July 14th - Phoenix Rising in the Sunshine State
What happened in Florida? Not talking about the Covid 19, but talking about the rise, fall and rise again of high speed speed rail in Florida over the past 12 years, and more importantly what this experience means for California.
High speed rail in Florida goes back over 20 years, with plans put in place for a Tampa to Orlando as far back as 2003. In 2008, word of $8 billion of funding becoming available for high speed rail flashed through the nation. Ohio and Wisconsin got approved for funding, but then refused it. That money then went to Florida where an Orlando to Tampa bullet train appeared likely (with JR Central even part of the plan), but then Rick Scott became Governor and Florida became like Wisconsin and Ohio and cancelled their high speed rail project.
Unlike Ohio and Wisconsin, a new private plan was to rise out of the ashes of the Florida high speed rail project. Florida East Coast Railways would start All Aboard Florida...which would morph into Brightline/Virgin Trains USA. Today Virgin Trains USA operates between a new Miami Central Station and West Palm Beach. However, in 2022 Virgin Trains will extend to Cocoa Beach and Orlando. At which point it will be highly likely that Virgin Trains will become the predominant transportation option between the 19 largest tourist destination in America (Miami) and the Number 1 Tourist Destination in America (Orlando). source: Best Choice Reviews.
Central Japan Railway Enters Competition for U.S. High-Speed Market
The Transport Politic
Disney's High-Speed Railroad Stop That Never Happened
Youtube/ Midway to Mainstreet
Disney’s Magical Express: Simple Idea, Not-So-Simple Beginnings
Youtube/ Midway to Mainstreet
Florida High Speed Rail Briefing at Orlando International Airport
High Speed Rail News
$300 million more for Tampa-Orlando high-speed rail
Youtube/ABC News
Work underway on Virgin Train project connecting Central Florida to South Florida
Youtube/WESH 2 News NBC
Orlando International Airport Brightline Station
Youtube
Fast Forward Ep. 4 - The Florida High Speed Rail Debacle Youtube/American Rail Club
Headlines:
For American high-speed rail, 2020 could be a turning point
CNN Business
Potential Funding for Texas Central High Speed Rail in New Federal Infrastructure Bill
The Texan
Virgin Trains plans extension of LA – Las Vegas high-speed line
Railway Technology
Amtrak’s Private Rooms Provide a Socially Distanced Way to Travel Without Giving up the Views
Travel & Leisure
Hyperloop: Did Congress Just Take It Mainstream?
Inverse
Hyperloop: Elon Muck Outlines New Event That May Bring It Closer to Reality
Inverse
Boom supersonic jet set for 2021 take off
CNN travel