Orlando | SunRail Marks First Expansion With Phase 2 Groundbreaking

[Hatman]

Thanks for the link!

...but is their plan 'A' really having a shuttle train go from OIA to a 'Transfer Station', where passengers can then get on a train to downtown? That's lame. I was hoping the OIA trains would continue on up to Lynx Central. Hopefully in the future... Is this a funding problem, or a capacity problem, or a CSX Railroad problem?

[Prahaboheme]

It looks like several alternatives are considered in the plan, including an automated people mover from OIA to SLR sunrail station. This also appears to be the most expensive of all the options considered, so I doubt this would be feasible.

I agree - any spur to OIA would need to be incorporated into existing or new links that extend entirely to Lynx Central Station, or the system would not get used.

[Prahaboheme]

Sunrail's southern expansion will become operational next Tuesday, July 31st.
This will add 17 additional miles to the existing line, for a total of 61 miles, and will include 4 additional station stops:

Meadow Woods
Tupperware Station
Kissimmee Intermodal Station
Poinciana

This expansion is expected to increase the ridership numbers significantly, as the southern Osceola County area ride time will be greatly improved by riding rail rather than car to downtown Orlando and points north.

[bobdreamz]

SunRail considers expanding to Orlando International Airport.
By Bailey Myers | August 30, 2018 @9:44 PM

ORLANDO, Fla. — As a new high speed rail gets the green light to move to Orlando, SunRail organizers are talking about an expansion to the Orlando International Airport.

This week, $1.75 billion in federal tax exempt bonds were issued for Brightline, the high speed rail that travels from South Florida.

The funds would be used to expand the line from the Treasure Coast inland to the Orlando International Airport.

The line is expected to be up and running at the airport by 2021.

Following the announcement of Brightline, Central Florida officials involved with the development of SunRail say a natural expansion for the commuter line could be to take it to the airport, allowing travelers to link up with Brightline south.

"If we do connect Sunrail to the airport, then that changes the whole thing. It's no longer a commuter rail -- it's a rail that's taking passengers to the airport, so we would need more frequent service. We would need seven day a week service," Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said.

Dyer along with other members of the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission said they could see SunRail expanding from its commuter rail purpose into a 24 hour, seven days a week stretch.

However, any major changes like that would have to be years in the making.

http://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/n...ts-green-light