Trains.com

New RR station at MIA airport

2447 views
12 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
New RR station at MIA airport
Posted by blue streak 1 on Thursday, October 20, 2016 8:30 PM

Florida DOT announces that work on the 28st bypass is complete.  Now they will try to put the onus on Amtrak to move to MIC ?

http://www.fdotmiamidade.com/current-projects/north-miami-dade/miami-intermodal-center-mic-connection-to-nw-37-ave-1.html

 

  • Member since
    July 2009
  • From: San Francisco East Bay
  • 1,360 posts
Posted by MikeF90 on Friday, October 21, 2016 3:41 AM

blue streak 1
Florida DOT announces that work on the 28st bypass is complete. Now they will try to put the onus on Amtrak to move to MIC ?

Why? Amtrak's low frequency, long distance routes have little need to serve an crowded airport or use its expensive parking. IMO they should turn at the Metrolink (light rail) 25th St transfer point and share a suburban Tri-Rail station for long term parking. Locals should speak up on optimum bus connectivity .... Shy

  • Member since
    September 2014
  • 1,180 posts
Posted by ROBERT WILLISON on Friday, October 21, 2016 9:34 AM

Just two thoughts, the south Florida markets finally completes a high quality intermodal facility Amtrak needs to move in. The station connects the air port with long and short distance Amtrak trains with local transit. It a major investment into the future. Don't waste it with short sighted view point.

Where ever Amtrak terminates the silver service it needs to at a station with baggage handling capabilities. It also can tie up the busy Mia to wpb corridor.

Amtrak needs to make the move to new station as quickly as possible.

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • 6,952 posts
Posted by CMStPnP on Friday, October 21, 2016 9:43 AM

ROBERT WILLISON
Amtrak needs to make the move to new station as quickly as possible.

You might have a point if Amtrak had frequent corridor service in Miami but I agree that tying in Long Distance service to an Airport is not going to net you a lot of passengers for Amtrak unless they have corridor service.   For one thing they are all reserved trains not buy a ticket at a kiosk and jump on them type trains.    For another cab service between the Airport and Train Station is fine for the few that make that travel connection.

If Airport stations were a big money maker for LD trains then why do the Amtrak LD trains system wide predominantly skip the airport stops.

My guess is the government will pay to connect the downtown All Aboard America station with the Miami Airport via frequent mass transit schedules or shuttles.

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,540 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Friday, October 21, 2016 9:58 AM

Another issue is that Miami International Airport is a long way from downtown Miami and the tourist areas.  Unless there is provision for another stop closer to these locations, a terminal at MIA would be a mistake.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    September 2014
  • 1,180 posts
Posted by ROBERT WILLISON on Friday, October 21, 2016 10:00 AM

Mia is one if the top international airports in the country and would give access to Amtrak at a modern and convenient transfer point.

Airports are not always adjacent to Amtrak lines. However where the are they are will used. BWI, Newark, the new summer line connecting Denver union station with Denver's airport.

Via rail had station stops with the Toronto airport.

In addition the south Florida market itself generates  traffic. It be short sighted not to move in.

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: East Coast
  • 1,199 posts
Posted by D.Carleton on Friday, October 21, 2016 12:38 PM

On the plus side the new intermodal station provides superior access to car rentals and other modes of transportation. On the other hand, the new station is 3.5 miles away from the maintenance base at Hialeah. Are we realistically expecting the two daily trains to rack up 14 miles of backup moves every day?

Editor Emeritus, This Week at Amtrak

  • Member since
    July 2009
  • From: San Francisco East Bay
  • 1,360 posts
Posted by MikeF90 on Friday, October 21, 2016 4:03 PM

D.Carleton
On the plus side the new intermodal station provides superior access to car rentals and other modes of transportation.

Which travelers can get to today by transferring to / from Tri-Rail at Hollywood.

D.Carleton
On the other hand, the new station is 3.5 miles away from the maintenance base at Hialeah. Are we realistically expecting the two daily trains to rack up 14 miles of backup moves every day?

Surely you are being sarcastic. Confused Build an expensive new maintenance base at MIA? Amtrak can't even make the effort to build stub end tracks to the above mentioned light rail / Tri-Rail transfer station.

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, October 21, 2016 4:12 PM

further thought -----  Since at present Amtrak is capacity limited for the Star and Meteor why go to a more expensive operation at MIC when any passengers gained at MIA airport will just displace passengers at other locations ?

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • 6,952 posts
Posted by CMStPnP on Friday, October 21, 2016 4:13 PM

ROBERT WILLISON

Mia is one if the top international airports in the country and would give access to Amtrak at a modern and convenient transfer point.

Airports are not always adjacent to Amtrak lines. However where the are they are will used. BWI, Newark, the new summer line connecting Denver union station with Denver's airport.

Via rail had station stops with the Toronto airport.

In addition the south Florida market itself generates  traffic. It be short sighted not to move in.

DFW is larger than MIA and you don't see the Texas Eagle stopping at the existing DFW Centerpoint Station.

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: East Coast
  • 1,199 posts
Posted by D.Carleton on Friday, October 21, 2016 10:23 PM

MikeF90
 
D.Carleton
On the other hand, the new station is 3.5 miles away from the maintenance base at Hialeah. Are we realistically expecting the two daily trains to rack up 14 miles of backup moves every day?

Surely you are being sarcastic. Confused Build an expensive new maintenance base at MIA? Amtrak can't even make the effort to build stub end tracks to the above mentioned light rail / Tri-Rail transfer station.

Where exactly is it suggested or intimated that a new maintenance facility be built?

Editor Emeritus, This Week at Amtrak

  • Member since
    July 2009
  • From: San Francisco East Bay
  • 1,360 posts
Posted by MikeF90 on Saturday, October 22, 2016 1:29 AM

D.Carleton
Where exactly is it suggested or intimated that a new maintenance facility be built?

Truly an example of Internet Fog. No problem with the existing location for that purpose.

You brought the point "Are we realistically expecting the two daily trains to rack up 14 miles of backup moves every day?" If this is an possible operational issue (perhaps impacting Tri-Rail) please be more explicit.

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: East Coast
  • 1,199 posts
Posted by D.Carleton on Saturday, October 22, 2016 11:02 PM

MikeF90
D.Carleton
Where exactly is it suggested or intimated that a new maintenance facility be built?

Truly an example of Internet Fog. No problem with the existing location for that purpose.

You brought the point "Are we realistically expecting the two daily trains to rack up 14 miles of backup moves every day?" If this is an possible operational issue (perhaps impacting Tri-Rail) please be more explicit.

My point is that adding 14 miles of backup moves every day is a reason NRPC will not move into the new airport station. Adding hours to T&E and OBS employees plus addition of personnel at the new locale will need substantial ridership growth to justify; something we all know won't happen.

Editor Emeritus, This Week at Amtrak

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy