Bright line information

[Overmod]

The comments page:

https://www.regulations.gov/document/USCG-2022-0222-0001/comment

[rdamon]

rdamon

Boaters vs. Brightline, fighting to divvy up time getting over and under one bridge

https://cbs12.com/news/local/boaters-train-rail-brightline-river-bridge-channel-st-lucie-stuart-ocean-rep-brian-mast

"Water has the right of way. That is a fact,” Mast said, calling for the Coast Guard to respect a rule also used in other parts of the country. Simply put, the water was there before trains, so the water has right-of-way. He added that on land, there were trains before roads, so trains have the right-of-way.

 

 

 

Probably should have looked at the date on this  ...  it was 6/22 - popped to the top of my read list somehow.

Sorry

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

On the Chicago River, the movable bridges are not manned on a full-time basis.  Per agreement with the Coast Guard, the City of Chicago sets specific hours for when the bridges may be raised.  Three crews of roving bridgetenders leapfrog from bridge to bridge to stay ahead of the collection of masted vessels on the river.

[rdamon]

Boaters vs. Brightline, fighting to divvy up time getting over and under one bridge

https://cbs12.com/news/local/boaters-train-rail-brightline-river-bridge-channel-st-lucie-stuart-ocean-rep-brian-mast

"Water has the right of way. That is a fact,” Mast said, calling for the Coast Guard to respect a rule also used in other parts of the country. Simply put, the water was there before trains, so the water has right-of-way. He added that on land, there were trains before roads, so trains have the right-of-way.

 

[blue streak 1]

Roaming railfan's video of first 125 MPH trips and snipit of one 130 MPH run.

First 125mph Brightline Test Train on the Orlando Line - YouTube

[D.Carleton]

blue streak 1

Last train set delivered to  Orlando.  Also a spare loco.

Delivering Brightline's Bright Orange 2 Train to Orlando - February 18, 2023 - YouTube

As an aside, the locomotives are built with rear marker lights. As they are part of a trainset those markers will never be used in normal operation. This was the only chance for such a use...instead we got FRED. It's these little ironies that keep it interesting.

[CMStPnP]

Brightline West just got rail labor union agreement for running the Las Vegas route.

https://news3lv.com/news/local/union-contracts-signed-for-las-vegas-to-california-high-speed-rail-project-brighline-west-rail-labor-coalition-southern-nevada

 

[blue streak 1]

The only single track bridge at the St.Lucie river is getting some rehab.  However it  will remain a single track bridge at present.  A new 2 main track bridge is evidently some time in the future.

Brightline Construction: St. Lucie River Drawbridge - February 2023 - YouTube

[blue streak 1]

Last train set delivered to  Orlando.  Also a spare loco.

Delivering Brightline's Bright Orange 2 Train to Orlando - February 18, 2023 - YouTube

[blue streak 1]

New concrete mix with Brigtline on RR bridges/

Brightline Construction: Ultra High Performance Concrete on the Sebastian River Bridge - YouTube

 

[blue streak 1]

Saint Johns river / I95  to CP  Cocoa.   Seems to be waiting for ballast installed and then surfacing.

Brightline Orlando Line Construction: Interstate 95 to CP Cocoa - January 2023 - YouTube

[blue streak 1]

Second section update Dallas Blvd to just east of St Johns river.

Brightline Orlando Line Construction: Dallas Blvd to the Saint Johns River - January 2023 - YouTube

[blue streak 1]

Orlando to Innovation way almost complete except for the removal of the OUC RR connection and subsequent landscapting.

Brightline Orlando Line Construction: Orlando International Airport to Innovation Way - January 2023 - YouTube

[blue streak 1]

Final beam installed on Turkey Creek bridge.  This is the last beam for all bridges to get 2 main tracks from Palm Beach to Cocoa.  Still work to get rail installed on bridge..

Brightline Construction: Final Girder Installation at Turkey Creek - January 20, 2023 - YouTube

[blue streak 1]

Brightline produced video of the Orlando station.

First Look Inside Brightline Orlando Station - YouTube

[D.Carleton]

When I arrived in West Palm Beach six years ago in support of the program downtown was a place that existed with "no apparent reason to visit" as one coworker shared. As I prepared to leave upon retirement this was the view from my living room. Just about every nonpublic building over five stories was not there six years ago and more are on the way: 

[MidlandMike]

blue streak 1

IMO Brightline will be sucessful once we hear the phrase from the public and POLs .  "Why can't Amtrak be more like Brightline?"  "  You need to make Amtrak more like Brightline "

 

Just because people might like Brightline better than Amtrak, does not necessarily mean that Brightline will be able to cover their costs or be profitable.  Its owned by a hedge fund.  Once the real estate is developed, the rail side will be spun-off.

[D.Carleton]

Electroliner 1935

Is Brightline unionized?

No.

[Electroliner 1935]

Is Brightline unionized? I know that they took a long strike in the  60's and thought they went non-union. Their operating costs (wages) might be much lower than Amtrak 

[Overmod]

Most of the 'profitability' is synergy with the reql-estate developments, which won't be built out until the high-speed corridor proves itself.  The PUDs need to be developed, then populated, before the traffic patterns for increased use of the trains will come.

[blue streak 1]

IMO Brightline will be sucessful once we hear the phrase from the public and POLs .  "Why can't Amtrak be more like Brightline?"  "  You need to make Amtrak more like Brightline "

[CMStPnP]

Is Brightline profitable yet?    I heard they are on track with internal projections still but not sure what that means specifically and sounds like a Public Affairs placebo.   A large chunk of the future of high speed rail and near high speed rail ever reaching the status of profit making venture hinges on the performance of this one entity.   The sooner they are profitable the faster the expansion will be and the more competitors that will attempt to enter the field......I  hope.

Maybe someday we might see one of the large Class I railroads reconsider the market?

[blue streak 1]

Here is a cliff notes of the progress thru the year 2022.

Brightline Construction: 2022 Year in Review - YouTube

[blue streak 1]

now some 24 miles of 2 main tracks from CP Cocoa to CP Bonaventure.

Brightline Construction: CP Cocoa to CP Bonaventure Complete Overview - YouTube

[blue streak 1]

Loxahatchee River draw bridge  (single leaf  bascule 2 main tracks )  has the last bridge span now in place.  Track work already has track being put down on the second span of the bridge.  

Brightline Construction Bridge Edition: Loxahatchee River Drawbridge - December 20, 2022 - YouTube

[blue streak 1]

Frontenac 2 main tracking to Cocoa CP.  This gived FEC 2 main tracks from Titusville to past COCOA.  Will allow additional fexibility at Cocoa for Brightline especially when 2 main tracks extended to Orlando sometime in the future.

 

Brightline Construction: The Completed Frontenac Improvement Project Full Flight Overview - YouTube

 

[rdamon]

Make that four!  A little behind the other three.

 

[blue streak 1]

Now Sebastion river bridge last girder.  Three quick ones.

Brightline Construction Bridge Edition: Sebastian River Final Girder Installation - November 2022 - YouTube

[blue streak 1]

another bridge last span,  Bright line gets closing the gaps mainly over bridges.  Now does brightline have all the parts for signaling to begin testing from PALM BEACH - Cocoa to  110 MPH.  Eau Gallie river.

Brightline Construction Bridge Edition: Final Girder Installation at the Eau Gallie River - YouTube

[blue streak 1]

Cane creek second track bridge has all  spans installed.  However ballast trough still remains to be constructed.

Brightline Construction Bridge Edition: Installing the Final Span at Crane Creek - November 2022 - YouTube