New High-Speed Train Service That Is Not AMTRAK

Yeah, just read this in the Washington Post. Very exciting stuff.

If the Houston-Dallas line can get me there in less than 2 hours consistently, I'll be a steady passenger.  Currently the drive to the airport, the dance when you get there, the flight, and finally the drive to the final destination is at least 2.5 hours, often 3, and with bad weather, 4+.  I can drive my car there in 3 hours (I live in far north Houston so I kinda have a head start).

Thanks for sharing the Post article, there's a lot that's encouraging.  But I hope with this and other expansions, the EXPERIENCE of travel isn't overlooked.

I also live in Texas.  Honestly, I'm not sure that I want to blast from Dallas to Houston in 2 hours.  I would rather have a pleasant trip with amenities like a dining car, a nice view out of the window, the ability to get up and move around, etc.  I don't mind if it takes a little longer than flying.  But it has to be reliable, functional transportation:  no "bustitution," guaranteed, or it's FREE!  I personally think there is money to be made with THAT business model!

If I'm going to be strapped into a metal tube with the scenery whizzing by too fast to see, I might as well fly.  And if these new high-speed rail ventures focus only on travel time and ignore the "experience," they will quickly become commoditized by attempts to maximize revenue and profit:  cramped seating, bag fees, basically all of the things I despise about the present experience of air travel.

I guess I want to travel in a time machine.  Back to about 1950, so I can ride the Texas Special!!

I did not realize that you guys are so far behind. The Brightline is old news in Florida. Tampa bay is next.

I read this Washington Post article yesterday on my iPad in Apple News. And yes, while Brightline has had a line in south Florida for awhile now, it’s good to learn of its expansion plans to other parts of the state.

Out west, I’m more interested in California’s and the Pacific Northwest’s high-speed rail expansion plans. Californians have been talking about a dedicated high-speed rail line from southern Cal. to Las Vegas for years and years.

As a Vegas resident, and someone who goes to Disneyland in Anaheim, CA at least once a year or so, I'm excited for the Southern California-Las Vegas Brightline West train. I plan to ride the train at least once. The first phase of the line will go to Victorville, and there are considerations to extend to Rancho Cucamonga and Palmdale, CA. Once finished (completion anticipated in 2027 or so, unfortunately), this train will cut travel times to the LA area.

I live near the Brightline in FL but have never been on it. The sad and interesting thing is how many grade crossings it has in a relatively high populated area (Miami to Palm Beach). I believe that the portion from Palm Beach to Orlando veers away from the coast and is not as densely populated.

It seems like every couple of weeks or so, someone is killed at a grade crossing. I believe all of the crossings have flashing lights and crossing gates, but you just can't convince some people that they can't beat a train or that the train can stop. It's sad that some people are so stupid (or drunk or whatever) and it's a downer for high speed rail traffic. I like the progress that they are making with the new, high speed trains and hope it continues. When I read about someone killed at a train crossing I simply think of Darwin's law.

Gerry

I have been following Brightline construction in Florida for the past year or so. Search YouTube for “Roaming Railfan”. Detailed construction flyovers of the entire project. The only single track portion left on the original FEC right of way is the St. Luce drawbridge. That section is scheduled for replacement by 2028.

The new private right of way to Orlando is currently single track and designed for double track. No grade crossings. Test speeds reaching 130mph. There is a video on Brightline West with an overview of that systems future right of way.

I hope Brightline Tampa planners will find a way to land their track very close to TPA and its People mover system. That would allow for easy transfers of passengers to and from the airport.