Clearly Brightline is nefarious for cutting corners and giving the concept of 'high-speed rail' a bad name all while over here in Asia and many other parts of the world, any mention of grade crossings or speed reductions would not even be given second thought. In Florida their trains have been playing demolition derby with cars and pedestrians and should anyone take this as a surprise? Yeah, the human element is what it is; however, it can't be ignored either. If the developers of Brightline are smart, they will learn from the mistakes of Florida and do it right this time with electrified trains truly running on a designated state of the art HSR system. Do it right or don't do it at all...

There's literally nowhere to build a new rail line in South Florida that would avoid at grade crossings. Either the route from West Palm, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami would have to be elevated entirely or tunneled. The only affordable solutions is to use one of the two existing rail corridors that run north to south. The one running along I-95 already carries commuter rail and does not pass through the city centers or the freight line on the east more dense side, which is the one they chose.

Clearly the solution to Brightline in Florida is for Floridians to just get used to living around trains.

In the Southwest, it looks like most of the curves on I-15 could support high speed operation with a tilting trainset and a high superelevation (not sure exactly how fast, but that technology has come a long way). They can't do this kind of thing on any line with significant freight traffic, but certainly can on passenger-only lines where the track geometry can be optimized for speed and not its ability to carry heavy loads.

Nobody else in the world would build a greenfield rail line with curves so tight as to require tilting trains, but (sigh) the US is different. It may be that the environmental mitigations required to leave the I-15 corridor are so expensive as to force this kind of compromise.

Im curious if Caltrans will agree to broadening the curve of some directional lanes to allow the broadening of curves on the railway at certain turns in the corridor where there is center running. By definition it only requires one side of the divided highway to be modified.

Heads up!!

Second BrightBlue just left from Sacramento factory. It's on the way to Florida now.

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Get a camera ready!! :tup:

Delete.

Unfortunately, another person was struck and killed by a Brightline train yesterday.

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/b...6va-story.html

I hate to sound insensitive but Florida seems to be giving India a run for its money.

Possibly, but my impression is that this is being driven by CEQA and minimizing environmental impact. Changing the highway alignment would cause the same issues as building the railway outside of the highway alignment.

I don't think it's about Brightline minimizing costs - building a rail line in a highway median isn't cheap, due to limited access, limited room for staging and constant work for Maintenance-of-Traffic. But maybe the savings on earthmoving/regrading from using the median outweigh the added complexity of building between 4 lanes of 80mph traffic.

I know it's too easy, but what environment??? My god it's a freaking moonscape.

How many of these people are impaired or suicidal? This cannot be minimized without eliminating at-grade crossings.

^I heard just yesterday that there have been 3 people struck by trains at the Middletown MTS station recently. There's a short brick wall that might block pedestrians view of Amtrak/Coaster trains barreling through the Trolley stop area.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com...in-sues-sandag
https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/...-little-italy/

Could some sort of pedestrian barrier be installed at that location that is activated when trains are approaching? Or will this potentially cause more problems than it solves? It does look like an unsafe situation especially for the young and old and for those whose English fluency is not the best.

Here is BrightBlue passing Laramie in the snow.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/vrfl...5156731697151/

Another vehicle was struck by a Brightline train yesterday, killing at least one person.

One dead after Brightline train slams into vehicle in Palm Beach County, deputies say
https://amp.miamiherald.com/article258363278.html

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...BB8y1tHG-8UUfI

Brightline completes complex tracks at Orlando airport

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Stay off train tracks! We all know!

https://www.local10.com/news/local/2...N9dL22gKDpblZg

Police: Man killed by Brightline train Saturday morning walked in front of train

By Gerard Albert III
Palm Beach Post
Feb. 19, 2022

"DELRAY BEACH — A Brightline train ran over a man Saturday morning in Delray Beach, killing him, after police said he walked onto the tracks.

The man stepped in front of a moving train near Gulfstream Boulevard and North Old Dixie Highway in Delray Beach at about 8 a.m., police said. The man's identity was not disclosed, and Delray Beach police said they believe his action was a suicide.

The death marks the fourth Brightline crash in Palm Beach County this week. In a press conference after a man was injured when his car was hit Wednesday by a Brightline train, a spokesman for the rail line said the crashes are preventable..."

https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/...ch/6861517001/

Brightline Firms Up Vegas High Speed Rail Line Connection to Metrolink Rail Network
 

Brightline Firms Up Vegas High Speed Rail Line Connection to Metrolink Rail Network

By Howard Fine
Monday, February 21, 2022
Los Angeles Business Journal


"Brightline West, the affiliate of Miami-based Brightline Holdings that is planning to build a high-speed rail line from Las Vegas to Southern California, is close to solidifying the planned line’s connection to the Metrolink rail system, allowing passengers to travel by rail from Las Vegas to downtown Los Angeles’ Union Station.

Wes Edens, co-chief executive of New York-based Fortress Investment Group, which owns Brightline Holdings, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal last month that Brightline West has secured right of way for a 49-mile connector route between the Vegas line’s initial terminus in Victor Valley, through the Cajon Pass to a Metrolink rail station in Rancho Cucamonga in the Inland Empire. From there, passengers could connect through Metrolink to Union Station.

What’s more, that segment has now entered the environmental review process from the Federal Railroad Administration. According to the FRA’s website, the environmental review for the “Cajon Pass High Speed Rail Project” is scheduled to conclude by Nov. 30..."

https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2...l-line-connec/

Every time I hear about another death I think of the engineers first. What is this doing to them mentally?

There's no way to fix the issue that wouldn't cost $Billions making the line elevated or underground. One interesting plan is that a portion will become either elevated or underground in the near future to avoid water not people in downtown Fort Lauderdale. :)

^ Is this a response to my comment because it doesn't seem like it.

50 deaths in Brightline's short history. Service began in early 2018 but stopped for 20 months during Covid. So in like 20~ months of operation there have been 50 deaths.

It was 58 deaths in January 2022. I think at this point, the number of deaths is over 60.

If I'm being honest its hard not to grow callous and make insensitive Florida jokes.

That's a whole 60 people over the shinkansen. Which has never had a death due to the trains since they started operating in the 60s (?). Obviously different types of systems but still its kinda crazy to think about.

A Shinkansen train hit and killed a pedestrian in 2015

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2...let-train.html

Unfortunately, another Shinkansen train hit a truck and killed the driver in 2019.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/05/w...-yokohama.html

Your point is well-taken, however. Shinkansen operates far more trains and operates them at three times the speed of Brightline.

Side track 1 New Crane Creek bridge construction is complete. So now, side track 2 to be demolished later for next several months and they will built a second new track.

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Thanks buddy! I just saw it on Facebook. I don't need your help.

Why so passive aggressive?

Oh, sorry. It seems my information was out of date.

Brightline Completes Construction Work On First Orlando Zone, Finalizes Tampa Negotiations

https://www.thenextmiami.com/brightl...jIPQJ_8T8JRnik

Brightline Affiliate Pays $245M For Access Rights To Build Miami-Dade, Broward Commuter Rail System

https://www.thenextmiami.com/brightl...fTsxjWCuJj2SSo

Brightline and FDOT complete negotiations on I-4 access for Tampa-Orlando route

https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay...hfBZJkaaM2W3EU

https://www.planetizen.com/news/2022...0V2ih6MtFkPelE

Tampa Bay Moves Forward With High-Speed Rail Plans

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https://www.wftv.com/news/local/brig...XXJX3AaAnNRubE

Brightline sets sights on future expansion to Disney Springs, Tampa

High Speed Rail: Brightline Says It Wants To Increase Train Speeds To 150MPH

The Next Miami
March 22, 2022

"Brightline’s new train service to Tampa could run at higher speeds than previously announced, a company executive said this month.

The new higher speed could make Brightline a true high-speed train service by some definitions. Brightline previously had planned a top speed of 125 miles per hour.

“We’re looking at opportunities of getting up to 150 miles per hour on the straightaways of I-4,” said Christine Kefauver, Brightline’s senior vice president of corporate development..."

https://www.thenextmiami.com/high-sp...eds-to-150mph/

FRA has track classifications that allow 150mph and Brightline could certainly build to those standards, but I don't think their current trainsets are capable of goin that fast. The Siemens Charger is only rated for 125mph.

In fact, no diesel locomotive in the world can go 150mph - the InterCity 125 in Britain has gotten up to 148mph, but only under ideal conditions on a test run.

Long story short, if Brightline wants to actually go 150mph they'll need to electrify. Not just with batteries but with genuine overhead wire. Most trains operating at those speeds are also multiple units, not locomotive-hauled. Maybe Brightline can pick up Amtrak's original Acelas?

A six unit consist with locomotives on each end? If you used both I bet you could hit that.

Apparantly the gas turbine Turbotrain hit 170 back in the 70's. So it is technically possible to reach 125mph+ without a juice wire above the rails. As a side note, contrary to what many think ive actually thought for sometime that Brightline does in fact plan on electrifying Orlando-Tampa and I speculate once coast to coast opetation is complete, Orlando to Miami will be electrified. This is probably on about a 20 year timeline though. I have no evidence or inside knowledge to support this, its just a hunch.

Note that they only wanted to go that fast along I4 straights. Aad the additional fact that there are few grades because how flat Florida is, I believe diesel locomotives could reach 150 mph - eventually. Electric locomotives would still get to 150 mph much faster.

Can you electrify a corridor that shares tracks with double decker freight trains sets?

I don't know how much FEC runs double stack container trains, but running double stack under OCS is possible, and since FEC and Brightline are mostly one in the same I don't think you will have the reluctance like you would with Amtrak (or metropolitan commuter services) proposing electrification on shared trackage.

Will a Fast Train to Vegas Lure Road Trippers From Their Cars?
The planned Brightline West would help the U.S. catch up on high-speed rail. But to fill seats, it will have to win passengers in an autocentric country.

By Romy Varghese
April 18, 2022
Bloomberg

"Picture the unlucky Los Angeles resident who decides to party in Las Vegas for the weekend, only to hit traffic that can turn a four-and-a-half-hour drive into six, or get stuck at the airport due to a flight delay.

A company called Brightline Holdings says it has the solution: It will not only transport southern Californians to Las Vegas on fast, climate-friendly trains with food, drinks and free internet, but will check in their bags for them at their hotels. The company calls this venture Brightline West. It already operates a rail line in Florida, between Miami and West Palm Beach, which was the country’s first new, privately financed intercity passenger rail in a century when it began service in 2018..."

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/featu...d-be-a-reality

Yes, yes it will.

Yes, but only if it is easily accessible. The current plan is anything but. If Brightline can't secure a one seat ride from Union Station to Las Vegas, the project will fail.

I don't disagree that it would be preferable to have a direct connection to Union Station but this will connect to Rancho Cucamonga. There are 4.5 million people who live in the Inland Empire and another 1.8 million people who live in the San Gabriel Valley. This will be relatively convenient for them.

isn't the long term plan to connect to California HSR infrastructure to access Union Station once that is built? My understanding was that the Rancho Cucamonga station was a temporary solution until they can use the much more expensive, state built tunnels into Union Station from Palmdale.

The better question is if they will connect to California HSR infrastructure in Palmdale, or wait for some future Phase 2 construction through the Inland Empire to connect to Union via Rancho Cucamonga.

The answer is "yes". There will be a Rancho Cucamonga station to serve the Inland Empire, but I believe Brightline is in talks with Metrolink to extend to Union Station using existing tracks at regular speed.

This will probably require dual-mode locomotives, or they can clip on a diesel locomotive at Rancho for the last leg. I think they also need new platforms to open at Union Station before they can stop there.

Long term, they do want to use the High Desert Corridor to Palmdale and then CAHSR through the Valley into Union Station so they can run at high speed the whole way, but that's probably 15-20 years out so they need a solution in the meantime.

Okay guys! Aventura and Boca Raton station construction progress. It's really coming along nicely!! This is new videos.

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Finally!! Brightline is considering Cocoa station. This is for the next new station.

https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/...h7mTMllkt5x4bk

Brightline is now testing at new Orlando station near airport.

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Brightline Receives Federal Grant for Rail Line Connecting Disney Springs, Orlando International Airport, and Tampa

By Spencer Lloyd
June 1, 2022

https://media.wdwnt.com/2022/06/Brightline.png
Photo courtesy of wdwnt.com.

"A new milestone has been reached in the Brightline rail corridor construction saga, which will connect Orlando and Tampa by high speed rail, including a stop at Disney Springs. Today, several House Representatives for the State of Florida announced a $15.8 million grant from the Federal Government to Brightline, which the rail company says will be used for preliminary engineering activities and environmental approvals.

The federal funding will come from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Grant Program. The funding will go toward Central Florida’s Sunshine Corridor and Brightline’s proposed Tampa to Orlando intercity passenger rail project. The grant award, combined with up to $15,875,000 in contributing funds from Brightline, will result in a $31,750,000 total investment. The grant application received substantial community and bipartisan support..."

https://wdwnt.com/2022/06/brightline...ort-and-tampa/