Brightline delays service to the Fall 2017

[marcuscnelson]

Just to level set. My thought is that a Jags Express would be more than just getting there. It would entail a little more experience.

You guys are thinking a little more utilitarian, I am thinking more on the cross marketing opportunities.

Yes, an express would briefly traverse some foreign rail, and so you switch through a few yards, it would still leave in plenty of time for game time. The TV's in the cars can be blasting pregame media, while fans enjoy brewskis or wine or whatever.

Put the Jaguar cheerleaders on there for the ride in, there are plenty of people who would pay money to party with them. Geez, put Terry Bradshaw from Fox or "name network host here" on there in the game run up.

Have Brett Martineau do live feeds from the train as it gets closer to the stadium. (And show it periodically on the scoreboard as part of the countdown to gametime). Have that front engine blast the heck outta that horn when it pulls in. It tells everyone that the game is about to start.

Have corporate sponsors as part of the promotion, we can put temporary ad wrap on the rail cars so every crossing can see who helped pay for it.

It gets people into the rail is possible mindset. Doesnt require any referendums or redeux of train stations.

It will basically function like a passenger charter.

There are lots of other biz details that would go with it. The goal isnt to make a lot of dough, the goal is to market.

A similar approach could be used for the Florida/Georgia game. Except that would be marketed both ways, a cater to Georgia fans as well as Gator fans. A charter from Atlanta, and if Shad gets his hotel at the Shipyards, some good synergy there.

By the time you've done all that, you might as well just have JTA-based light rail instead of Brightline. It sounds really, really far out of any of FEC or All Aboard Florida's intentions.

Your plan sounds much more doable if it's trains owned by something like JTA in partnership with Bold Events coming from St. Aug, Green Cove, the Beaches, and wherever else bringing area people to Everbank and then back home later instead of Brightline having to interrupt normal passenger service with the party train every few weeks in the fall and spring.

[thelakelander]

^I guess this is my perspective. A Jags Express to Everbank Field would be more complicated than them (Brightline) just taking their current business model and extending it on their already owned track to downtown Jax. As described, a Jags Express sounds more logical for someone like San Mary's Railroad.  Even then, they'd have to figure out agreements to allow them to operate on track owned by other rail carriers.

[spuwho]

^I guess this is my perspective. A Jags Express to Everbank Field would be more complicated than them (Brightline) just taking their current business model and extending it on their already owned track to downtown Jax. As described, a Jags Express sounds more logical for someone like San Mary's Railroad.  Even then, they'd have to figure out agreements to allow them to operate on track owned by other rail carriers.

Brightline is a Florida entity, so naturally I would look at them first.

But there is nothing to stop someone from contracting with Iowa Pacific to do a charter.

Railroads have long standing rules on carriage that allow agreements to be made.  Insurance and liability is usually the stickler in these arrangements.

[thelakelander]

^Ok, I understand. It just seems that it's quite different from Brightline's business and marketing strategies and I'm not totally grasping why the extra expense would be beneficial to them or if it's remotely possible this season.  I mean, they'll be actually operating their regular line this fall anyway.

[spuwho]

^Ok, I understand. It just seems that it's quite different from Brightline's business and marketing strategies and I'm not totally grasping why the extra expense would be beneficial to them or if it's remotely possible this season.  I mean, they'll be actually operating their regular line this fall anyway.

Honestly, I wouldnt be shocked if you see a Phins Express on Sundays from Brightline.

When they were looking at the soccer stadium proposal for the Pier, Brightline threw in an express train offering to the games as a perk.

Using chartered rail for special events is growing. The Kentucky Derby already has several charters that come in for the race and Amtrak even runs a "Derby Express" out of Chicago.

The Passenger Car Owners Association contracts with Amtrak for charters all the time.

Billionnaire Bill Gates wanted to see the US by rail, so he chartered some coaches and they brokered an Amtrak led charter. Thats an extreme situation however.

Most people use Amtrak as the front end because they already have insurance and liability agreements with the carriers.

This is why the Vegas Express between LA and Vegas always fails. They want to use their own trainsets and they cant meet Union Pacific liability requirements.