6 replies to this topic

[Sloan]

9 investigates Orlando to Miami 'casino express' train

ORLANDO, Fla. — By the end of the decade, travelers into and out of Orlando International Airport will have a new option when it comes to getting to south Florida: high speed rail.
The project known as All Aboard Florida will maintain two terminals, one at OIA and a second in downtown Miami. The train will also have stops in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, but as planned right now, nowhere else.

http://www.wftv.com/...ss-train/ngKSM/

[pennyk]

I was just getting ready to post the same story. I saw it on the noon local news on channel 9. That was the first I had heard the allegation that AAF was a casino train.

[KevinKorell]

First of all, I've split this topic off from the old All Aboard Florida thread because it warrants its own attention. And I got rid of the nested quotes in the response. Next, my comment. I too had never heard before that this was going to be a "casino express". It surely wasn't in the original advertising that slot machines would be onboard. Either the TV station got it wrong (perhaps picking up news clips from the X-Train or other proposals on the internet), or else perhaps the projected ridership has gone down and this would be a means to attract more passengers.

[pennyk]

First, Kevin, thanks for correcting my nesting. As I was doing it, I thought you might disapprove. Sorry. With regard to the casino aspect. What I got out of the television report was that there is a group of investors - maybe a hedge fund that wants to convert the old Miami Herald Building into a casino. The building is 1 1/2 miles from the Miami AAF station, but will be connected by metrorail. There was some discussion about one of our Governor's staff who may have a conflict. I was multi-tasking while watching the news and likely missed something, but I know this was the first time that I saw a connection between gambling and AAF. I do not think anything was mentioned about gambling on the train. Orlando officials are concerned about Orlando tourist dollars going to South Florida for gambling. (I like the idea of the train, but personally do not trust anything that our Governor is promoting).

[KevinKorell]

Wisely so, if that is true about people in the Orlando area not wanting their revenues to literally go south. On the other hand, in the bigger picture it might be good for the entire state to have a fast connection between one tourist area and another.... although the theme park crowd and the gambling crowd may be two different markets. Parents of young children would not be leaving the kids at Disney World while they take the train to Miami to visit a casino.

[jis]

Methinks that the flow from Miami to Orlando will probably be as much if not more than the flow from Orlando to Miami among the pure entertainment crowd. In addition it appears what AAF is depending on is also carrying cruise ship passengers between the two. That is one thing that makes the lack of a stop at Cocoa curious since a significant amount of cruise ship traffic flows through port Canaveral, But I guess the Orange County Turnpike Authority could not part with their precious tolls. So it will have to await another political battle another day.

[KevinKorell]

True, Jishnu, and it would not be hard to initiate an "in-fill" stop at a later time when permitted and warranted. A station in Cocoa could see more use if and when Amtrak travels along the FEC route.