There are unofficial reports that Florida state officials are talking with FEC to move all TriRail trains to the FEC. Evidently these talks are being conducted without input of TriRail?? State officials seem to want to go on FEC all the way into MIA ? State says that would be more inside coast citys?
1. TR has indicated they want to use FEC from West Palm beach to Stuart / Ft Pierce but use their present tracks on into MIA.
2. Would that mean all the Federal funds [ $350M + ) would have to be returned? Note: almost all stations on the present line are brand new.
3. Travel tiime would increase as the FEC tracks cannot support the present CSX portions that are 79 MPH.
4. Much FEC track would need double or triple tracking [ new intermodal terminal being built at port of Miami. FEC traffic is much greater than CSX.
5. Going to downtown would eliminate the access to the new MIA Central station being built near MIA airport. Central station is being built for connections to TriRail, Amtrak, Metro Rail, and the airport people mover.
6. All in all appears to be some kind of Florida political maneuver to cripple TriRail??
Haven't figured out what they are trying to accomplish. The current Tri-Rail route from WPB to Miami has been double tracked over the last decade. My understanding is that the FEC is nominally single track between WPB and Miami.
If Rick Scott thinks commuter rail is not needed in this area he can take a number and get in line on the two parking lots and figure out how to handle several thousand more vehicles daily in each direction ... I-95 & Florida Turnpike that traverse the same territory.
Sounds like someone is trying to play a Con game ... and from the sounds of the rhetoric all parties are conning each other.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
The Newswire states that FEC is being approached about managing TriRail operations, not changing the routing.
BaltACD Haven't figured out what they are trying to accomplish. The current Tri-Rail route from WPB to Miami has been double tracked over the last decade. My understanding is that the FEC is nominally single track between WPB and Miami. Correct: Most of The 345 federal funds went to double tracking the 71 miles of the old CSX line. If Rick Scott thinks commuter rail is not needed in this area he can take a number and get in line on the two parking lots and figure out how to handle several thousand more vehicles daily in each direction ... I-95 & Florida Turnpike that traverse the same territory. Sounds like someone is trying to play a Con game ... and from the sounds of the rhetoric all parties are conning each other.
Correct: Most of The 345 federal funds went to double tracking the 71 miles of the old CSX line.
The source of moving to the FEC tracks comes from Railway age.
http://www.railwayage.com/breaking-news/fec-ponders-running-south-florida-tri-rail-3441.html
Palm beach post newspaper article on secret talks
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/sources-state-talking-to-fec-about-running-tri-1780373.html?showComments=true
Another article
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/tri-rail-gets-apology-for-exclusion-from-state-1785515.html?showComments=true
Several items to be considered
1. The MIA airport TriRail station is scheduled to closed by Fl DOT approximately Sept 12 for about 18 -24 months for the rebuilding of its facility into the Miami Central station complex.
2. The final construction item was a double track flyover of the New River drawbridge at a substantial cost. This flyover is between the Ft. Lauderdale station and Ft. Lauderdale Airport station.
3. The FEC also has a double track drawbridge over the New iver dispatcher controlled but TriRail would need a flyover there.
4. Am not aware of any other drawbridges on FEC from WPB - MIA?
5. CORRECT ABOUT MOST OF FEC being single track WPB - MIA does anyone know how much?
6. Fl DOT when rebuilding I-95 eliminated about 6 grade crossings on present Tri-Rail.
7. Does anyone have number of grade crossings on each route. I believe that FEC has quite a few more?
8. Anyone know if Fortress Co [ owner of FEC ] made campaign contributions to Scott? Always folllow the money
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