FECI Bringing Private Passenger Rail To Florida By 2014

[Metro Jacksonville]

FECI Bringing Private Passenger Rail To Florida By 2014



Florida East Coast Industries, Inc. (FECI) recently announced their intention to develop a privately owned, operated and maintained passenger rail service connecting South Florida and Orlando by 2014. If the 240-mile route, which combines 200 miles of existing track and 40 miles of new track, is successful, FECI plans to extend service to Jacksonville and Tampa.  What could this mean for Jacksonville?

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-mar-feci-bringing-private-passenger-rail-to-florida-by-2014

[acme54321]

Good article.  2014 is a lofty goal, hope they can pull it off.  I assume they are already well underway in in aquiring the ROW.

"What the Local Leaders Are Saying?" - Might want to fix that.

[thelakelander]

They already own 200 miles of ROW with track already installed between Miami and Cocoa.  That will most likely be the part of the corridor that is operational in two years.

[acme54321]

Right, I meant the section between Orlando and Cocoa.

[thelakelander]

I don't believe they have started purchasing ROW.  They are still evaluating two potential corridors.  If that 40 mile segment isn't up by 2014, they mentioned they'd run a connecting temporary shuttle service.

[dougskiles]

This is great news.  I wonder why is it not receiving more local coverage?  I don't even know that our newspaper has reported on it.

[jcjohnpaint]

Lake,
If I am understanding this correctly, if the line from Orlando to Jacksonville was built- it would act as commuter trains as well?

[jcjohnpaint]

once in the city of Jacksonville?

[jcjohnpaint]

which would also mean getting the old rail station ready?

[thelakelander]

It appears they are designing a corridor service, which has grown to be pretty successful throughout California.  A corridor service is essentially an intercity rail system that is designed to also cater to everyday commuters.  Thus, they can be described as a hybrid between traditional long distance intercity and commuter rail.  For example, All Aboard Florida plans to have trains running every hour between Orlando and Miami.  At that frequency, one could easily live in a community like Cocoa and work in Orlando without having to drive their car.  Locally, we have major bus routes in town still on hourly headways. 

If the initial Orlando to Miami segment is successful, an extension to Jacksonville (along the FEC corridor north of Cocoa) has been mentioned by FECI as a possibility.  Depending on the headways and station locations, such an extension could function like commuter rail by linking downtown Jacksonville and St. Augustine with several trains in both directions daily.

[thelakelander]

which would also mean getting the old rail station ready?

We need to take the initiative locally, to get the old rail station ready because such a move would economically benefit Jacksonville locally moreso than anyone else.  I wouldn't count on any other entity to lead the effort to revitalize our own downtown.

[acme54321]

Using the station again would be great.  Seeing as it's also the north terminus of the FEC it would also make the most sense!

[Ocklawaha]

EAT YOUR HEART OUT BOYS AND GIRLS! Oh yeah, that St. Lucie Sound, was usually my "private car."

http://www.youtube.com/v/YRntkdrQWNc?version=3&hl=en_US

[JeffreyS]

If we could get stops for two Amtrak trains and four FECI trains a day in Downtown, the Avenues and St. Augustine that would be wonderful.

[jaxlore]

Nice!