AAF/Brightline Update - January 2016

[spuwho]

AAF/Brightline has come out with a new website and media campaign, including TV commercials.

http://www.gobrightline.com

The promo videos with the brand and theme can be found on the website, I have shared the YouTube version here:

https://www.youtube.com/v/oDo0IBZY2ME

I am sure that image of the train pulling into Miami Central will get Ock excited!

More big news is that construction of the first Siemens railcars have commenced.

Per TCPalm:

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/shaping-our-future/all-aboard-florida/major-milestone-for-brightline-passenger-rail-2a41618c-72e2-25c9-e053-0100007fafe8-366616441.html



The 85-foot steel shell that is to become Brightline's first railcar has been completed, a "major milestone" for the Miami-to-Orlando passenger railroad, Brightline said Tuesday.

"With the completion of the first coach-car shell, we are bringing our vision for a truly unique train service that will transform travel in Florida one step closer to fruition," said Michael Reininger, Brightline and All Aboard Florida president, in a news release.

Brightline plans to use five four-car trains during its first phase of service, between Miami and West Palm Beach. Each would hold up to 240 passengers and would be powered by a locomotive at each end, according to spokeswoman AnneMarie Matthews.

Within a year, Brightline would expand its fleet to 10 seven-car trains, each with a 356-passenger capacity, according to Matthews.

The first fully assembled train is to be delivered to Florida by the end of this year or early next year, Matthews said.

Siemens, Brightline's railcar manufacturer, is building the trains at its Sacramento, California, plant.

Siemens Rolling Stock President Michael Cahill said he is "thrilled" to see the project progressing.

"Siemens has been successfully building America's next era of innovative, high-performance and energy-efficient transportation solutions out of our Sacramento hub for decades," said Cahill in the news release. "We are excited to continue that tradition by employing the industry's latest technologies and techniques to build these state-of-the-art train sets for Brightline and its future riders."

Construction of the passenger railroad already has begun between Miami and West Palm Beach, and Brightline passenger service there is to begin in early 2017, with full service — through the Treasure Coast and on to Orlando International Airport — beginning in late 2017.

Florida Senate committee passes alcohol bill, allows Brightline to sell beer in stations

Per the Palm Beach Post:

http://malled.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2016/01/25/bill-to-help-all-aboards-brightline-sell-beer-in-stations-passes-second-hurdle/

A Florida Senate committee on Monday approved a sweeping bill that would overhaul the state's alcoholic beverage laws while also allowing All Aboard Florida's Brightline passenger service to sell liquor at its stations.

The senate's Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government backed the legislation (SB 698), which was first proposed by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island.

The bill would prevent cities, counties, and other local governments from restricting the sale of alcohol at Brightline's four stations, which are currently under construction in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando.

Under the proposal, restaurants, shops and other businesses that serve beer, wine and liquor at Brightline's stations also would be exempt from local restrictions, including limitations on the hours of sale of alcoholic beverages.

Among its other changes, the bill would streamline how theme parks and their resorts account for the large quantity of beer sold at their properties. Instead of tallying new deposits and credits every time a distributor drops off a load of kegs, theme parks would be allowed to reconcile payments on an annual basis.

The legislation would also allow the state's Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco to issue temporary alcoholic beverage permits to cities, towns and counties. Each government would be limited to three, 3-day licenses a year.

US Corp of Engineers puts a temporary kabosh on Brightline's permits

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/shaping-our-future/all-aboard-florida/indian-river-county-sees-new-opening-in-all-aboard-florida-fight-29b0d285-f80e-236f-e053-0100007fd39-365818571.html

Meanwhile, Martin and Indian River Counties try to increase the legal war chest.

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/shaping-our-future/all-aboard-florida/martin-indian-river-could-increase-funding-for-all-aboard-florida-legal-battle-2a2bce31-cda2-51db-e0-366479841.html

[spuwho]

Here is the latest video updates on the new station construction.

https://www.youtube.com/v/1sON1gZAH3o