All Aboard Florida train could start construction next year, open in late 2015

Interesting, thanks for the info

Yes, it does look like the All Aboard Florida operation is going to happen. I am on their email list I and received their latest update last week.

I haven't heard much lately about AAf's plans. From some of the articles referenced on their website, it seems that construction will start by the end of the year on the Miami to West Palm Beach segment. This will really be disruptive to vehicular traffic unless they are planning on building the second track in pieces between all the road crossings--then only having to close each crossing to install the track across the vehicular roadway-- 

When The Tri-Rail commuter line was built using the CSX ROW it was easier because there aren't as many road crossings as the FEC has. For example: the CSX ROW in Boca has 4- all major east west roads that interface with I-95. The FEC in Boca has 9 road crossings. The rest of the towns along the way are similar-- so this second track will definitly impact us in many ways--- but since the ROW is still owned by the FEC, the required enviromental impact statement not surprisingly reported none to minimal impact. We will see---

$100 one way looks kind of high. But new rail is a good thing.

You beat me to it Chris! Interesting that FECI is going with Siemens. Still no artwork or pictures of the trainsets as far as I know. The trainsets (initial purchase of 5) will consist of 2 engines and 4 coach cars. Engines will be Tier 4 compliant, Siemens will supply all of the guts except the prime movers, which will be built by Cummins. Engines and cars to be built/ assembled in Siemens California plant. Cars will be state of art types. Once the West Palm Beach to Orlando segment is built, an additional 5 trainsets plus 3 more cars for each of the original 5 trainsets will be ordered.

This is going to be very interesting to follow the progress.

As for the $100 dollar fare, I'm sure that there will be discounts if the travelers are buying them as part of their Disney/Universal/Orlando vacation package. Us locals will probably not be eligible for any sort of price breaks.

FEC consistently quotes the amount of passenger air travel between South Florida and Orlando as justification for building high speed rail with the assumption that a given percentage will choose regularly scheduled rail instead of flying (and it's intrusive security exercise), so I feel certain the fare will be very competitive with airline fares. 

This is exciting stuff.  I really think there is a BIG market for good passenger service in this country.  If only they can get the similar plans going in Texas and California and the Midwest!  Nothing would please me more than to see so much of it that Amtrak had to close up shop!