Posted on 03/22/2012 1:36:49 PM PDT by JerseyanExile
Florida East Coast Industries, Inc. (FECI), the owner of Florida’s premier passenger rail corridor, is developing a privately owned, operated and maintained passenger rail service to connect South Florida and Orlando, which will be operational in 2014. By connecting the most visited city in the United States with South Florida’s business and vacation destinations, the passenger rail project, called All Aboard Florida, is designed to serve Florida’s growing number of business travelers, as well as families and tourists traveling for pleasure.
The All Aboard Florida passenger rail project will connect South Florida to Orlando through a 240-mile route combining 200 miles of existing tracks between Miami and Cocoa and the creation of 40 miles of new track to complete the route to Orlando. Eventually the system could be expanded with connections to Tampa and Jacksonville.
More than fifty million people travel between South and Central Florida annually, largely over highly congested highways. All Aboard Florida is envisioned to transform the way people travel throughout the state, offering a faster, safer, and more enjoyable mode of transportation between Florida’s two largest metropolitan areas.
Targeted to begin service in 2014, the approximately $1 billion project will operate on a regular schedule throughout the day transporting business and leisure passengers between South Florida and Orlando in approximately three hours. This new, convenient, affordable, fast and environmentally friendly intercity passenger rail service is expected to:
(1) CREATE JOBS AND GROW FLORIDA’S ECONOMY—approximately 6,000 direct jobs will be needed to construct the system and over 1,000 more jobs to operate and maintain it; new economic development opportunities also will be created for communities along the route;
(2) PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT—the service will take millions of vehicles off Florida’s roadways, resulting in a reduction in auto emissions and allowing for a far more fuel-efficient alternative to the automobile at this time of escalating gas prices;
(3) ENSURE SPEED AND RELIABILITY—travel time between regions will be approximately three hours and train service will be frequent throughout the day;
(4) PROTECT EXISTING FREIGHT CAPACITY—the new passenger service will not affect freight capacity in the rail corridor, thereby supporting Florida’s role in international commerce and allowing more intermodal freight movements.
By adding an entirely new travel choice, the All Aboard Florida passenger rail service will provide a high-quality experience for travelers. The system will include business- and coach-class service with advance purchase reserved seating, gourmet meals, Wi-Fi, and the ability to work productively throughout the entire trip. In addition, stations in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando mean convenient transfers to Metrorail, Metromover or SunRail, allowing passengers to reach their final destination.
FECI began a feasibility analysis for the project several months ago. Additionally, an investment grade ridership study and engineering work to design the system are underway. Today’s announcement marks the beginning of working in depth with local, state and federal officials, as well as the communities along the route.
Florida East Coast Industries, Inc. (FECI), through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a major owner and developer of real estate and transportation-related businesses within the State of Florida. Headquartered in Coral Gables, FL, FECI has a rich history dating back over a century when Henry Flagler first established the company and became a pioneer in the development of Florida’s eastern coast. Today, the company owns, manages, develops and leases commercial real estate properties, and its affiliate, the Florida East Coast Railway, L.L.C., owns the railroad over which freight is transported.
All Aboard Florida is an intercity passenger rail project that will connect South Florida to Orlando with intermediate stations in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. This rail service will give Floridians and visitors a viable transportation alternative to congested highways and airport terminals. All Aboard Florida will provide a high-quality experience for passengers and will be the first privately owned, operated, and maintained passenger rail system in the United States.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50213915&lang=en
http://www.allaboardflorida.com/
Did I read this right?
A rail project that has no government involvement?
doesn’t amtrak already provide service in those areas?
hows amtrak doing?
Great project if there’s no public money involved.
“doesn’t amtrak already provide service in those areas?”
Amtrak and TriRail run down the CSX South Florida Line. The FEC is several miles closer to the coastline, and the tourist areas, sometimes running right along US 1.
This has been talked about, for literally decades. Let’s see how long it takes to come to reality.
I have extensive experience with Amtrak in FL, especially between Tampa and Jacksonville.
It’s fine, if you don’t object to half the time being late by between 1 and 8 hours. Over a 225 mile distance.
/ s
I can remember going to the FEC tracks in Daytona as a little girl in the 40s to wait for a train going by carrying a famous person’s body. People were lined up on both sides of the track and when the train went slowly by us the men removed their hats.
I can remember going to the FEC tracks in Daytona as a little girl in the 40s to wait for a train going by carrying a famous person’s body. People were lined up on both sides of the track and when the train went slowly by us the men removed their hats.
Privately owned is OK by me. No tax money!!!!
It can't possibly succeed! < sarcasm >
Wonder if they have thought about restoring the rails through the Keys?
Don’t see how this enterprise will make a profit, for a family of four in South Florida it will still be less expensive, faster, and much more convenient to take the car.
This is why trains fell out of favor in the first place.
(1) CREATE JOBS AND GROW FLORIDA’S ECONOMY—approximately 6,000 direct jobs will be needed to construct the system and over 1,000 more jobs to operate and maintain it; new economic development opportunities also will be created for communities along the route;
(2) PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT—the service will take millions of vehicles off Florida’s roadways, resulting in a reduction in auto emissions and allowing for a far more fuel-efficient alternative to the automobile at this time of escalating gas prices;
(3) ENSURE SPEED AND RELIABILITY—travel time between regions will be approximately three hours and train service will be frequent throughout the day;
(4) PROTECT EXISTING FREIGHT CAPACITY—the new passenger service will not affect freight capacity in the rail corridor, thereby supporting Florida’s role in international commerce and allowing more intermodal freight movements.
Perhaps I've grown too cynical, but those sound suspiciously like reasons for taxpayers to chip in. The only justification a private company needs is (in the immortal words of the underpants gnomes) MAKE PROFIT.
FEC used to have passenger service that was ceased over Labor Union thuggery.
Really?
Millions?
There MUST be massive government subsidies involved to support lies like this.
Not much need to read any further.
No, no, they're investments in negative gain enterprises.....totally different.
I suppose that means "in the modern era" but it is still striking for the bold word.
Wonderful news! Amtrack provides very little service to Florida (something like two trains a day, one coming and one going, both of which stop at bizarre hours of the dawn or midnight in any place outside of their starting points or destinations). In addition, it provides virtually no passenger service on the east coast of Florida, which is filled with people who’d like to ride it.
Traffic into Miami is insane, but Miami has very good public transportation and cab service, so once you get there, it’s easy to get around. Or you can rent a car and save the gas and wear and tear on your own car, not to mention your nerves...
But there are a lot of towns on the coast that need service. If we elect somebody decent like Gingrich, the Space Coast will rise again! And people will need ways of getting there.
FECI will be thwarted in this attempt by the regime. No one dare to usurp the boondoggle experts and their control.
It will be replaced by Federal East Coast Attempt at Looting, or FECAL.
The ruling authority will be known as Federal East Coast
Equity Sinkhole, or FECES.
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