly off I-4 in the old high speed rail plan. This looks like they'd dusted off that same route, so I'd assume it would be in the same spot, which is miles outside of Lakeland's core area.

There won't even be a Brightline in a year or two, unless the state takes it over. Ridership isn't even one-third of projections.

Brightline will have to be a state-subsidized system, or it won't exist. Simple as that. And if the state takes it over, they will have to integrate with Tri-Rail, or what's the point?

It's still under construction. We don't even know what the TOD and supplementing infrastructure numbers are and how they play into the overall investment picture. I don't think we'll have an accurate financial idea on Brightline until the TOD under construction and the connection into Orlando is completed. Also, the current plan is to integrate Tri-Rail between WPB and Miami.

WHY do you say this? what are you facts or info about this?
look I don't know how brightline/VIRGIN make there money/profits
but the new florida governor is going to have NONE of what you say.
also why not add SUN rail & TRI rail & brightline together.
http://news.wjct.org/post/rail-line-...a-gets-boost-0
nice linky

It is slightly early to judge whether Brightline will be profitable or not - mainly because the bread-and-butter profit making city pair is not in service yet. If the train is still losing money a year or two after servicing Orlando - then will be the time to start discussing Brightline's bankruptcy and what the state should do with it next.

We're like discussing the profitability of the Panama Canal after the Gatun Dam and Lake has been built but before the Culebra Cut had been dug. There's no way it could ever be profitable until the entire Canal was built spanning all the way from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Likewise, we're going to see the same scenario in California with CHSR. The bread-and-butter profit making city pair will be San Francisco to Los Angeles (or at least the Bay Area to Southern California). Do not expect profits or even close to it until these two metros are connected - which could be decades after the initial leg is built.

While I understand large construction projects are built in stages, it is not fair to judge its effectiveness until why it is being built in the first place is built and in service. I personally think CHSR is making a huge mistake not building the more expensive tunnels first to complete the line between Southern California and the Bay Area with a train service without using buses. While building the Central Valley first and getting high speed trains into service as quickly as possible may have some positive political slaps in the back, it's usefulness of actually moving people by trains between the Bay Area and Southern California is still close to zero while lying upon buses to finish the journey.

A passenger railroad backed by Richard Branson’s Virgin Group named the 250-mile Atlanta to Charlotte route as a potential expansion opportunity in its IPO filing.

Virgin Trains USA Inc. is a strategic partnership between Miami-based Brightline and Virgin Group that filed for an IPO on the Nasdaq last month.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.biz...nture.amp.html

Changing the thread name again to reflect the company's updated name.

An interesting analysis:

Brightline goes Virginal. What price Virginity?
https://www.railwayage.com/passenger...ice-virginity/

Brightline back on track for Orlando rail extension – for now.
DECEMBER 28, 2018 11:20 AM

https://www.miamiherald.com/latest-n...0/brightli.PNG

Florida’s fledgling private passenger-rail service has had some reason for holiday cheer.

Days after Brightline got an extra six months to issue $1.15 billion in tax-exempt bonds needed to expand the service from South Florida to Orlando, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper on Monday tossed a lawsuit by Indian River County that sought to block the “private activity” bonds.

Brightline spokeswoman Ali Soule called Cooper’s ruling “well-reasoned.”

“The court’s decision adds momentum to our efforts of connecting Orlando to South Florida. We remain focused on exploring locations for a Brightline station in the Treasure Coast and are encouraged by the tremendous amounts of support we have received in the region,” Soule said.

The rail service has now prevailed in 10 rulings in cases initiated by Treasure Coast counties as it looks to put down a second track along a 128.5-mile stretch of single-track from West Palm Beach to Cocoa and then add 40 miles of track between Cocoa and Orlando.

Indian River County, which continued to press forward in the legal fight against the rail service after Martin County reached a settlement with Brightline, may determine its next move at a Jan. 8 meeting. Indian River and Martin counties have been key opponents of the rail service, pointing to concerns about issues such as safety.

“We’re disappointed [with the ruling] but we’re discussing with outside counsel our options on how we move forward,” Kate Cotner, an assistant county attorney in Indian River County, told The Bond Buyer on Wednesday.

The county contended the U.S. Department of Transportation exceeded its authority because the railroad was ineligible for the bonds under federal tax code. Part of the argument involved the federal agency categorizing the rail project as a “qualified highway or surface freight transfer” facility.

Cooper wrote that federal Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao’s approval, in part, met “statutory requirements and was a reasonable exercise of her discretion.”

Chao’s latest extension approval --- the bonds were first approved in December 2017 with a May 31 deadline --- appears to come with a warning that there won’t be another.

Brightline, which is being rebranded as Virgin Trains USA, has meet resistance from Treasure Coast officials and divided members of Florida’s congressional delegation. It currently has stops in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami and is planned to run north to Orlando. Brightline is also looking to extend the service between Orlando and Tampa.

https://www.miamiherald.com/site-ser...223634510.html

Good! They already move forward for Orlando rail expansion.

As long if they complete the construction sometime in 2021 or so. That won't be affected.

Brightline To Issue Notice To Proceed For $2.1 Billion Miami-Orlando Route
 

By TNM Staff on January 7, 2019

Brightline – soon to be Virgin Trains – will pull the trigger on construction of the Orlando to Miami rail line within days, according to the Orlando Business Journal.

A Notice to Proceed will be issued for the $2.1 billion project on February 1. Construction will then begin after those 30 days, Company President Patrick Goddard told the Central Florida Expressway Authority governing board on December 13.

Completion will take 30 to 36 months. A $1.7 billion segment from Orlando to Tampa could also be begin construction during that time with work overlapping, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Tickets from Miami to Orlando are expected to average $100 each way, according to Brightline’s recent IPO filing.

A new station has already been completed at Orlando International Airport, and others are now being negotiated in Orlando’s theme park area and in Lakeland.

As part of a settlement with Martin County, the company will build a new station there, and negotiations are underway in Stuart and Fort Pierce.

https://www.thenextmiami.com/brightl...g-orlando-leg/

Brightline could help connect Sunrail to Orlando Int'l. Airport
 

Currently once Brightline/Virgin reaches Orlando there will be a 5 & 1/2 mile gap between the two systems.

Video & report:

https://www.wftv.com/news/local/brig...-oia/893868671

Great news! Tri-Rail to Downtown Miami will begin in late 2019. They will extended from Metrorail station to Downtown Miami station.

https://www.thenextmiami.com/plannin...6w4FCUR73hHcEo