ORLANDO, Fla. — For the first time, Brightline will begin test runs of passenger trains at 110 mph in preparation for its expansion of service to Orlando in 2023, the company has announced.
Testing will occur on an 11-mile stretch of Martin and St. Lucie counties the week of Oct. 17 and is slated to continue over a six-week period. The test area will include nine grade crossings in the two counties. Flaggers will be present at the crossings during the tests, and Brightline is working closely with government agencies, news media, and others to spread the word about the tests and highlight rail safety along the right-of-way.
“This testing serves as a critical reminder to the public to be safe around active railroad tracks and obey all traffic laws,” Joe Meade, Brightline director of safety, said in a press release. “Never stop on the tracks, don’t drive around crossing gates and only cross tracks at a designated railroad crossing.”
This is the beginning of 110-mph testing that will occur in phases along the 129-mile stretch between West Palm Beach and Cocoa, Fla. Local residents are encouraged to sign up for text alerts on testing schedules by texting “RR110” to 888-304-0037.
Lets get going SunRail. SunRail MUST connect with Brightline at MCO.
I hope this works.
The Brightline model would be a good fit for the I-35 corridor between DFW and San Antonio, where an alternative to highway congestion is needed. It also would be a good option for DFW to Houston, as well as San Antonio to Houston.
It appears Texas Central between Dallas and Houston is dead. Or at least it is going through it is on its deathbed.
The United States does not need to emulate France, Japan, China, etc. high speed rail. It needs a solution that works for us. The Brightline model has a lot to offer.
I feel the need for speed! 🙂
You will never eliminate stupid in this country. Quad gates and fencing will help. But if bicyclists or pedestrians choose to ignore them someone will eventually get run over by a train. How do European countries keep people off of the tracks? In most countries, traditional routes have been upgraded to at least 110 mph running where possible if not higher.
I used to watch the Dutch railcam quite a lot. I was always amazed at how very, very few of them ever went past the gates if walking or on a bike. You often can see that the gates are down only for a train totally stopped at the nearby station so there’s no immediate danger. In all that time I only saw one car and maybe 5-6 total walkers or bikers ignore the gates, no matter how long the wait would be.
Did the hurricane delay these plans?
Will Brightline’s plans include fencing off the entire right of way, as well as quad gates or their equivalent at all crossings? Such steps may mollify the I-told-you-so crowd. Given the number of accidents south of there, I feel that it would be a prudent move.