The Brightline Thread - Page 21

Nexis4Jersey · #**401** Posted **Sep 4, 2014, 3:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

But capacity isn't the limiting factor in US cities; demand is. FEC can build as much office and residential space as they can possibly lease right now, without a rail station.

As for traffic, remember that this is intercity rail. It won't bring any commuting workers to the site. A couple thousand folks arriving on the train platforms each day might support a Jamba Juice or a Starbucks, maybe a Hertz counter—but not any significant amount of retail.

Hotel uses are a little more related to an intercity station, but it's really hard to believe the South Florida hotel market would shift away from the beachfront. A 200-key Courtyard by Marriott might pencil out, but not one of the luxury flags.

I have to wonder if the whole AAF thing is just a Trojan horse so FEC can build a big grade-separated double- or triple-track connection to Port Miami for post-expansion Panama Canal containers without stirring up local opposition.

You sound like one of the NIMBYS who are opposing the project. The FEC used to run 100 trains a day a decade ago with its mostly single tracked network. They now run 25 to 30 trains a day , so the upgrades aren't for Freight...and their ROW used to be 3 and 4 tracks.

N830MH · #**402** Posted **Sep 4, 2014, 6:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eleven=11

when do the new metrorail cars arrive ? soon I think....

Actually, they will be delivered the first new metrorail cars sometime in 2015.

atlantaguy · #**403** Posted **Sep 4, 2014, 6:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

You sound like one of the NIMBYS who are opposing the project. The FEC used to run 100 trains a day a decade ago with its mostly single tracked network. They now run 25 to 30 trains a day , so the upgrades aren't for Freight...and their ROW used to be 3 and 4 tracks.

Exactly! I saw a rant from someone in Vero Beach on another site that claimed 30 to 32 high speed passenger trains a day would "destroy" the small towns north of West Palm Beach!!!

He also hinted that it was a secret government plan that will surely backfire.

eleven=11 · #**404** Posted **Sep 4, 2014, 9:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

You sound like one of the NIMBYS who are opposing the project. The FEC used to run 100 trains a day a decade ago with its mostly single tracked network. They now run 25 to 30 trains a day , so the upgrades aren't for Freight...and their ROW used to be 3 and 4 tracks.

the AAF is 32 trains / 16 north and 16 south
my question is how many TriRail trains will also travel
towards Pompano Beach then switch tracks?
how many trains?

eleven=11 · #**405** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 2:02 AM**

More Cool Links
go to the AllAboardFlorida.com website
they have a very good media links section that has
been updating a lot of news links story's.
On sept 3 the CEO did a video interview on CNBC
Im guessing they expand to Jacksonville/Daytona in 2018

eleven=11 · #**406** Posted **Sep 8, 2014, 9:55 PM**

so todays palm beach post talks about
the CNBC video I wrote about last week
BUT they mention that big news announcement
is coming this week (from the AAF twitter)
my guess is the train order or
maybe a hotel for the Orlando station.

N830MH · #**407** Posted **Sep 9, 2014, 3:49 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eleven=11

More Cool Links
go to the AllAboardFlorida.com website
they have a very good media links section that has
been updating a lot of news links story's.
On sept 3 the CEO did a video interview on CNBC
Im guessing they expand to Jacksonville/Daytona in 2018

Is the trains is going to St. Augustine? I didn't even know that. Do you have a source for that? They won't go to Jacksonville or Daytona Beach.

eleven=11 · #**408** Posted **Sep 11, 2014, 12:20 AM**

The Palm Beach post says the station
has been re-designed.
cant find any photos thou.
not sure if this was the News that AAF tweet'd about

Eightball · #**409** Posted **Sep 11, 2014, 7:13 PM**

AAF trains to be built (assembled?) by Siemens in Sacramento
http://realtime.blog.palmbeachpost.c...lt-by-siemens/

Quote:

The initial five trainset purchase to serve the Miami to West Palm Beach segment will consist of two diesel-electric locomotives, one on each end of four passenger coaches. These diesel-electric locomotives will meet the highest emissions standards set by the federal government.
All Aboard Florida and Siemens plan to expand the initial trainsets to seven coaches, and purchase an additional five trainsets, concurrent with environmental approvals and additional financing for the segment from West Palm Beach to the Orlando International Airport.
The stainless steel passenger coaches, the first to be manufactured by Siemens in the United States, will be state-of-the-art, ADA compliant and designed for comfort, featuring special ergonomic seating and Wi-Fi...

202_Cyclist · #**410** Posted **Sep 11, 2014, 7:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eightball

AAF trains to be built (assembled?) by Siemens in Sacramento
http://realtime.blog.palmbeachpost.c...lt-by-siemens/

Great news! Investing in infrastructure creates good jobs.

Hatman · #**411** Posted **Sep 12, 2014, 2:28 AM**

Two locomotives seem like a lot for only seven coaches. There are commuter trains that do push/pull with more cars. What is preventing AAF from using a cab car? Speed? Acceleration? Reliability? Legislation?
Obviously AAF and Siemens know what they're doing.
Awesome news. I love this project more and more with every announcement.

electricron · #**412** Posted **Sep 12, 2014, 2:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatman

Two locomotives seem like a lot for only seven coaches. There are commuter trains that do push/pull with more cars. What is preventing AAF from using a cab car? Speed? Acceleration? Reliability? Legislation?
Obviously AAF and Siemens know what they're doing.
Awesome news. I love this project more and more with every announcement.

The Siemens "Charger" diesel locomotives can only reach 110 mph solo, it takes two of them to sustain 125 mph.

Having a fully FRA compliant locomotive on either end of the train makes it more likely that the FRA might approve lighter built coach cars. Although I'll admit I'm not sure these coach cars will be built lighter.

Busy Bee · #**413** Posted **Sep 12, 2014, 2:56 AM**

What's the deal with every passenger coach in this country being bare stainless steel? It's so effing boring.

Looks like we won't be getting anything as sharp as the European Railjets:

><><

electricron · #**414** Posted **Sep 12, 2014, 3:29 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

What's the deal with every passenger coach in this country being bare stainless steel? It's so effing boring.

Looks like we won't be getting anything as sharp as the European Railjets.

Not every passenger coach in the USA is made of bare stainless steel, just a lot of them are.

sammyg · #**415** Posted **Sep 12, 2014, 6:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

What's the deal with every passenger coach in this country being bare stainless steel? It's so effing boring.

Looks like we won't be getting anything as sharp as the European Railjets:

><><

I believe it is because it's easier to clean graffiti off of a bare steel exterior.

Busy Bee · #**416** Posted **Sep 12, 2014, 9:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyg

I believe it is because it's easier to clean graffiti off of a bare steel exterior.

Graffiti on urban trains is barely a problem in this country anymore, unlike Europe which never went to stainless steel. Furthermore, Regional and commuter passenger trains were never a graffiti target in this country like they are in Europe. One huge difference is the sheer security of yards and staging areas for trains in the US, especially post-911. You'd really almost need to have a death wish to "bomb" government owned urban trains, literally you might be shot as a supposed terrorist or something. It's not the old days of kids roaming around yards spraying subway trains, and if they got caught, essentially a slap on the wrist and some community service. In Europe it still occurs, especially on the continent for many reasons, the lack of a post-911 security state and cultures more tolerant of deviant art in general being two of them.

That's a little long winded way of saying I don't believe graffiti is a significant enough threat to lead AAF to choose paintless car bodies over the much more attractive painted shell. I think its a complete non-issue.

eleven=11 · #**417** Posted **Sep 12, 2014, 10:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by electricron

The Siemens "Charger" diesel locomotives can only reach 110 mph solo, it takes two of them to sustain 125 mph.

Having a fully FRA compliant locomotive on either end of the train makes it more likely that the FRA might approve lighter built coach cars. Although I'll admit I'm not sure these coach cars will be built lighter.

good news about the trains
do they still hold 400 people?

electricron · #**418** Posted **Sep 13, 2014, 12:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eleven=11

good news about the trains
do they still hold 400 people?

There's no way a 4 car train set can match the proposed capacity of a 7 car train set.
Assuming similar to Amfleet I configurations, ~70 seats per standard coach and ~60 seats per first class coach,

A (4) car trainset consisting of (1) first class and (3) standard coaches should have a capacity of ~ 270 seats.
A (7) car trainset consisting of (1) cafe/diner, (1) first class, and (5) standard coaches should have a capacity of ~410 seats.

I hope this helps!

ardecila · #**419** Posted **Sep 13, 2014, 3:51 PM**

I don't know why there's so much handwringing over this. Just like airlines, AAF will adjust the seating and train length over time to match demand and they will adjust the paint scheme to remain fashionable.

If AAF is successful then they will be profitable, which means they will have access to capital and they can make investments like this. It's not like Amtrak where the money depends on Congress' mood and may not come around for another 40 years.

Hatman · #**420** Posted **Sep 13, 2014, 7:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by electricron

The Siemens "Charger" diesel locomotives can only reach 110 mph solo, it takes two of them to sustain 125 mph.

Having a fully FRA compliant locomotive on either end of the train makes it more likely that the FRA might approve lighter built coach cars. Although I'll admit I'm not sure these coach cars will be built lighter.

Thanks for the info.

I still wonder about the economics. If 125 mph speeds are the main reason for the two locomotives (and don't get me wrong, I am all for 125 mph!), then the second locomotive is really only needed for the 40 miles where 125 mph is allowed. The rest - if I understand it all correctly - is either 79 or 110 mph. 40 miles at 125 mph can be covered in just over 19 min., while at 110 it takes just over 21 min., both not counting time to accelerate to top speed.
2 minutes doesn't really make a big difference - not enough to justify a second locomotive.
I wonder if this means they are expecting to run at 125 mph on other future alignments as well? Orlando to Tampa maybe? Are there many grade crossings between cocoa and Jacksonville?