FEC and Amtrak

[jbroadglide]

Wednesday the city of Cocoa announced where they would put the Amtrak station if the FEC plan goes through. Yesterday St Augustine announced they would use a former FEC passenger station off San Marco Bv.

http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2010-06-24/story/st-augustine-ready-designate-amtrak-station-san-marco-avenue

[spuwho]

It's great to get so much civic cooperation, but if Amtrak stops at every town that throws up a station, no one will make it to Miami (or Jacksonville)in any reasonable amount of time.

[thelakelander]

Rail travel does not act like air travel.  With rail, the destinations in between can be just as popular as the major endpoints.  Also, phase II of the plan is for a corridor service to be implemented in addition to the proposed long distance service.

[Jaxson]

I agree with Lakelander that the in-between destinations will add to, and not detract from, the draw of taking the train.  For example, St. Augustine's 450 anniversary is coming soon.  It would be nice for folks to take a leisurely trip ino the heart of the city without having to deal with traffic on I-95 or running another airport gauntlet. 
I have taken the train in various directions and I have observed that the train can handle different stops without harming the schedule or the punctuality...

[tufsu1]

take note that there used to be 60+ stations between Jax. and Miami...trains did not stop at every station....in the future, we could run "express" and "local" trains...like they do on some big city transit systems and what is planned for HSR

[ProjectMaximus]

it's so hard for me to accept this

take note that there used to be 60+ stations between Jax. and Miami...

and this

in the future, we could run "express" and "local" trains...

together. Why, why!?! Stinkin automobile lobby.

[Jaxson]

In my experience with Amtrak, riding the train is comparable with driving - except that I get a lot more sleeping, reading, eating and socializing done.  Depending on the area, I can also text...  Those stops along the way are normally quick and simple.  The stops are especially nice for those passengers who fancy a smoke break...

[Ocklawaha]

take note that there used to be 60+ stations between Jax. and Miami...trains did not stop at every station....in the future, we could run "express" and "local" trains...like they do on some big city transit systems and what is planned for HSR

TU is correct on this, but there should be a disclaimer... In the day's before auto's when walking a couple of miles or driving a buckboard wagon from the General Store was a real chore, the railroads instituted a national freight rate bureau. EVERY siding, switch, water tank, coaling station, town or city got a name and a rate sheet. The rates were/are VERY complex and are further broken down by a myriad of options. Are you shipping Peanuts? Peanuts Roasted? Canned? Bottled? Boiled? Shelled? Crushed? Cracked? Pressed? etc... Then one would match that with the "stations".  So as you can see 60+ stations were not really all stations in the classic sense, and many NEVER had a passenger or passenger train even consider stopping there. Jacksonville, South Jacksonville, Bowden, Sunbeam, Greenland, Bayard, Durbin, etc... just in the first few miles of the FEC, but you would have NEVER seen a train like the Florida Special stopping at any but Jacksonville.

Have no fear, this "New" "high speed" train on the FEC, will make the trip between Jacksonville and Miami in about the same time as the "EAST COAST CHAMPION" did in 1959! The Champion was a speed demon and made this schedule with 18 station stops BETWEEN Jax and Miami. Considering that Amtrak isn't even planning on half this number of stations, a train should be able to walk into Miami on the new schedule.

OCKLAWAHA