Yeah, lots of money spent on something that may never happen! They seem to be trying real hard to get Amtrak down there and yet Amtrak seems not interested. This has been an interesting mess.
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(WSVN) - Millions of taxpayer dollars were used to build a new Amtrak station near Miami International Airport. Three and a half years later, it appears Amtrak has no intention of using it. 7’s Brian Entin reports how this project has gone “Off the Rails.”
With millions of your tax dollars, the Florida Department of Transportation built the Miami Intermodal Center, often called the MIC, as a transportation hub for travelers.
You see it better from the air. The MIC is just east of Miami International Airport, with the rental car agencies on one side and the Tri-Rail, city buses and Greyhound on the other.
But despite the writing on the wall, what has never been here is Amtrak.
Tatiana Bonfonte, traveler: (reading sign) “‘Amtrak is not servicing this station at this time.’ Wow. Why?”
Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 4:51 pm But despite the writing on the wall, what has never been here is Amtrak.Because Amtrak does not wish to break its' Silver trains in half because the politicians in Miami built the station platform too small. In February 2012, Amtrak became aware that the 1,030-foot (310 m)-long platforms were too short to handle the longer winter season trains, which need 1,220 feet (370 m) of platform length. it is 170 feet too short for Amtrak, with 85 feet long cars, is two cars too short for Amtrak. What was Florida's ultimate reaction upon discovery of the platforms being too short, nothing. Eight years have passed and no Amtrak train has arrived. Amtrak will never arrive as long as Florida ignores Amtrak's wishes.
Tatiana Bonfonte, traveler: (reading sign) “‘Amtrak is not servicing this station at this time.’ Wow. Why?”
electricron wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 9:46 pmNot exactly true. Florida did spend additional money to build a new bypass road further north after it was discovered that the longer Amtrak trains would block the original road crossing just north of the platforms which was considered the biggest problem.Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 4:51 pm But despite the writing on the wall, what has never been here is Amtrak.Because Amtrak does not wish to break its' Silver trains in half because the politicians in Miami built the station platform too small. In February 2012, Amtrak became aware that the 1,030-foot (310 m)-long platforms were too short to handle the longer winter season trains, which need 1,220 feet (370 m) of platform length. it is 170 feet too short for Amtrak, with 85 feet long cars, is two cars too short for Amtrak. What was Florida's ultimate reaction upon discovery of the platforms being too short, nothing.
Tatiana Bonfonte, traveler: (reading sign) “‘Amtrak is not servicing this station at this time.’ Wow. Why?”
bostontrainguy wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 10:02 pm Not exactly true. Florida did spend additional money to build a new bypass road further north after it was discovered that the longer Amtrak trains would block the original road crossing just north of the platforms which was considered the biggest problem.But they did not close the road Amtrak wanted closed permanently. A partial closure was/is/will be unacceptable to Amtrak. A temporary closed road does not make the platform longer.
Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Sun May 15, 2011 6:30 am This is likely as appropriate a topic as any at which to discuss Amtrak use of the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC; which i think is the tentative station code assigned for such. If not, then just more "fanese').Now where I am at a loss is understanding why Tri-Rail has not yet accessed the Miami Central facility. The "oh we still have to work on the PTC" lame-one is becoming a bit old. Considering many of us around here have "PTC of sorts" in our autos today (next hurdle is to have it force adherence to posted speeds and traffic signals), why can't it be perfected for the rails? Lest we forget, the enabling legislation, RSIA 08, was enacted twelve years ago.
To continue, "last time I checked", namely when I was "down below' this past February, there appears to be conjecture whether Amtrak will use the new facility. While convenience for some passengers would be enhanced, namely for those using public transportation to their final destination and for the apparently quite few that desire to rent an auto, use of MIC would simply represent additional costs and operational deficiency from both handling equipment between the MIC and the Hialeah Maintenance Facility and having to rent facilities at MIC. Further, the likelihood of redeveloping a closed Hialeah station facility for other commercial or industrial use would be remote.
Since I somehow think the majority of Amtrak LD passengers are 'met", the MIC would represent an inconvenience; parking would have to be paid for (possibly a burden for some), longer walks would be entailed (also a burden for some), and a more "visible" security presence (unnerving for some; even if reassuring for many) would be evident.
All told, it appears that Amtrak use of the MIC is a 'stay tuned".