Passenger Trains > Bright Line will start construction to Tampa 2022!

Brightline to begin work on Tampa route in 2022; reaching Disney World a priority
Work on Brightline’s planned Orlando-Tampa line line will not begin until 2022, with a goal of operation beginning in 2025.  Michael Cegelis, Brightline’s executive vice president of rail infrastructure, laid out that timeline during a recent meeting in which he also said Brightline would study potential shared operations on some of the route with Orlando commuter railroad SunRail. If Brightline and SunRail reach agreement, Brightline would use existing SunRail tracks on part of its route to reach Disney World, while building right-of-way along Interstate 4 to reach Tampa. SunRail would gain the ability to reach Orlando International Airport via Brightline’s tracks Reaching Disney World has become a higher priority than the Tampa route, playing a part in the current timeline.

amtrakbill Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Brightline to begin work on Tampa route in 2022;
> reaching Disney World a priority
> Work on Brightline’s planned Orlando-Tampa line
> line will not begin until 2022, with a goal of
> operation beginning in 2025.  Michael Cegelis,
> Brightline’s executive vice president of rail
> infrastructure, laid out that timeline during a
> recent meeting in which he also said Brightline
> would study potential shared operations on some of
> the route with Orlando commuter railroad SunRail.
> If Brightline and SunRail reach agreement,
> Brightline would use existing SunRail tracks on
> part of its route to reach Disney World, while
> building right-of-way along Interstate 4 to reach
> Tampa. SunRail would gain the ability to reach
> Orlando International Airport via Brightline’s
> tracks Reaching Disney World has become a higher
> priority than the Tampa route, playing a part in
> the current timeline.

Good news!

Does this put Jacksonville on deck? Can't help but wonder what is next.

ts1457 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> amtrakbill Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Brightline to begin work on Tampa route in
> 2022;
> > reaching Disney World a priority
> > Work on Brightline’s planned Orlando-Tampa
> line
> > line will not begin until 2022, with a goal of
> > operation beginning in 2025.  Michael
> Cegelis,
> > Brightline’s executive vice president of rail
> > infrastructure, laid out that timeline during a
> > recent meeting in which he also said Brightline
> > would study potential shared operations on some
> of
> > the route with Orlando commuter railroad
> SunRail.
> > If Brightline and SunRail reach agreement,
> > Brightline would use existing SunRail tracks on
> > part of its route to reach Disney World, while
> > building right-of-way along Interstate 4 to
> reach
> > Tampa. SunRail would gain the ability to reach
> > Orlando International Airport via
> Brightline’s
> > tracks Reaching Disney World has become a
> higher
> > priority than the Tampa route, playing a part
> in
> > the current timeline.
>
> Good news!
>
> Does this put Jacksonville on deck? Can't help but
> wonder what is next.

Yes, Jacksonville is a future extension when I spoke with them a while back. It was dependant on the Tampa line and the Tampa to Miami link.

Such optimistic thoughts, but let them first complete the build-out of Orlando - Palm Beach; get it up and running well; and only then should they think about expansion.  

Reading this press release reminds me of the hoax from Las Vegas to Victorville.  

MEKoch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Such optimistic thoughts, but let them first
> complete the build-out of Orlando - Palm Beach;
> get it up and running well; and only then should
> they think about expansion.  
>
> Reading this press release reminds me of the hoax
> from Las Vegas to Victorville.  

At least they have the cred of building and operating in FL.  the LAS train will depending on whether or not they can sell the bonds for project.  If so, it will be a go.  This is not  "X train" or "Xpresswest"  , both of whom were dreaming that, if they made a really nice slick brochure, ppl would lend them a couple hundred million $.

It would be interesting if they chose to do a Tampa - Tallahassee corridor someday as well. There is an entire abandoned (now trails) righto-of-way from Tampa to Dunnellon to Tallahassee. Time will tell.

RailThunder Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It would be interesting if they chose to do a
> Tampa - Tallahassee corridor someday as well.
> There is an entire abandoned (now trails)
> righto-of-way from Tampa to Dunnellon to
> Tallahassee. Time will tell.

I think they are intent on building a network in Florida, so we shall see.

My inclination would be to route Tallahassee service from Orlando via Lake City, picking up Gainesville and the University of Florida in the process.

MEKoch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Such optimistic thoughts, but let them first
> complete the build-out of Orlando - Palm Beach;
> get it up and running well; and only then should
> they think about expansion.  
>
> Reading this press release reminds me of the hoax
> from Las Vegas to Victorville.  

Not sure why you believe it is a hoax... https://brightlinewestconstruction.com/ 

They are moving along quite well all things considered for a completely brand new route. 

Macster Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MEKoch Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Such optimistic thoughts, but let them first
> > complete the build-out of Orlando - Palm Beach;
> > get it up and running well; and only then
> should
> > they think about expansion.  
> >
> > Reading this press release reminds me of the
> hoax
> > from Las Vegas to Victorville.  
>
> Not sure why you believe it is a
> hoax... https://brightlinewestconstruction.com/ 
>
>
> They are moving along quite well all things
> considered for a completely brand new route. 

Yeah I fully believe in these guys, I wish they got the contract to build ComiFornia

Posted from Android

goduckies Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yeah I fully believe in these guys, I wish they
> got the contract to build ComiFornia

This might be a bit of wild-ass speculation, but I think Bright Line West's goal is to take over CAHSR for pennies on the dollar for what has been built and then go on to build a HSR network for California, Nevada, and Arizona.

ts1457 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> goduckies Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Yeah I fully believe in these guys, I wish they
> > got the contract to build ComiFornia
>
> This might be a bit of wild-ass speculation, but I
> think Bright Line West's goal is to take over
> CAHSR for pennies on the dollar for what has been
> built and then go on to build a HSR network for
> California, Nevada, and Arizona.
Yeah!  And then dump it back on California taxpayers after all the real estate profits have been realized!  We shall see!

mp51w Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yeah!  And then dump it back on California
> taxpayers after all the real estate profits have
> been realized!  We shall see!

You're cynical, but it probably would be cheaper for California to get the HSR that way than it will be on its current course.