High Speed Rail question (Tampa, Orlando: 2015, how much, home)

[tworent]

At 3.5 billion from Tampa to Orlando how is this thing going to make money. Why would anyone use it when you can drive for about the same amount of time?

[Starrman69]

Well, that was my concern. It's supposed to cut back on the traffic congestion on I-4 and other roadways. You have to have transportation to the terminal from home. When you're at your destination you have to have transportation to your final destination. You'll have to hope that the rail schedule is close to your work or entertainment times so that you can get back to your home terminal. I don't see a lot of people using it. I've been told that the rail down south hasn't broke even since it started. The proponents are saying that it'll create jobs, but that will go down once the constuction is done. I see it as being a big boondoggle. When we find out what the fare is for a two way trip and the costs for cab/bus, it's going to be close to what you're paying for gas. If it's using the present rails, how can it be high speed when you have to stop for the terminals along the way? I won't ride it.

[Infinite loop]

From what I've read from various articles:

1. Will go at least 150 mph - would be cool but I doubt it.
2. Jobs will come in 18 months. Up to 20k jobs.
3. Acela Express is only 'high-speed rail' in the US. Can go 150 mph, but averages only 70 mph. That's what I fear will happen with this.
4. Project hopes to be finished by 2015.

Obviously, it will follow I-4 which I don't think is that bad of a drive at all. It's only bad once you get to either city, not between. I might ride it just once for fun. I am hoping that most or all of the track will be elevated like the Disney monorail so it doesn't have to slow down through the cities or worry about cars sitting on the track.

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by Infinite loop

From what I've read from various articles:

1. Will go at least 150 mph - would be cool but I doubt it.
2. Jobs will come in 18 months. Up to 20k jobs.
3. Acela Express is only 'high-speed rail' in the US. Can go 150 mph, but averages only 70 mph. That's what I fear will happen with this.
4. Project hopes to be finished by 2015.

Obviously, it will follow I-4 which I don't think is that bad of a drive at all. It's only bad once you get to either city, not between. I might ride it just once for fun. I am hoping that most or all of the track will be elevated like the Disney monorail so it doesn't have to slow down through the cities or worry about cars sitting on the track.

You won't have to worry about cars since the entire route will be grade-separated.

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by Starrman69

Well, that was my concern. It's supposed to cut back on the traffic congestion on I-4 and other roadways. You have to have transportation to the terminal from home. When you're at your destination you have to have transportation to your final destination. You'll have to hope that the rail schedule is close to your work or entertainment times so that you can get back to your home terminal. I don't see a lot of people using it. I've been told that the rail down south hasn't broke even since it started. The proponents are saying that it'll create jobs, but that will go down once the constuction is done. I see it as being a big boondoggle. When we find out what the fare is for a two way trip and the costs for cab/bus, it's going to be close to what you're paying for gas. If it's using the present rails, how can it be high speed when you have to stop for the terminals along the way? I won't ride it.

It will be using brand new rails completely dedicated to HSR. The existing rails are reserved for CSX, Amtrak and SunRail.

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by tworent

At 3.5 billion from Tampa to Orlando how is this thing going to make money. Why would anyone use it when you can drive for about the same amount of time?

I'm pretty sure the final pricing will have to be reworked since the last deal with FB was axed. However, you can check out the proposed fares from 2003 on page 13 of the last marketing plan.
http://www.floridabullettrain.com/content/plan.pdf

[Deeman804]

Originally Posted by Infinite loop

From what I've read from various articles:

1. Will go at least 150 mph - would be cool but I doubt it.
2. Jobs will come in 18 months. Up to 20k jobs.
3. Acela Express is only 'high-speed rail' in the US. Can go 150 mph, but averages only 70 mph. That's what I fear will happen with this.
4. Project hopes to be finished by 2015.

Obviously, it will follow I-4 which I don't think is that bad of a drive at all. It's only bad once you get to either city, not between. I might ride it just once for fun. I am hoping that most or all of the track will be elevated like the Disney monorail so it doesn't have to slow down through the cities or worry about cars sitting on the track.

Thats exactly why trains are popular. They take you to your main destination i.e. downtown or Disney World thus eliminating the need for cars. Also you can take taxis around from the center of town instead of far away airports. Also, its more of luxury since you can sleep the whole time. Cars are good because you are in control, but there are also benefits with trains.

[d4g4m]

There isn't a mass transit, train system in the U.S. that makes enough money to cover expenses. Even in NYC with 1 million riders a day, they need tax payer and vehicle owner subsidies. If you use a bridge or tunnel in the metro NYC area, part of the toll you pay goes to the MTA.
Cost to build the system is always under estimated. So what ever they say it will cost, double or triple it. The amount of temporary jobs they say it will create is the by product of bulls.
Fares to use the system are always set low and no where near what a passenger should pay.
Passenger usage is always over estimated by the people who want the system. There is no commerce or business between Orlando ansd Tampa to justify a train. The only people who will use it are the few tourists who don't have a car going from Disney to Busch Gardens. When there's not enough passengers, the system operators start asking for more money to keep the failed system running. In Florida, where and from whom will they get the money and how much? Be ready for a big surprise. The numbers will be staggering.

[johnatl]

With the exception of toll roads, there isn't a freeway, Interstate, U.S. route, State route or street in the U.S. that makes enough money to cover expenses.

It's all about options, folks. Oil isn't going to last forever, and do you really want to pave over what's left of Florida?

[DarkWolf]

Like ive been saying all day , i'm very mad that Florida got the money , first you need to build Networks in other cities like Light Rail , commuter , then you can talk about HSR.......ugh...........The Northeast Corridor deserves the money more then Florida, it will take another 4billion to repair the whole NEC and bring speeds to 180mph. Which is planned for 2021 ..........hahahah........and meanwhile in Florida you will still have 120mph trains tisk tisk tisk