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|type = [[Higher speed rail]], [[high speed rail]] |
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|status = Proposed |
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Revision as of 22:10, 11 July 2013
| All Aboard Florida | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||
| Status | Proposed | ||
| Owner | Florida East Coast Industries (FECI) | ||
| Locale | Florida | ||
| Termini | |||
| Stations | At least 4 planned | ||
| Website | www.allaboardflorida.com | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | Higher speed rail, high speed rail | ||
| History | |||
| Opened | 2015 (Planned) | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 240 mi (390 km) | ||
| Character | At-grade | ||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Operating speed | 79 mph (127 km/h) Miami – West Palm Beach 110 mph (177 km/h) West Palm Beach – Cocoa | ||
| |||
All Aboard Florida is a proposed high speed rail service which would operate along the Florida East Coast Railway. The proposed service would connect Miami with Orlando via a roughly 240-mile (390 km) route along the Atlantic coast north from Miami to Cocoa, where it would turn west towards Orlando.[1] Startup costs are estimated at $1 billion, including a new 40-mile (64 km) track segment from Cocoa to Orlando. Unlike all other inter-city rail (Amtrak) in the United States the new service would be privately owned and operated by Florida East Coast Railway (FEC).[2] The company did, however, apply for a Federal Railroad Administration loan of an undisclosed amount in March 2013 to at least partially pay for start-up costs.[3]
One segment of the proposed line would operate at speeds of up to 125 miles per hour (201 km/h), meeting the United States Code's definition of high speed rail.[4] However, the Congressional Research Service uses the term "higher" speed rail for such speeds.[5]
Feasibility studies into beginning the service began in late 2011, and by the time of the public announcement had progressed into detailed ridership and engineering studies.[1] Service was originally planned to begin in 2014, but in March 2013 an FEC executive said that the start date had been pushed back to late 2015.[6] Even if the new trackage into Orlando is not completed by the time service begins, connections at Cocoa would be offered.[7]
FEC still owns the former site of its downtown Miami station, as well as other real estate throughout Florida through a subsidiary known as Flagler Development Company. By developing this land in conjunction with the All Aboard Florida system, FEC could turn a profit indirectly. The nine acre parcel adjacent to Government Center in Downtown Miami, currently used as surface parking, is zoned for 2,500,000 sq ft (232,258 m2) pf development rights.[8] Here the system would also connect with the existing Metrorail and Metromover systems. In Orlando, the service would connect to the new SunRail commuter rail system also due to open in 2014.[9] Double tracking and other improvements to the line could also help the long planned FEC Corridor Tri-Rail and Amtrak services move ahead.[8]
Technical
Trains are planned to run at 79 miles per hour (127 km/h) from Miami to West Palm Beach, 110 miles per hour (177 km/h) from West Palm Beach to Cocoa, and 125 miles per hour (201 km/h) from Cocoa to Orlando.[7] The existing track from West Palm Beach to Cocoa would have to be improved to meet federal standards for an increased 110 miles per hour (177 km/h) speed limit from the current 79 mph (127 km/h).[8] Trains will run at approximately one hour intervals with between 12 and 14 trains per day,[10] a frequency which would necessitate restoration of double-track along the route.[7] One of the goals is to operate the trains with an overall average speed similar to the Acela Express operating on the Northeast Corridor between New York and Washington, DC at 80 miles per hour (129 km/h), reducing the travel time between Miami and Orlando to three hours and two minutes[11][12] versus the approximately four-hour driving time.[9] The system should also have few problems with sideline delays as most of the freight trains on the FEC travel at relatively high speeds as well as the fact that FEC will likely give priority to its own passenger trains over freight.[13]
References
- ^ a b "Florida East Coast Industries to develop private passenger-rail service". Progressive Railroading. March 22, 2012. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
- ^ "Florida East Coast Industries, Inc. Announces Plans for Private Passenger Rail Service in Florida". Business Wire. March 22, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "All Aboard Florida seeks federal loan". Orlando Sentinel. March 18, 2013. Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
- ^ "US Code Title 49 § 26105 – Definitions". US Code Title 49. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
- ^ "The Development of High Speed Rail in the United States: Issues and Recent Events" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ^ "Miami-Orlando train service on track to roll in 2015". Miami Herald. March 18, 2013. Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Private passenger train vision calls for double-tracking Florida East Coast". Trains Magazine. March 23, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
- ^ a b c Smith, Stephen (March 29, 2012). "Florida East Coast Industries Announces Ambitious Plan For Private Passenger Rail Service". International Business Times. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
- ^ a b Gale, Kevin (March 22, 2012). "Florida East Coast Industries plans Miami-to-Orlando passenger service". South Florida Business Journal. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
- ^ Peddie, Matthew (May 18, 2012). "Private Rail Company Says Orlando to Miami Service Possible in Two Years". Transportation Nation. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
- ^ "FECI Bringing Private Passenger Rail To Florida By 2014". Metro Jacksonville. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
- ^ "Acela Express, United States of America". railway-technology.com. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
- ^ Plumer, Brad (April 3, 2012). "Can passenger rail ever be profitable? Florida's about to find out". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 23, 2012.