^ Seems like this is mostly just to generate hype by promising jobs in Sacramento (Siemens' manufacturing plant). I do not think they will be placing a billion-dollar order of trainsets before major funding is in place.

I don't see a way for them NOT to order Velaros honestly. The grades on the new line will be too taxing for most off-the-shelf trainsets. Reducing the grades means a lot more $$$ spent in earthmoving and may require the EIS to be redone.

I don't remember offhand what the ruling grade is on CAHSR but they may be forced to use Velaros as well if they want to save money on earthmoving, tunneling and viaducts.

Could be the case.


Pretty sure it's 3%

Xpresswest is...5% max? That is if things haven't changed since the EIS.

Finally!! Great news for Boca Raton station. They will start construction soon.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/bo...0Xc9rg2HORDnbg

Direct from CHSR on grades.
https://hsr.ca.gov/docs/programs/eir...TM2_1_2R00.pdf

On the California High-Speed line, following grades are to be used:
• Desirable Grades shall be as low as reasonably practical, with a limit of 1.25%
• Maximum Grades: above 1.25% and shall be as low as practical up to 2.50
• Exceptional Grades: above 2.50% and shall be as low as practical up to 3.50%
Limitations on Length of Grades: Where the terrain permits, long grades steeper than the following shall not be used due to limits of braking capability of some of the proposed train sets:
• The average grade for any 6 km (3.7 mile) long section of the line shall be under 3.5%
• The average grade for any 10 km (6.2 mile) long section of the line shall be under 2.5%.

Limitations of Grade at Power Supply Phase Breaks: In European practice, due to catenary and signaling constraints, it is desirable to limit grades to 0.60% for 600 m (2,000 feet) on each side of a phase break.

Limitations of Speed on Grades: In European practice, speed on downgrades is constrained by train set braking limitations. The restriction is based on the average grade over any continuous length of 5,200m (17,100ft) along the line. The following speed limits for different grades are as determined in accordance with French standards:
• Grade between 3.0% and 3.5%: Vmax = 230 km/h (143 mph)
• Grade between 2.2% and 3.0%: Vmax = 270 km/h (168 mph)
• Grade between 1.6% and 2.2%: Vmax = 300 km/h (186 mph)
• Grade between 0.0% and 1.6%: Vmax = 350 km/h (217 mph)

How do you define ruling grade?
At speed, 220 mph, any grade the grade is limited to 1.6%. At 2.5% grade for 10 km the speed is limited to 168 mph, at 3.5% grade for 6 km the speed is limited to 143 mph.
And maybe surprising too many, the grade and speed limitation are caused by trains descending the grade, not for trains ascending the grade.

St. Lucie County might pay $750,000 for traffic lights ahead of Brightline

https://cbs12.com/news/local/st-luci...V5fw6y4jLIKeXQ

Great news! Tri-Rail will be in downtown Miami this year.

https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2021/...Eufz89iB2oRr-M

FDOT Demanding Compensation For Lost Tolls If Brightline Wants To Expand Train Service To Tampa
https://www.thenextmiami.com/fdot-de...vice-to-tampa/

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

Brightline must prepare a study calculating how much toll revenue would be lost to the state if they expand to Tampa and compensate the government for it, according to a March 1 letter from FDOT to the company.

The company is currently more than halfway complete building a rail line from Miami to Orlando, and hopes to further extend the line from Orlando to Tampa.

The letter was first obtained by the Orlando Sentinel. Brightline president and CEO Patrick Goddard, signed the agreement on Monday, the paper said.

Both the state and the Central Florida Expressway Authority would need to be compensated for the loss of revenue that may occur from cars being removed from the road if the train service is built.

Brightline needs space along the Central Florida Expressway Authority’s toll-road system in order to build the expansion from Orlando to Tampa.

:hell: :koko: :koko: :hell: :koko: :hell:

So the state that champions Brightline as a free market solution and success story insists they pay up for cutting into their toll profits from state owned infrastructure? Hypocrites much? You can't make this stuff up.

Absolutely friggin nuts!

The State does not own the tollroads, the Tollroad Authority does. If I wanted to run my train over land you owned, you would expect some compensation for it. You would probably take a one time infusion of cash as you sold the property. The Tollroad Authority instead allowed the train company access, but to get access to its' land, the cost is dependent upon loss of toll revenues. So one should expect continuous lawsuits over disagreements on just how much the train took away from the toll revenues far into the future.

Believe it or not, a similar agreement was made by Vanderbilt's New York Central with the Erie Canal in New York State. The railroad has not paid money to the Erie Canal Authority since the 1862. But it did prior to that.

Nothing new here.

Interesting... Brightline's been looking at a (sort of) direct route from MCO to Disney Springs along SR 417, but that's the road controlled by CFX.

There's another route Brightline was considering that would swing north with a stop at the Orange County Convention Center, but they rejected this because costs were $1B higher. I wonder if they will re-consider now... which may be the whole point. Local boosters really want that stop at the Convention Center/I-Drive, not just at Disney.

The weird thing is that CFX also controls SR 528, the highway that Brightline is currently building tracks next to, between Cocoa Beach and MCO. So it's fine for them to build rail along one CFX tollroad, but not the other? :hmmm:

CFX is a monster here in Orlando. I can't stand them.

And you do not think the same type of agreement does not already exist?
CFX is going to get money for access for using its' land, one way or another.

Brightline Holding Meetings With Broward Officials To Finalize Commuter Rail Service

https://www.thenextmiami.com/brightl...bbrM4dSywUW1Mw

Cocoa Tunnel Brightline Construction Update - March 11, 2021

A brief look at the progress on the Cocoa Tunnel that is being constructed as part of Brightline's phase 2 passenger rail expansion to Orlando.

The installation has been scheduled to be completed between March 14 and March 30, 2021.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9j1mxZFi6c&t=2s

America: Land of the rent seeking scumbag... #ProveMeWrong... Aka the land where everyone wants something for nothing... Especially ironic in the land of so-called "Free Market Capitalism" Yikes! I hope the Florida DOT gets NOTHING for their greed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent-seeking

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https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2021/...g2adyg84frIPZY

After $345 million buildout, Brightline to run new intercity rail

UPDATE: Brightline's under construction Orlando Rail line into eastern Orange County, FL.
March 25, 2021

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Hi all,

Cocoa tunnel construction is completed.

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Brightline CEO: Vegas-to-LA high-speed rail line still on track to break ground in 2021

https://www.hsrail.org/sites/default...tline_West.jpg

Link: https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2021/...21/7161675002/