Siemens got the contract to build the railcars, although not much detail has been provided. Siemens makes various railcars in Europe, so they'll probably be very similar to one of them in styling. I don't know if they will meet FRA regulations or meet alternate regulations with waivers. No livery, paint scheme, has been published to date, although I have recently read a rumor that more information about naming may be released soon, which I assume includes livery images. ;)

It's my understanding that AAF trainsets will be comprised of Siemens "Viagio Comfort" coaches hauled by Siemens Charger Tier IV locomotives. We know what the locomotives look like, much less vinfirnation is known for the U.S. spec coaches. Livery, aesthetic modifications is all speculation. Like you I am very eager to see how they turn out. I hope it's very slick and sophisticated, like the RailJet consists that are operated by several railways in Europe.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...%20Florida.PNG

This is from the TV ads. It has a nice Chesapeake & Ohio vibe going on, but I think a cool, sleek, futuristic scheme would be better than a retro one.

I'm really curious to hear what name they choose for their service. Amtrak's "Acela" name wasn't received well at first, but it's grown on me since. I wouldn't be nearly so critical this time around if AAF were to come up with a new word like that.

MiamiCentral is very interesting... Especially the robotic parking. There's really no other good way to build a parking garage above a train station, unless you build bridges across the adjacent streets to a spiral ramp.

Published on Oct 17, 2015
One of the early rail trains for the All Aboard Florida double-tracking on the FEC Railway. Here we see the train offloading in the Hypoluxo passing track south of West Palm Beach (approx mp310). The process of getting each 1/4 mile long stick of rail off the train is quite interesting. First a cable is pulled forward from the winch on the back of the train, and attached to the next stick to be offloaded. The winch then pulls the rail from it's transport position, through multiple guides, and finally to the back of the train almost at ground level. The stick is then anchored to the waiting front end loader, and the train moves forward. Since the rail is now anchored, the train actually slides out from under the rail. It's quite interesting to see just how flexible the rail is - this is 136lb rail! Each time I've seen the process the sound of the rail being unloaded is also quite unique. As the train moves into the distance, you can hear the rhythmic sound of the rail shaking as it unloads, and the shock waves travelling the length of the rail stick. This is the first of seven sticks of rail that were unloaded at this location.
https://www.youtube.com/user/Honestware/videos
this guy has lots of videos

Not sure what you mean by C&O vibe. The paint scheme?

Yep, the paint. Yellow over blue over stainless steel:
http://www.trainweb.org/fredatsf/pro...s/image021.jpg
It's practically a carbon-copy. I hope the rebranding going on will come up with something unique - not because I don't like the C&O colors, but because I think something new (or at least something with Florida heritage) would be a better fit for this particular line.
But it's only paint. I'll take what I can get.

https://twitter.com/AllAboardFla/sta...64475156406272
anybody wanna guess what this is about?

1) Successfully selling all the tax exempt bonds.
2) Starting Phase 2 construction along the turnpike.
3) Renaming the train service.
4) Presenting liveries of both locomotives and railcars.
That's four guesses from me. ;)

I really hope it is both 3 and 4!

5) SuperTall hotel/office Phase 2 downtown miami announcement
http://therealdeal.com/miami/blog/20...ity-land-swap/
put the nail on the head of MiamiCentral station

http://www.tcpalm.com/opinion/column...337656001.html
this guy is either a jerk asshole or really wants AAF Vero Beach station?

Nope, just asshole.

They want a train stop. The Treasure Coast was begging for FEC to allow Amtrak to use their rails a few years back. That project would have included a couple of stations in the Treasure Coast. Once AAF came online and they found out they weren't getting a stop, the sour grape arguments started up.

Wow, wow! What is hell going on there? What's up with this guy? Is he jerks or something?

Good riddance to him!!!! Go to hell! :hell:

Congressman Mica is claiming AAF may be extending up to Jacksonville and Daytona within the next five years.

Full article: http://www.news-journalonline.com/ar...news/151109909

^ Nice to see Mica who is a Republican in favor of mass transit in Florida.

It's much easier to support mass transit than it is to support inter-city trains like Amtrak. Just look at the ridership numbers just for Penn Station in New York to see why.

Amtrak = 12,573,000
LIRR = = 83,496,000
NJT = 54,268,000
NYC Subway = Total = 55,132,214
34 St-Penn Station 1,2,3 = 28,638,643
34 St-Penn Station A, C, E = 26,493,571

So, at Penn Station specifically, local and regional transit ridership was 192,896,214; while all Amtrak ridership was 12,573,000. That's a ratio of over 15 to 1.

Of course, common sense suggests the amount of subsidy required per rider is different between the various transit agencies and Amtrak. I'm not aware if any of the various agencies actually break the subsidy amount down to specific stations. So it would be difficult to suggest which of the various trains have more economic impact. But I would suggest, by just the numbers of passengers, the data favors local transit agencies over inter-city rail.

Sources of data:
http://esd.ny.gov/subsidiaries_proje...irculation.pdf
http://web.mta.info/nyct/facts/ffsubway.htm

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/b...-1-1b.html#g16
new airport station/roads/parking

The only reason hes pushing this project through is to get federal funding for CSX upgrades..

^??How would AAF lead to CSX upgrades? AAF will run on FEC's tracks.

I agree. I think it's right choice for everyone. For those people who take a public transit. They can take AAF or Amtrak. Whatever if you want to take. It's their choice.

Wow! Very nice pictures. I can see that. When they will be completed? I don't see a trams yet. They haven't build a tracks yet.

You should stick to what you know, which is the Tri-State.

I'm not a Repub, but Mica has always been progressive when it comes to transportation.

AAF doesn't even touch any CSX tracks. Through their parent FEC, they already have - and are building their own.

^^^ what a bunch of hogwash. Mica, of course, led a multi year jihad against Amtrak.

Eightball-- I agree with you. I've heard Rep. Mica describe Amtrak countless times as "Soviet-style rail," irregardless that Amtrak has enjoyed growing ridership every year for the past decade and the Northeast corridor is a profitable service.

Im talking about Sunrail...and this has been debating at length on SSC... Hahaha , Mica hates Amtrak and passenger rail...always so critical of it..typical republican...except when it comes to pleasing his buddies at CSX... And CSX is interconnected into FEC , im sure they'll want direct access to Central Florida...

As someone intimately involved in the local transportation industry (political and professional) this part about CSX and FEC makes no sense.

With that being said, from what I can tell, it's obvious that Mica likes AAF because its privately funded and operated.

Anyone knows what are the chances (and the timeline, in that case) of seeing an AAF stop at the Cocoa station?

No, they won't be Cocoa Beach. Only Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, and Orlando, as well.

Cocoa-Not-Beach, where AAF will be passing (and changing direction for the only time between Miami and Orlando).
https://www.google.com/maps/@28.4040877,-80.759075,15z

My links are a bit dated (Spring, 2015) but last I heard it was not initially planned (as a stop) but could be added later. I thought you guys might have more fresh info.

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/op...ject/25963323/

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/op...-hub/26577323/


"In South Florida, work has begun on slick stations connected to shops, offices and commuter rail in downtown Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Trains could roll by 2017.

Brevard may not see 32 trains a day right away, and no one could say whether it will get a stop.

That will be for the market, not activists or local governments, to decide."

-------------------------------------------------------------------


"Q: What have you heard from Cocoa residents about it?

Parrish: I have a few residents that aren't for it. But I'd say about 70 percent are for it.

Q: But the service isn't planning to stop in Brevard, meaning your constituents wouldn't experience the upside. All Aboard Florida's president told me that's because they haven't detected a market here.

Parrish: This is a money-making enterprise, not subsidized like Amtrak or something. But I've sat in a lot of meetings with these guys and said, "You'd be crazy not to stop in Cocoa."

The Port is going to drive this. It's doing a market study for the company.

Passenger rail is the future. Obviously, I'm pro-cargo-rail too, but that's a little out of my purview. That'll happen a little farther north."

As far as I know, AAF hasn't said anything about a stop specifically in Cocoa, even though they have alluded that they are open to more infill station in the future. I do remember that Brevard was interested in building the stop with county money, so that passengers could connect to the port and the cruise ships there. Here's a LINK for that.
The county would be justified in financing a stop because the easy passenger connection (direct from the airport, no less!) would bring more cruise ship business to the port.
And if there is one thing we all know, it's that if the prospect of government money exists in even the smallest possibility, no one will be willing to finance the station on their own. Not even AAF. So I wouldn't expect to hear much about this station until a deal with the county is announced, or the county completely trashes the idea.
I agree that Cocoa is an ideal location for a station; the trains will already be going pretty slowly through there to make the turn off the existing mainline onto the expressway line. It's just a matter of time before such a thing happens, though unfortunately that amount of time seems to be highly dependent on politics.

Wow! I had no idea, Eightball & 202.

I only know him from a Florida perspective, and frankly moved away years ago.

I stand corrected, and thanks for setting me straight.

I stand by my original statements to others though that this has absolutely zero to do with CSX.

I guess I get to be the one to break the news!

All Aboard Florida = Brightline

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/d960...ine-Trains.jpg

LINK

Not the type of name or branding I was expecting - It's not really in the vein of 'classic American railroading' - but I do like it. I like it soooo much better than 'All Aboard Florida.'

This is the video you will see if you go to www.gobrightline.com

• Video Link

Also, from the SunSentinal:

The name is simple, easy-to-remember, and easily "verbified".

As long as the service is high-quality, it'll become a great brand.

The name and paint scheme/graphic concept is pretty cool. Very French/Euro which is a welcome departure from most nostalgic, RV swirl and just plain bad brand identities for commuter systems in the U.S.

I will donate my kidney if those locomotives look like that though. We all know they've reported they are using Charger locomotives — and those are no way those locos. Not to beat a dead horse but we all know FRA regs wouldn't allow such a sleek euro style lightweight locomotive on trackage shared with freight.

A great day for the state of Florida and for the metros of Miami & Orlando. Now unto Jacksonville & Tampa!

The First Coast needs to get their "ducks in order" so AAF can expand to Jax and include Cocoa (Port Canaveral) and Daytona eventually. The lame duck city/ metro in all of this sadly is Tampa and when they will realize that they are being left behind?

Tampa should push for true HSR in the 1-4 that would have been built if it wasn't for your birdbrained governor. That leg at least should remain a priority HSR project.

^ Tampa can't even push for rail in it's own city nevermind HSR!

Here is a rendering for the standard Siemens Charger:
http://c1cleantechnicacom.wpengine.n...unnamed-22.jpg

It doesn't look all that different. The changes would be an aerodynamic nose that covers the couplers and cables, and a lack of a snowplow. I don't think that would be enough for the FRA to ban Brightline's design.

That looks great... better even, IMHO, than the ones in the official Brightline pics.

I like the new name, as well.

I don't mind if it takes time, as long as the door remains open for it to eventually happen. :)

Last I checked, I think there's a SCAT shuttle that goes to Port Canaveral from the Cocoa train station -- this leg of the trip to the barrier islands/beach/port can easily be covered by bus anyway.

It's already being covered by buses today from the Orlando airport. How else do you think most cruise passengers get to the cruise ships? A train station in the Cocoa area will just make that bus trip shorter.

"Most"? I'd say, likely with their car (either their own or a rental).

frightlined
http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/...es-new-/npMnj/

^^^ great transpo project, but dumb re-naming

What was wrong with AAF/ All Aboard Florida? Much more logical and better name imo

Or how about Florida East Coast Railway?

It's the lure of the new at play here.

This is a pleasant piece of news:
Boaters, All Aboard Florida make peace over New River bridge

LINK

It seems the 'Bridge Tender' idea works as advertised. Hopefully this satisfies some of the objections to this project and dampens some of the animosity towards AAF. I think it's weird that in this 21st century a 'high speed' rail company would need to hire a dude to sit next to a bridge and watch it open and close - I mean, why not have a bunch of cameras so the people in Jacksonville can see what the tender will see? - but I'm also proud of AAF for doing stuff to try and 'compromise' with the public, so that the animosity is kept to a minimum. After all, if the neighbors hate the Brightliners, then the opposition to any expansion (and to all other rail projects in the US) will be greatly heightened.

try this link - good video
http://67.214.100.182/Player?ClipId=...ted=PV_3&pbp=N

Sorry, man. I won't watch it. I don't want to watch a whole news. Try to do something else.