South Florida residents are well on track to a high-speed rail to Orlando.
Brightline, soon to be known as Virgin Trains, posted a photo of freshly-laid track leading to their future station at Orlando International Airport on Tuesday. Construction has continued on the line during the COVID-19 pandemic, with adjustments made to take precautions against the virus.
When complete, the route will take riders from Miami to Orlando in three hours. For comparison, it typically takes four hours to drive between the two cities. Air travel typically takes an hour, but factoring the time needed for going through security and seating, the time difference is significantly shortened.
Virgin Trains signed a letter of intent with Walt Disney World in 2018 to establish a station at the resort, with engineering and design work for the station currently underway. Virgin Trains president Patrick Goddard said last year about the Orlando line, “It’s our expectation to get it done and to build out to Disney.” Currently, Brightline operates stations in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.
The Orlando International Airport station is expected to open in 2022.
Keep reading WDWNT for continuing updates on this ongoing story.
3hrs from station to station, not house to final destination. And if you drive your own car you leave when you want, not wasting the time it takes to drive to the station, park, transfer your luggage from your car to the train before boarding.
Then either renting a car at the Orlando station, loading it in the car and driving to your hotel. Or waiting for the bus or Uber. And of course being without your car for the duration of the vacation.
And then there is the fare, if a family of four buys tickets it cost a pretty penny.
I foresee it going belly up soon after getting statred.
The fact that it doesn’t fit your specific little scenario doesn’t mean it’ll fail.
Under the accepted definitions, Bright Line is higher speeds and not High Speed rail
Unfortunately its dead before it starts. We all had high hopes but taking 3 hours is terrible
Taking 3 hours for what would be a four hour drive is pathetically slow. Why, if you include the time going through security, loading the aircraft and retrieving your luggage at the other end, it’s no faster than flying.
Would this eventually replace not so Magical Express?