97 replies to this topic

[steve4031]

So Hopefully by the end of September.  I think I know where I will be going for Christmas break.  

[KevinKorell]

Treasure Coast Palm, 2/16/23:

 

 

  A pause for Brightline? What to know as Brian Mast targets railroad's expansion to Orlando   

 

 

Days after two people died in Palm Beach County in a crash involving a Brightline train, U.S. Rep. Brian Mast has called for a pause to the railroad's expansion through Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties to Orlando International Airport.

 

This is where you can read the story.

[CNJRoss]

Trains News Wire

 

Brightline report to bondholders sets goal of Orlando service in 2023’s second quarter

 

February 15, 2023

 

Passenger operator must still complete construction, has yet to begin 125-mph testing

 

ORLANDO — Brightline is targeting the second quarter of 2023 for the start of service to Orlando, the Orlando Business Journal reports, citing the company’s monthly revenue and ridership report to bondholders.

 

Brightline spokeswoman Katie Mitzner says 90% of construction is now complete on the 170-mile extension from West Palm Beach to Orlando. The company had said it plans to start Orlando service this year, with the date still to be determined.

 

But the passenger operator still has a number of significant milestones to clear before the start of operation would be possible, most notably the start of 125-mph testing on the portion of the route between Cocoa, Fla., and Orlando International Airport. The Federal Railroad Administration is still accepting comment on plans for the test procedures on that segment through Feb. 21 [see “Brightline update: PTC plans outlined …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 3, 2023].

Continue here. 

[CNJRoss]

Trains News Wire

 

Brightline train hits 130 mph in testing (with video)

 

March 6, 2023

 

Speed is a record for company and region

 

ORLANDO — A Brightline train has hit speeds of 130 mph in testing on passenger operator’s corridor between Orlando and Cocoa, Fla., the company announced this morning (March 6, 2023), making it the fastest train ever to operate in Florida and the southeastern U.S.

 

The 35-mile route paralleling the Beachline Expressway (State Route 528) is fenced and has no grade crossings. Brightline plans to operate at 125 when passenger service begins, but is required during testing to run at faster than planned operating speeds.

 

“Reaching 130 isn’t just another milestone to our team, but the continuation of a dream that we’ve been working towards for several years,” Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline Trains, said in a press release. “More importantly, this historic feat brings us one step closer to launching Brightline service between Orlando and Miami.”

 

 

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

The Palm Beach (FL) Post, 3/10/23

 

Brightline to Orlando: 130-mph speed tests, opening date, ticket prices and safety updates

 

Brightline is on schedule to open its Orlando station this year with routes to existing stations in Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach.

 

The light at the end of the tunnel linking Miami to Orlando without hitting the highway is on the horizon.

 

Brightline is on schedule to open its Orlando station this year with routes to existing stations in Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach.

 

And the new 37,350-square-foot station at Orlando International Airport features a three-story contemporary design, retail shopping, a bar with light bites and panoramic views of oncoming trains.

 

 

Continue here.  

[CNJRoss]

Testing the Train Wash at Brightline's Orlando Vehicle

Maintenance Facility

 

The Roaming Railfan

 

Mar 21, 2023 ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

 

This Brightline construction update looks at the new train wash at the Orlando Vehicle Maintenance Facility. This was filmed during testing when train BrightGreen 2 was run through it numerous times as the different subsystems were being calibrated. The wash will begin being used regularly once service to Orlando begins.

 

As this was filmed during testing, the final wash cycle could differ slightly from what is shown as it is refined.

 

My thanks go out to Brightline for inviting me to check out the testing!

 

[CNJRoss]

WPLG-TV, Miami, FL 3/27/23

 

Brightline reveals critical $100M piece to Miami-to-Orlando route

 

ORLANDO, Fla. – Brightline has unveiled its train maintenance facility in Orlando.

 

The $100 million, 62-acre facility south of Orlando International Airport, has begun commissioning new Brightline trains and servicing existing trains.

 

 

Continue here. 

[CNJRoss]

Brightline news release

 

A BEHIND-SCENES LOOK AT BRIGHTLINE’S BASECAMP:FLORIDA’S STATE-OF-THE-ART TRAIN MAINTENANCE FACILITY

 

Mar 27, 2023

 

Orlando, Fla. (March 27, 2023) – Today, Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail in America, showcased Basecamp, its 135,805 sq. ft. state-of-the-art train maintenance facility in Orlando. The $100 million facility, the most advanced in the region, sits on 62-acres south of Orlando International Airport and has begun commissioning new Brightline trains and servicing existing trains. It will ramp up to a 24/7 operation when Brightline opens its Orlando station this year and will employ 175 highly skilled workers including engineers, conductors, technicians and inspectors.

 

In recognition of the facility’s upcoming commencement of full service, President Patrick Goddard, Executive President Infrastructure Michael Cegelis and Vice President/Chief Mechanical Officer Tom Rutkowski led a behind-the-scenes tour of the vast facility and discussed the operations related to the facility.

 

“Today we welcome you to the most advanced train maintenance facility in the Southeast and I would venture to say the country - Brightline’s Basecamp,” shared Goddard as he welcomed members of the media to tour the site. This impressive facility was developed by Brightline and is an essential component to our service from Miami to Orlando launching this year.”

Brightline’s Basecamp is a world-class facility the length of two football fields, featuring cutting-edge technology, including:

• Truck Shop: where coach and locomotive trucks can be disassembled, cleaned, and rebuilt for additional use
• Drop Table: a 25-foot deep drop table that operates between the heavy maintenance track and the truck shop and can swap out trucks quickly to get trains back into service
• Parts Warehouse: an 11,000 sq. ft., 3-story tall parts shop
• Wheel True Facility: where wheels are cut or “trued” back to their original profile allowing for maximum ride quality and performance
• Two Fueling Islands and a Sand Island: an 80,000 gallon biodiesel fuel farm
• Train Wash Facility: can wash a 4 coach train and two locomotives in 15 minutes, using 75 percent recycled water

 

The facility will also have:

• The ability to service up to 16 trains at one time in its undercarriage pits
• Multiple overhead cranes, including a 30-ton crane capable of removing 30,000 pound engines
• Storage tracks that extend the length of more than two football fields

 

“This world-class facility has everything under one roof to maintain our trains, will provide highly paid highly skilled jobs to the region and will be a bustling hub for train maintenance, maintaining eight of our 10 trains here nightly,” shared Cegelis during the briefing. “Currently we are more than 90 percent complete with our construction to Orlando and once completed, we will follow a rigorous certification and verification process. We are closer than ever to connect Florida with high-speed rail.”

 

As construction continues, Brightline recently made history as the fastest train in Florida, reaching speeds of 130 mph during testing between Orlando International Airport and Cocoa, Fla. Opening this year, the Orlando Station will revolutionize train travel in America and continue Brightline’s vision of offering a guest-first travel experience connecting two of the most congested city pairs in the nation, whisking passengers between South and Central Florida in about three hours.

 

 

[CNJRoss]

Trains News Wire

 

Custom train wash helps Brightline put on a shiny face (with video)

 

By Bob Johnston | March 30, 2023

 

Rechristened 'Basecamp' hosts media at new maintenance facility

 

ORLANDO, Fla. — Clean windows and a sparkling appearance may not be a priority to other passenger and commuter operations, judging from the caked-on grime passengers around the country put up with daily. But from its inception in 2018, Brightline has consistently valued interior and exterior cleanliness on its South Florida trainsets.

 

When revenue service is extended from West Palm Beach to Orlando International Airport on a yet-to-be determined date this year, a key component in providing a memorable travel experience is the automated train wash. Custom-designed by Whiting Systems of Bryant, Ark., it continues to undergo tests at Brightline’s Basecamp, the new moniker for the company’s Vehicle Maintenance Facility.

 

After passengers leave the train at Orlando’s airport station and before other turn-around servicing occurs, trainsets move directly to the washer building. The process begins when the Basecamp engineer, guided by a series of digital speedometers, pulls the train into the washer at an optimal speed of 3 mph.

 

 

Continue here with video.  

[CNJRoss]

Railway Track and Structures, 4/3/23

 

Brightline to Continue Train Testing Up to 79 MPH in Indian River County

 

 

Brightline is continuing essential work on its Orlando extension with train testing in Indian River County having commenced April 1, 2023, with trains traveling up to 79 mph.

 

The signal and track cutover work is integrating a new second railroad track into the existing corridor and span railroad crossings in Vero Beach, Oslo, and Indrio, a release said. 

 

Flaggers will be stationed at crossings through April 8 at 7 p.m. while the new rail signal system is being commissioned, and train testing at speeds of up to 79 mph are scheduled along the route.

 

 

Continue here.