Amtrak's Vision: Jacksonville/Orlando/Tampa

[thelakelander]

More details on Amtrak's plan for new daily rail service between Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa:



https://www.amtrakconnectsus.com/maps/jacksonville-orlando-tampa/

[tufsu1]

someone should tell Amtrak about FSCJ

[thelakelander]

Lol, I noticed that. EWU too.

[jaxlongtimer]

That's a lot of time lost to many stops.  How about an express Jax-Orlando-Tampa run like Amtrak runs in the Northeast?  How much quicker would that be?  Would probably carry most of the traffic for this route too.  If this caters to more "business" travel, it would also improve the urgency for putting Amtrak back Downtown.

[thelakelander]

It's not much time if you're only going from Tampa to Lakeland, Kissimmee to Orlando or Palatka to Jacksonville.  A corridor service is more likely to attract riders going to/from the smaller cities to larger cities moreso than a rider making the full trip from Jax to Tampa.

[Steve]

That's a lot of time lost to many stops.  How about an express Jax-Orlando-Tampa run like Amtrak runs in the Northeast?  How much quicker would that be?  Would probably carry most of the traffic for this route too.  If this caters to more "business" travel, it would also improve the urgency for putting Amtrak back Downtown.

I can say this: I live here in Jax. My company is based in Lakeland. I don't care if it takes a little longer, if the times were convenient I'd totally use this.

Right now, the JAX-Lakeland run is a 9am (ish) departure, which gets to Lakeland around 1pm. It's an hour longer than by car, but that's fine-I can work on the train. Off hand I can't remember but the times back to Jax are awful though.

The other issue is they're long haul trains-so if there's a delay between Baltimore and Washington, my train will be late. Thst won't work for me.

[thelakelander]

The Amtrak plan is to work with local communities on the timing of the new services. These will be in addition to the NY-MIA Silver Service trains already in operation. It would seem that in Jax's case, it would be best to make sure the additional services are offered at times throughout the day that aren't already served by existing Amtrak trains. In my mind, it would be best for Jax to have things set up to where there's a train arriving and departing every two or three hours or so throughout the day, as opposed to four trains popping in and out inside of a limited time period. This is another reason why Jax should be at the forefront of discussions and negotiations instead of taking a position of leaving it up to Amtrak and other cities to decide. If you don't have a seat at the table, then you're likely going to be the meal.

[acme54321]

This would be a lot more exciting if our Amtrak station wasn't an afterthought stuck on a rail yard out in BFE (ok, BFE compared to the location of all the other cities served's stations).

[thelakelander]

^Hopefully we can drum up real support to not keep it there. Amtrak would have been back downtown a long time ago if as much priority were placed on making that happen as the forcing of the U2C down the public's throats.

[jaxlongtimer]

It's not much time if you're only going from Tampa to Lakeland, Kissimmee to Orlando or Palatka to Jacksonville.  A corridor service is more likely to attract riders going to/from the smaller cities to larger cities moreso than a rider making the full trip from Jax to Tampa.

That's a lot of time lost to many stops.  How about an express Jax-Orlando-Tampa run like Amtrak runs in the Northeast?  How much quicker would that be?  Would probably carry most of the traffic for this route too.  If this caters to more "business" travel, it would also improve the urgency for putting Amtrak back Downtown.

I can say this: I live here in Jax. My company is based in Lakeland. I don't care if it takes a little longer, if the times were convenient I'd totally use this.

Right now, the JAX-Lakeland run is a 9am (ish) departure, which gets to Lakeland around 1pm. It's an hour longer than by car, but that's fine-I can work on the train. Off hand I can't remember but the times back to Jax are awful though.

The other issue is they're long haul trains-so if there's a delay between Baltimore and Washington, my train will be late. Thst won't work for me.

To be clear, I was thinking of trains running in two different modes:  an express and a local version.  Something for everyone.  This is what I experienced with them when living in the Northeast Corridor.  To start, they could run one of each and adjust based on demand from there.

I agree that having the station Downtown would go far in building these routes.  They really need to seriously move this forward if they want the best chance for success.  And, DIA should be offering incentives for Amtrak to do so as the impact on Downtown from this could rival all the other projects they are so excited about as well as attract even more development including TOD.

Lastly, its too bad they can't add a stop in Gainesville.  A direct connection from Downtown Jax to UF would be pure gold for Jax.

[acme54321]

Lastly, its too bad they can't add a stop in Gainesville.  A direct connection from Downtown Jax to UF would be pure gold for Jax.

That ship has sailed and it's not coming back.

[Charles Hunter]

Lastly, its too bad they can't add a stop in Gainesville.  A direct connection from Downtown Jax to UF would be pure gold for Jax.

That ship has sailed and it's not coming back.

They can stop in Waldo. 

[jaxlongtimer]

Lastly, its too bad they can't add a stop in Gainesville.  A direct connection from Downtown Jax to UF would be pure gold for Jax.

That ship has sailed and it's not coming back.

Based on CSX's system map, there is a rail connection to downtown Gainesville.  Agreed, it is not easy as it's a spur off of another spur from Starke.  Unless it's a dedicated train between Jax and Gainesville, it probably would be too much of a detour off the main line.  As noted, Waldo is on the main line.  A stop there might link via a "commuter" bus for the 13 miles into town from there. 

Eventually, a dedicated train or Waldo stop might make greater sense as the area between Jax and Gainesville gets more consumed by urban sprawl and it's no longer an easy drive (some might argue the Blanding route is already not so easy).

CSX system map:
https://www.csx.com/index.cfm/customers/maps/csx-system-map/

[thelakelander]

I have zero confidence in any Jacksonville based entity pulling off a commuter rail line to Gainesville.  I'm not even confident that JTA will ever get any type of commuter rail line off the ground in my lifetime.

[jaxlongtimer]

I have zero confidence in any Jacksonville based entity pulling off a commuter rail line to Gainesville.  I'm not even confident that JTA will ever get any type of commuter rail line off the ground in my lifetime.

I am with you.  But, it's nice to fantasize about what a world this could be!  Kind of like imaging the Jags winning the Super Bowl one day.  Sad to acknowledge but the Jags may have better odds than commuter rail here.

Our officials must have a reverse ranking system - selecting to pursue projects with the lowest community ROI instead of the highest.  In any other world they would be fired but not in Jax.