We're on the All Aboard Florida Radar?

[Ocklawaha]

Seems that we're still on the radar, maybe more then some think. Mr. Cumber lives in Jacksonville, along with nearly all of the executives of the Florida East Coast Railroad.

As for the Cocoa stop, it is entirely possible that the trains will stop in the modern Cocoa station which was built just before the 1963 strike. I think the lack of 'Cocoa' has more to do with where the new (Orlando) line links with the FEC mainline.  If the connection is where Florida High Speed Rail  planned it,  then the station is already in place, if the connection comes in south of the station, then there would be a delay in creating a stop.

The Cocoa-Rockledge Railroad station has been leased to a local company for years, the lease might contain a date to vacate, and the building will probably require a makeover, not to mention passenger platforms.  So the answer to the question everyone asks is: "Of course they won't build a station in Cocoa-Rockledge, THE STATION IS ALREADY THERE!"

FEC RY STATION SEEN FROM US-1, A BROAD AND RECENTLY BEAUTIFIED BOULEVARD.


US-1 in front of the station.

All Aboard Florida still seeking route to airport


Would-be builders of a billion-dollar privately financed train still are looking at several options on how to get from near Cocoa to Orlando International Airport.

All Aboard Florida, the 240-mile system that would link the airport with three South Florida cities, has access to tracks running from downtown Miami all the way to Jacksonville through Florida East Coast Railway. But the company stills needs a path to get to OIA.

Husein Cumber, executive vice president of development for All Aboard Florida, said Wednesday his company continues to talk with the state and the Orlando Orange County Expressway Authority, both of which operate a toll road where the right of way would provide the most logical path for the train.

Though Cumber declined to discuss specifics of the negotiations, he said the goal is to have a pact by the end of the year. All Aboard Florida also could announce the type of locomotive and cars it would use by year's end, Cumber said.

"We're making significant progress," Cumber told a meeting of MetroPlan Orlando, which sets transportation policy in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties.

The train, which could start operating in 2014, would compete with the airlines flying between Orlando and South Florida. It would offer including Wi-Fi Internet service, meals and reserved business and coach seating.

Projected travel time is three hours, compared with about four hours by automobile. Cumber said the train could hit a top speed of 125 mph between Cocoa and the airport.

All Aboard Florida is an arm of Florida East Coast Industries. FEC owns, manages, develops and leases real estate throughout the state. One of its affiliates is Florida East Coast Railway, which hauls freight on tracks running near the East Coast.

Eventually, All Aboard Florida officials say they could offer passenger service to Jacksonville, too.

SOURCE:dltracy@tribune.com

[thelakelander]

Looks the same to me. Our "on their radar" equates to Jax and Tampa coming online if the Orlando/Miami route is a success. Cocoa not having a stop at this point has more to do with the toll road negotiations than anything else.

[Ocklawaha]

Exactly, and for those who don't know it, that toll road splits as it enters Cocoa from Orlando, the old HSR plan laid out routes on both as well as one that used the southern split and then off the road and dodging neighborhoods all the way to the mainline.

There are forces at work in this that we don't know, I strongly suspect governor Scott is deeply embedded but won't say so until the line is under construction and he is up for reelection. Then we'll hear how he killed the poorly planned "Socialist, Russian Style High Speed Railroad," and gave us a private high speed line.

I also believe we are in for train service ahead of Tampa and very close to the Orlando opening.

Another item of interest is the proposed speeds of the Amtrak Florida East Coast trains, 79 to St. Augustine, and 90 south of King Street. Those speed limits fit right in to their passenger rail concept.

[tufsu1]

I also believe we are in for train service ahead of Tampa

that is likely...because I really doubt CSX will let them use their system (heck CSX doesn't want any passenger rail between Lakeland and Tampa interfering with their freight services)...so getting to Tampa will require negotitations with the state on use of I-4 ROW as well as laying the tracks

[thelakelander]

The simple fact that FEC already owns the track into Jax makes this likely.  I also agree with Ock that it could happen fairly quickly, depending on the initial success of the Orlando/Miami segment.  Having something up and running in time for St. Augustine's anniversary in 2015 would be a major ridership and advertising opportunity.  I also believe getting to Tampa will require use of the I-4 corridor since the CSX track is highly unlikely.

[spuwho]

I just noticed that FEC owns all of the land south of the Cemex Plant in Cocoa, which is right next to the Beachline and Industry Parkway. This gives them a convenient wye to turn around the trains and gives them access to either the Beachline median, or several utility easements running between Cocoa and Orlando south of the Beachline.

So technically a feeder bus from MCO could just get off at Industry Parkway enter the temp station on the wye where the train would be waiting with no disruption to through freight traffic on the main.