Passenger rail on Florida East Coast

[muralist0221]

Some of the other rail websites are abuzz over the plan of Florida East Coast to run passenger trains from Miami to Jacksonville, Cocoa Beach and Orlando without a federal subsidy. The plan calls for higher speed service (79-110-125 MPH) between these cities. The former head of Amtrak's Capitol Corridor trains is setting things up claiming the demand here is even greater than in California. Amtrak trains would also run on this route. FEC runs high volume freight service to Miami, but mostly empties going North. Revenue from passengers would benefit the line, so FEC is pro passenger unlike some railroads. The plan calls for $1 billion dollars to be raised privately without any state or federal funding. The Cato Institute has complained that transportation decisions should be made by the states and not Washington. Looks like this is what's happening here. Governor Scott of Florida is anti-rail, will he intervene? A year ago he had a 39% approval rating. Don't know if that is still true. Will the airline companies get their noses bent out of shape? Some say that short run flights may not be profitable for the beleaguered airlines, so they might not sabotage the project.

 

[andrewjonathon]

I'll believe it when I see it.