brightline update

[Lewisc]

https://www.wftv.com/news/local/bri...any-officials-say/6UG4QWKDQNCKTPJAG7P6EA3LEI/
Brightline secured funding for the N route between MCO and Tampa. The train will stop at a station near the convention center/Universal Epic then DS then Tampa

 

[CarolynFH]

https://www.wftv.com/news/local/bri...any-officials-say/6UG4QWKDQNCKTPJAG7P6EA3LEI/
Brightline secured funding for the N route between MCO and Tampa. The train will stop at a station near the convention center/Universal Epic then DS then Tampa

Thanks - I assume this means no Disney Springs station, and I'm glad to know that issue appears to be settled. Now whenever someone asks when the train to Disney Springs will start running, I can point to this post and tell them it won't!

 

[Lewisc]

Thanks - I assume this means no Disney Springs station, and I'm glad to know that issue appears to be settled. Now whenever someone asks when the train to Disney Springs will start running, I can point to this post and tell them it won't!

I said in my post, and in the article I linked, MCO, CONVENTION CENTER/EPIC, DS (DISNEY SPRINGS) Tampa

 

[CarolynFH]

I said in my post, and in the article I linked, MCO, CONVENTION CENTER/EPIC, DS (DISNEY SPRINGS) Tampa

I see it in your post but not in the article. Was it in the video? I don't watch those, as a matter of policy.

In any case, hopefully people will stop thinking of this as a replacement for DME!

 

[MillauFr]

Thanks - I assume this means no Disney Springs station, and I'm glad to know that issue appears to be settled. Now whenever someone asks when the train to Disney Springs will start running, I can point to this post and tell them it won't!

Where did you see no Disney Springs Station?

 

[CarolynFH]

Where did you see no Disney Springs Station?

I did not see it mentioned in the article. Per my post above, it may have been in the video, which I did not watch.

 

[Narcoossee11]

I did not see it mentioned in the article. Per my post above, it may have been in the video, which I did not watch.

The politics are just starting. Billions are in play.
I -Drive is REALLY pushing for a station . Drop tourist there , then go down I-4 to Disney springs or Gaylord Palms.
The end location will be Tampa for sure.

Years away, maybe 10 years, due to the politics .

 

[_19disnA]

Even if there was a stop at Disney Springs from MCO, you would need significant other ground transportation to actually get you to your Disney hotel, clearly none of what has been proposed thus far would be considered an alternative/replacement for DME. I didn't watch the video either, but any of these things that are still in the 'planning' stages can change several times for many different reasons. I often wonder if there is enough volume of traffic to make any of these proposed routes viable? Who knows how many people would use it to get to/from the other cities on the various proposed routes?

Lots of proposed mass transit looks good on paper, but is only viable if they continue to attract enough paying customers.

 

[CarolynFH]

Even if there was a stop at Disney Springs from MCO, you would need significant other ground transportation to actually get you to your Disney hotel, clearly none of what has been proposed thus far would be considered an alternative/replacement for DME. I didn't watch the video either, but any of these things that are still in the 'planning' stages can change several times for many different reasons. I often wonder if there is enough volume of traffic to make any of these proposed routes viable? Who knows how many people would use it to get to/from the other cities on the various proposed routes?

Lots of proposed mass transit looks good on paper, but is only viable if they continue to attract enough paying customers.

I think the idea for the Brightline route coming up from Miami to Orlando is to make it easier for people to combine cruises out of Miami with visits to Orlando. And certainly a Tampa to Orlando connection makes it easier to visit Tampa/St. Pete too, not to mention more feasible to fly into/out of Tampa if air fares are better.

Yes, the political discussions re the MCO to Tampa route have been in process for quite some time. Hopefully the award of these Federal funds means it’s a little closer to resolution. I’ll just be happy to stop reading posts from people who think it’s intended as a DME replacement.

 

[gharter]

I can't seen any version of this that doesn't stop at DS.
Stopping at Universal, I would say is still up in the air.
But passing by WDW and not stopping? Not going to happen, if this line is to run.

 

[Lewisc]

I see it in your post but not in the article. Was it in the video? I don't watch those, as a matter of policy.

In any case, hopefully people will stop thinking of this as a replacement for DME!

The full $31,750,000 also provided another bonus: it surpassed the estimated $22 million needed to offset the cost of shifting Brightline’s planned route between Orlando International Airport and Disney Springs,

Clear to me trains from MCO to the DS station will go N and stop at the convention center first

 

[Capt_BJ]

Brightline secured funding for the N route between MCO and Tampa. The train will stop at a station near the convention center/Universal Epic then DS then Tampa

Brightline got a small portion of the $ needed to build out west of MCO .... this design money is a fraction of the total cost.


Brightline was awarded $15,875,000 by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Combined with a matching amount from the company itself, the money will be used to support the preliminary engineering and environmental approvals to get the western part of its route started.

 

[MrKnight]

The DS station is still on, nothing has changed, this recent article is simply an update about the project receiving additional federal funding and also the addition of a possible I-Drive station between MCO and DS which makes sense.. I have said it before and I will say it again, the fact that Disney agreed to build a station within WDW property at DS basically validates that there is a much bigger strategic plan, otherwise they wouldn't have agreed to this.. I'm calling it right now; Brightline will be the eventual long-term replacement of the former DME service and the service will most likely be officially endorsed/marketed by Disney.

 

[Lewisc]

The DS station is still on, nothing has changed, this recent article is simply an update about the project receiving additional federal funding and also the addition of a possible I-Drive station between MCO and DS which makes sense.. I have said it before and I will say it again, the fact that Disney agreed to build a station within WDW property at DS basically validates that there is a much bigger strategic plan, otherwise they wouldn't have agreed to this.. I'm calling it right now; Brightline will be the eventual long-term replacement of the former DME service and the service will most likely be officially endorsed/marketed by Disney.

Only if Disney subsidizes the cost and offers a seamless luggage experience. Current situation. Grab your bags. Summon Uber or Lyft. Wait 5-10 minutes. Walk outside, short walk depending on your airline, get in your car. 30 minutes or so later arrive at your resort.

Brightline. Get your luggage. Schlep up to level 3., go to the tram for the new pod. Schelep over to the Brightline station. Pay $$ for a ticket. Wait for the next train, maybe 30 minutes. Train to DS. Then what? Ride Share? Will Disney have buses waiting at DS? Luggage under the bus? How much?

Direct service from MCO to your resort is more efficient. Probably less expensive. Bus service, even with stops at a few resorts,is more efficient.

I don't think Disney is looking to replace DME. Guests are, and will, be told what's available. My opinion might change if Disney used Brightline as the opportunity to charge for transfers. Might work if luggage was handled like it was with DME and RAC. Guests paid a fee similar to what Mears Connect costs. Disney would get a wholesale rate and might have to subsidize the service and/or charge enough for Brightline but absorb some or all of the cost of the bus service from DS to the resorts. I don't know regulatory issues. I know Disney contracts out with Mears for buses that don't operate exclusively on Disney property, DCL DME etc. Buses within Disney property are generally operated by Disney.

Brightline makes sense for business travelers looking to go directly to the convention center.

In the future Brightline may be a big help to guests who want to fly into Tampa and even Miami. A help to guests who want to cruise out of Miami.

Brightline crunched their numbers based on Amtrak operating between Boston, NYC and DC. All 3 cities have excellent mass transit.

 

[Mikey15]

Clear to me trains from MCO to the DS station will go N and stop at the convention center first

Absolutely. The decision was between the southern route (417) and the northern route and the recosting (dated November last year I believe) showed there was basically no cost difference between the two, so the northern route won out.

Stop at convention center for sure, then down I-4 ROW towards Disney Springs, then I-4 ROW basically the rest of the way to Tampa.

At least one article said Sunrail and Brightline would share use of the new tracks, and while Brightline would be hourly service, Sunrail might be more frequent.

 

[Lewisc]

Brightline would be hourly service,

Great replacement for DME, NOT.

 

[MrKnight]

Only if Disney subsidizes the cost and offers a seamless luggage experience. Current situation. Grab your bags. Summon Uber or Lyft. Wait 5-10 minutes. Walk outside, short walk depending on your airline, get in your car. 30 minutes or so later arrive at your resort.

Brightline. Get your luggage. Schlep up to level 3., go to the tram for the new pod. Schelep over to the Brightline station. Pay $$ for a ticket. Wait for the next train, maybe 30 minutes. Train to DS. Then what? Ride Share? Will Disney have buses waiting at DS? Luggage under the bus? How much?

Direct service from MCO to your resort is more efficient. Probably less expensive. Bus service, even with stops at a few resorts,is more efficient.

I don't think Disney is looking to replace DME. Guests are, and will, be told what's available. My opinion might change if Disney used Brightline as the opportunity to charge for transfers. Might work if luggage was handled like it was with DME and RAC. Guests paid a fee similar to what Mears Connect costs. Disney would get a wholesale rate and might have to subsidize the service and/or charge enough for Brightline but absorb some or all of the cost of the bus service from DS to the resorts. I don't know regulatory issues. I know Disney contracts out with Mears for buses that don't operate exclusively on Disney property, DCL DME etc. Buses within Disney property are generally operated by Disney.

Brightline makes sense for business travelers looking to go directly to the convention center.

In the future Brightline may be a big help to guests who want to fly into Tampa and even Miami. A help to guests who want to cruise out of Miami.

Brightline crunched their numbers based on Amtrak operating between Boston, NYC and DC. All 3 cities have excellent mass transit.

More than likely Disney will offer some type of shuttle service between the Brightline station at DS and the various WDW resorts, like I said, they wouldn't have agreed to have a station built ON property if there wasn't a bigger plan..

 

[Lewisc]

More than likely Disney will offer some type of shuttle service between the Brightline station at DS and the various WDW resorts, like I said, they wouldn't have agreed to have a station built ON property if there wasn't a bigger plan..

Some think Disney's hope was to have DS as the only Orlando stop.

Guests from southern Florida might decide to take the train imstead of driving. A few international guests might consider flying into MIA.

DME replacement...train will be more expensive and time from landing to a resort will be longer.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I agree with those here that Brightline is not the (only) answer to getting from MCO to your Disney resort hotel. We use Amtrak a lot here, NY-Wash DC mostly. The trains stop for just minutes at the stops along this line. Have you seen the piles of stuff families bring on their WDW trips, and all the small kids and babies? They would need extra time to get these people on and off the trains at both MCO and Springs. And there are only so many seats, and you book in advance. And unless business class, you are on your own finding seats and even getting 2 together can be a challenge when you are not boarding at start of the line. If your flight is late, then what? And if people booked up the short MCO-Springs part of the line, it would block people wanting to go from south FL all the way to Springs. These are not subways, hop on, hop off.

This probably made less sense then I hoped. I am pro train, like I stated, we use Amtrak a lot, my husband works and lives in DC M-F, home on weekends to NJ. Yes, it will be an advantage to some people and that is why they are building it.

 

[Lewisc]

I agree with those here that Brightline is not the (only) answer to getting from MCO to your Disney resort hotel. We use Amtrak a lot here, NY-Wash DC mostly. The trains stop for just minutes at the stops along this line. Have you seen the piles of stuff families bring on their WDW trips, and all the small kids and babies? They would need extra time to get these people on and off the trains at both MCO and Springs. And there are only so many seats, and you book in advance. And unless business class, you are on your own finding seats and even getting 2 together can be a challenge when you are not boarding at start of the line. If your flight is late, then what? And if people booked up the short MCO-Springs part of the line, it would block people wanting to go from south FL all the way to Springs. These are not subways, hop on, hop off.

This probably made less sense then I hoped. I am pro train, like I stated, we use Amtrak a lot, my husband works and lives in DC M-F, home on weekends to NJ. Yes, it will be an advantage to some people and that is why they are building it.

Luggage would have to be trucked. Hourly service wouldn't be enough. Brightline would have to allocate 2, maybe 3 trains to shuttle from MCO, convention stop(s,), DS then reverse route back to MCO. Minimum service would have to be every 20 mimutes. I don’t see that working without subsidies.