7 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Orlando Weekly, 6/22/18:

 

 

 

Rick Scott wants to build a privately funded high-speed rail from Orlando to Tampa

 

 

 

Days after being roasted for rejecting $2.4 billion in federal funding for a high-speed rail line in 2011, Gov. Rick Scott announced Friday that a private company will fund a high-speed rail connection from Orlando to Tampa.

 

 

Find this story here.

 

It's a start, but I am a believer in a minimum of different owners, modes, etc. to eliminate potential transfers and delays.  So my feeling is to get Brightline to Orlando as planned, and extend that further south and west to Tampa.

[KevinKorell]

And they heard me, or at least there aren't too many current contenders for the task.  From Treasure Coast Palm,  6/22/18:

 

 

Brightline makes official bid for Orlando-to-Tampa extension along I-4 corridor

 

 

The path for Brightline to expand from Orlando to Tampa became clearer Friday when Gov. Rick Scott announced the state will consider leasing land along Interstate 4 for development of a high-speed passenger-rail corridor.

 

Update

[jis]

AAF actually filed their unsolicited bid to get the ball rolling on Orlando - Tampa, back in March from what I hear.

 

State of Florida has to set up an open process allowing others to make credible bids. Of course, it is well known that no one else will. This is how the Miami - Orlando thing was initiated too.

 

Interestingly all of this exactly follows the Florida State Passenger Rail Plan which was created and published before Scott came into office.

[KevinKorell]

The Real Deal, 8/11/18:

 

 

Brightline scouts possible train-station locations in Tampa

 

 

Passenger train operator Brightline has scouted train-station sites in Tampa for a possible rail link to Orlando.

 

 

Read

[pennyk]

Tampa Bay Times, 8/16/18:
 

Rick Scott and wife invested in parent company bidding on Tampa high speed rail

Scott said in June he believes a high-speed rail line from Orlando to Tampa is a good idea. He and his wife last year invested at least $3 million in a credit fund for All Aboard Florida's parent company, Fortress Investment Group, according to recently disclosed financial documents.

 
 
Story:
https://www.tampabay...igh-speed-rail/

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading,11/9/18:

 

Report: Brightline submits sole proposal for Orlando-Tampa rail service

 

Brightline wants to create an Orlando-to-Tampa route along Interstate 4. Photo – Brightline

 

Brightline is the only firm to have submitted a proposal to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for operating an Orlando-to-Tampa passenger-rail service, the Tampa Bay Times reported yesterday.

Earlier this year, Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced that FDOT and the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) would consider proposals from private operators to build and operate a high-speed rail line along state property between Orlando and Tampa.

 

Continue here.

[KevinKorell]

Progressive Railroading, 11/30/18:

 

 

Brightline bags Florida DOT approval to lease land for Orlando-Tampa line

 

 

Brightline has received approval from the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) procurement office to negotiate a land lease to establish passenger-rail service between Orlando and Tampa.

 

 

Read

[CNJRoss]

Orlando (FL) Sentinel, 12/27/19

Virgin Trains gets 90 more days for talks over Orlando-Tampa rail service

 

 

Virgin Trains was granted another extension for negotiations over locating railroad track along public roads between Orlando and Tampa but the state “cannot indefinitely offer a lease opportunity in the Interstate 4 corridor,” transportation officials said.

 

Florida Department of Transportation and Central Florida Expressway Authority officials agreed this week to another 90 days of talks with Virgin Trains USA, formerly Brightline, over leasing track space. Current talks lapse Jan. 1 and the extension is to run through March 31.

 

“We’ve made great progress over the past year working with multiple agencies along the corridor in trying to determine an exact alignment that fits into other expansion projects,” said Ben Porritt, Virgin senior vice president for corporate affairs, when asked why negotiations have been prolonged.

 

Continue here.