I'm more impressed by the speed of the construction and acquiring rolling stock. Has it been profitable, and by what measure? It's borrowed at least $2b with tax-free bonds. Sustainable, same question? It does use 6% - 20% biofuel. One question I have about the construction, is driving rail spikes with a massive single-person hand-held pneumatic hammer the standard? About half the spikes on the Cocoa railcam were driven that way, the others with the same hammer on a cart.
Before we start talking about NY/NJ/CT, I'm hoping Texas and NV/CA work out. Florida was a good political and financial situation for Brightline. The state had rejected money for Amtrak HSR; Miami Tri-rail was slow to build; Miami airport flubbed giving Amtrak a better location; real estate ventures; local gov'ts paying for stations in good locations; enough capital to close for Covid19 much longer than other transit; young workforce; Softbank and Grupo Mexico splitting the pax/freight companies, with the FEC deep in the heritage of South Florida; unknown bennies to the pols, despite Florida's sunshine laws; tolerance for countless at-grade-crossings; tourists; and great density, and chaotic highways, from West Palm south to Miami. Regarding the FEC's coastal route over Tri-Rail's more inland track, you have to wonder if the FEC railbanked it. It's doubtful freight interference will be an issue for Brightline.
Amtrak has to do better, that said. And commuter rail.
Can't wait to see how Orlando Airport - Disney Springs - Tampa is sorted. The politics of Sunrail are tough in that "purple" area, and here comes Brightline. To be fair to the nimby's on the southern alignment, the northern, business-supported one does look straighter. (BL claims it would cost an extra $1b.). But in an ideal world, the northern route could be Sunrail's from the airport. Meanwhile Amtrak has the T-shaped route to Tampa once a day, and strange ticketing policy about local stops. Similarities to Miami in some ways.
HVrail, welcome to the forum.
Last edited by kitchin on Mon Jan 31, 2022 4:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.