Bright line information

[blue streak 1]

Full report of construction from Orlando airport to West Palm Beach.  Dated August 2021.  Certainly a lot of construction work.

Brightline Orlando - West Palm Beach Complete Expansion Construction Update - Summer 2021 - YouTube

[rdamon]

Interesting how they built that Micco crossover by joining the two halves together.  I have never seen that before.

[blue streak 1]

Construction north of Cocoa to Rockledge.  Construction North of Cocoa is to double track from where Brightline turns toward to Orlando up to a connections of FEC 2 main track north of Cocoa turnout.

Brightline Construction: Cocoa and Rockledge Updates - August 2021 - YouTube

[CMStPnP]

blue streak 1

blue streak 1 wrote the following post 15 hours ago: Construction north of Cocoa to Rockledge.  Construction North of Cocoa is to double track from where Brightline turns toward to Orlando up to a connections of FEC 2 main track north of Cocoa turnout. Brightline Construction: Cocoa and Rockledge Updates - August 2021 - YouTube

Understood the trainsets are push pull but wouldn't train turnaround be faster for trains terminating in Orlando and wouldn't it reduce operational costs over a long duration, if they just built a loop track in Orlando and used that to pull into the station for trains that would turn around there to head back to Miami?    Seems they have the real estate space for it, maybe not the money.

Just curious.

[MidlandMike]

They are already planing to go beyond Orlando to Disney World and eventually Tampa, so Orlando would only be an intermediate station.  Also Orlando Airport owns the land the depot is built on, and may not want to lose the extra real estate a balloon track would take.

[charlie hebdo]

Not many heavy rail trains use balloon tracks for turning.  None that I can recall in Chicago.  Maybe In NYC? 

[Overmod]

charlie hebdo

Maybe In NYC?

Do you not consider trains using Grand Central to be heavy rail?

[charlie hebdo]

That was what I was thinking. GCT has or had a balloon track.  I believe they were more necessary in the past at stub terminals with loose-car passenger railroading prior to widespread MU and cab car usage. 

[MidlandMike]

LAPUT has a major construction project to continue some stub tracks to loop back to the line headed south.

[blue streak 1]

Update of construction in Melbourne FL mid August - September. The Cane creek bridge is really a major piece of construction.  This was the bridge that hit by a ready mix truck several months ago. For alot of our newer readers they can really get an idea of how RRs go about getting new track.  At the end of the video let it continue and you can get view of new FEC business cars at end of the freight train.

Brightline Construction: Melbourne Updates - August/September 2021 - YouTube

[blue streak 1]

Updatee Ft. Pierce Indian river county  August 2021

[blue streak 1]

Updatee Ft. Pierce Indian river county  August 2021

Brightline Construction: Indian River County & Fort Pierce Progress - August 2021 - YouTube

[D.Carleton]

CMStPnP

Understood the trainsets are push pull but wouldn't train turnaround be faster for trains terminating in Orlando and wouldn't it reduce operational costs over a long duration, if they just built a loop track in Orlando and used that to pull into the station for trains that would turn around there to head back to Miami?    Seems they have the real estate space for it, maybe not the money.

Just curious.

Train stops at terminal. Engineer places automatic brake to handle out and cuts out the brake stand. Engineer walks to the opposite cab, curently six car lengths, and cuts in the brake stand. Engineer takes automatic brake handle to release and pressurizes the brake pipe. Engineer makes a full service application and communicates with the assistant in the first cab to assure continuity. Engineer makes a full release and communicates with the assistant to assure continuity. Engineer initiates route in I-ETMS. Total time: five minutes (give or take a few to refresh coffee).

Also remember, the Premium Class coach is on the south end of the train and they want it in the same place on each trip.

[blue streak 1]

Orlando airport update August 29,2021

Orlando International Airport Brightline Construction - August 31, 2021 - YouTube

[blue streak 1]

Orlando airport east to Cocoa. Aug 29,2021. Note the construction spur to OUC track is almost complete with the turnout just needing to be installed.

Brightline Orlando Line Construction Update - August 29, 2021 - YouTube

[rdamon]

it seems like they may have more in mind than just using that OUC connection for construction.

 

[Overmod]

rdamon

it seems like they may have more in mind than just using that OUC connection for construction.

I think they're just using common supplies to build it.  That shoo-fly-like bend around the widened pad for the signal equipment indicates 'temporary but heavy construction' to me.  

[blue streak 1]

Bridge construction

 

Brightline: The 7th Bridge Construction Edition - September 2021 - YouTube

[rdamon]

Article on new trainsets

https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2021/09/28/brightline-high-tech-trains-orlando-service-roll-off-production-line-california/5831384001/

[rdamon]

The Live Railfan Webcam in Cocoa, FL shows them working on the sub-roadbed for the new tracks.

 

[blue streak 1]

Sep 18,2021  near  Cane creek bridge

Brightline Construction: Rebuilding the New Haven Avenue Crossing - September 2021 - YouTube

[blue streak 1]

October 3rd, 2021.  First unit train of rail is pulled by CSX loco over OUC line to the Brightline conection.  The rail trai is then pushed onto the brightlile connecting track to the end of the main line approximately 200 feet beyond connecting track.  Rail train is 5 high by 8 (?) wide.  If 8 wide then 40 sticks  x  1600 feet each.   =  64000 feet  of rail or 32000 track feet.  =   ~  6+ miles of new track.

First Train on Brightline’s New Orlando Line - YouTube

[D.Carleton]

Another red trainset on it's way:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFpRGPv1XAA

[rdamon]

Caught in Kansas City

[blue streak 1]

A look at the Siemens factory building Brightline rolling stock.  There are sniptes of other agencies orders.

Building Brightline's Trains: A Tour Inside Siemens Sacramento Rolling Stock Factory - YouTube

[blue streak 1]

Here is a video of #2 Brightline Red when at Sacremento builders.  The design of interiors makes wonder why Amtrak has not copied these designs ?   Oh wait.  Not invented here.!!!!!

Inside BrightRed: A Tour of Brightline's Sixth and Newest Train - YouTube

[blue streak 1]

Brightline PR from executive president interview..

UPDATE High-Speed Rail System From Miami to Orlando | Brightline Returns to Service w/ New Terminals - YouTube 

[blue streak 1]

Brightline update from Frontenac thru Cocoa.  Frontenac is north of Cocoa where FEC double track from some distance on to the north ends.  Brightline and FEC are extending the 2 main tracks on south to the location where the line to Orlando breaks off.  Where it breaks off will be 4 Main tracks , then 3 and eventually the 2 MT on toward the south.  Here is the latest report.  The reports seem to be coming at least once a week.  Congrats to all the effort and great overhead work.

Brightline Construction: Frontenac Improvement Project and Cocoa Updates - September/October 2021 - YouTube

[rdamon]

I look forward to his updates.  Neat shots of the Virtual Railfan cameras at around 10:12.  

[blue streak 1]

Brightline is proposing Nov 8 th restart.  Have to wonder has FEC dotted all the Is and crossed all the Ts for the replacement PTC?

Florida’s Brightline set to restart service Nov. 8 - Trains