Railroad Forums 

  • Brightline Orlando (MCO) and Disney Extension - PHASE 2

  • This is a forum for all operations, both current and planned, of Brightline, formerly All Aboard Florida and Virgin Trains USA:
    Websites: Current Brightline
    Virgin USA
    Virgin UK
This is a forum for all operations, both current and planned, of Brightline, formerly All Aboard Florida and Virgin Trains USA:
Websites: Current Brightline
Virgin USA
Virgin UK

Moderator: CRail

 #1548705  by bostontrainguy
 
I recently moved to Florida and I am so impressed with how quickly they get things done. This project would still be in the "planning" and "environmental study" and "law suit" phase in many other states. As I am getting older I like to see things actually come to fruition before I die :)
 #1548802  by Pensyfan19
 
I just saw an article regarding this which includes recent construction photos. One of the pictures consists of a SINGLE TRACK in a DOUBLE TRACK RIGHT OF WAY!!! Is this temporary and will there be another track rightfully added next too the existing one sometime soon? I think the original proposal for the station and the bridges it has consist of two island platforms but only three tracks.

Here is one of the pictures I have mentioned: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/resizer ... BSJ2HM.JPG

And here is the article: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/tr ... fmiX9cQ42s

To further state my case, the station looks like it can only hold three tracks at the moment, based on the fence on the far right. Will this region get a fourth track as well?: https://media.bizj.us/view/img/11360743 ... -0-313.jpg
 #1548835  by Pensyfan19
 
To further state my case, the station looks like it can only hold three tracks at the moment, based on the fence on the far right. Will this region get a fourth track as well?
This should further state my case.

North side of the station, where Brightline is most likely to enter from all points south: https://www.google.com/maps/@28.4138202 ... a=!3m1!1e3

South side of the station, where Brightline is most likely to go through to Tampa: https://www.google.com/maps/@28.410689, ... a=!3m1!1e3
 #1549295  by GOLDEN-ARM
 
Pensyfan19 wrote: Sun Jul 26, 2020 7:35 pm

To further state my case, the station looks like it can only hold three tracks at the moment, based on the fence on the far right. Will this region get a fourth track as well?: https://media.bizj.us/view/img/11360743 ... -0-313.jpg

it's not hoboken or grand central station. just how many trains do you imagine will be arriving from miami, at one time? two tracks is plenty.
 #1549329  by Jeff Smith
 
That was my thought as well, "GA". Case-in-point: MARTA. Two-track end stations, with some tail tracks to store during peak. And that's a much more frequent service.
 #1549342  by Pensyfan19
 
GOLDEN-ARM wrote: Sun Aug 02, 2020 5:17 pm
Pensyfan19 wrote: Sun Jul 26, 2020 7:35 pm

To further state my case, the station looks like it can only hold three tracks at the moment, based on the fence on the far right. Will this region get a fourth track as well?: https://media.bizj.us/view/img/11360743 ... -0-313.jpg

it's not hoboken or grand central station. just how many trains do you imagine will be arriving from miami, at one time? two tracks is plenty.
Technically the station will be seeing service from Virgin Trains for service from Orlando to Miami, Tampa andf eventually Jacksonville, and eventually SunRail service from the station to the rest of their system. So four tracks I feel would be an ideal amount of tracks in this case.
 #1549491  by electricron
 
I believe the 4th track platform is reserved for SunRail services, which uses rolling stock with low floors vs the high floors Brightline/Virgin uses. Being a fairly short spur off SunRail’s mainline, SunRail will only need one platform at the Orlando airport train station. If that was the case, being reserved for Sunrail, Brightline/Virgin would not wish to use that platform at all, nor would they wish to build tracks to it.
 #1549738  by CRail
 
Things are often built with provisions for future expansion. Judging by the fact that the platform to the right has a semi-permanent fence on one side and the other does not, I'd guess they intend to use 3 tracks in the relatively near future.
 #1555432  by orulz
 
A bizjournals article (https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/new ... orida.html) from a few days ago includes an image (credited to Brightline) that includes the first concrete indication of how they will connect between MCO and WDW. It also mentions that they are interested in sharing these tracks with Sunrail and running commuter trains on them.

1. Sharing a route with Sunrail south through Meadow Woods
2. Then west along Highway 417
3. Then west along Highway 536
4. To a station on-premesis at WDW, which to my eye appears to be somewhere roughly between Epcot and Disney Springs
5. Sunrail terminates there and turns around to head back toward MCO; Brightline appears to reverse as well, but then turns south along I-4 to continue toward Tampa.

Image
 #1557284  by NaugyRR
 
Looks like they settled for Disney Springs...

https://wdwnt.com/2020/11/breaking-disn ... y-springs/

Fair Use:
The proposed station includes a lobby on the ground level, passenger facilities, and an upper-level train platform. An exact location for the station at Disney Springs has not yet been announced. Engineering for the proposed Disney Springs station was started by Brightline earlier in 2020.
I think that's a wise choice, since Disney Springs is already a decent transportation hub in itself with lots of parking. You can access all of the parks and resorts, not to mention all of its own shopping and entertainment options.
Last edited by NaugyRR on Mon Nov 23, 2020 1:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
 #1557297  by hi55us
 
Totally agree, Disney Springs makes a lot of sense and will become a gigantic hub for Disney now. I wonder if Disney would consider running trains to MCO every 20-30 minutes operating exclusively from MCO to Disney. Would be a lot cheaper than operating the Magical Express buses to each resort.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 8