Details of WDW's High Speed Rail Station

[tazdeb]

If this was such a great idea AND if could be profitable a private company would want to build it. All they would want from the government was the land rights for the track to be run on. When the transcontenental railroad was built it was the private railroads who built it, not Uncle Sam. The government cant run anything that makes money.

 

[jerivera]

If this was such a great idea AND if could be profitable a private company would want to build it. All they would want from the government was the land rights for the track to be run on. When the transcontenental railroad was built it was the private railroads who built it, not Uncle Sam. The government cant run anything that makes money.

That's your opinion. Whether it's true or not is debatable. However, that's not what this thread is about.

Now, as to whether "if it were such a great idea and it could be profitable private companies would build it", the same concept applies to nuclear power plants. They actually are a pretty good idea. And they are very profitable once they are built. And they're a fairly good cost effective alternative to fossil fuels from the Middle East. So, why hasn't a new one started construction since the 70s?



Answer that, and you'll have the answer as to why no private company wants to build HSR in the US (or anywhere else in the world, for that matter). Sort of self-evident, if you think about it, really...

 

[nytimez]

That's your opinion. Whether it's true or not is debatable. However, that's not what this thread is about.

Now, as to whether "if it were such a great idea and it could be profitable private companies would build it", the same concept applies to nuclear power plants. They actually are a pretty good idea. And they are very profitable once they are built. And they're a fairly good cost effective alternative to fossil fuels from the Middle East. So, why hasn't a new one started construction since the 70s?



Answer that, and you'll have the answer as to why no private company wants to build HSR in the US (or anywhere else in the world, for that matter). Sort of self-evident, if you think about it, really...

Are these nuclear-powered trains? Wow. I had no idea. I need to get caught up here...

 

[jerivera]

Are these nuclear-powered trains? Wow. I had no idea. I need to get caught up here...

Oooh, the joy of using bad humor try to change what a person said or change the subject.

Guess the answer was too self evident?

 

[Oglet]

The government cant run anything that makes money.

Sure they can, what about the IRS ;-)

 

[Oglet]

Are these nuclear-powered trains? Wow. I had no idea. I need to get caught up here...

Brings a new meaning to when you come back from vacation and someone says that your glowing doesn't it!

 

[nytimez]

Brings a new meaning to when you come back from vacation and someone says that your glowing doesn't it!

And here I thought it was the Florida sun...

 

[skiingfast]

Sure they can, what about the IRS ;-)

I though it was the treasury that makes all the money.

 

[PHILCT]

All Aboard ! Next stop is the WDW Resort Station.

It will be interesting to see how many WDW guests will take the train back and forth to the Convention site to get to Sea World areas, Universal areas.
I would expect that to be an inexpensive ride, it is pretty close.

It is going to disappoint some of the rental car business and taxi business.

From the Convention site stop, I guess there will be some free shuttles to the local International Drive Parks, unless the Trolley there already does that?
Or at least a direct inexpensive Lynx bus?

I'm thinking that Busch gardens may even get some increased exposure, if they arrange shuttle buses in the Tampa station. Busch gardens may even be able to arrange special discounts for WDW or the Convention Center to Tampa, via the train, and stop running their buses on I-4.

So I suspect rental car prices will actually come down in price with less demand. I wonder how this will effect the future of Mears Transportation.

Now if they would build a decent grocery store within the Convention Center Station area, why would I ever consider renting a car again, and build some nice offsite inexpensive local Restaurants near the Convention Center stop as well.

The train will bring you to Disney, but it will also take you away from Disney and maybe increase the fun of going off site from Disney, while it makes the price of escaping Disney cheaper than is available today.

I am guessing Disney is going to consider one free voucher for a Diseny/Local Magic Express shuttle back and forth to the Disney Train Site, so you are not encouraged to leave their complex in the middle of your stay? Otherwise you may not be encouraged to use the dining plan or stay within just the Disney Resort for your Orlando vacation. Universal and Sea World may get a slightly larger piece of the entertainment pie as a result of the Train.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Just curious how one would get from this "super station" at WDW to their particular hotel--- lets say OKW.
Will you have to get on a bus anyway??

 

[tazdeb]

That's your opinion. Whether it's true or not is debatable. However, that's not what this thread is about.

Now, as to whether "if it were such a great idea and it could be profitable private companies would build it", the same concept applies to nuclear power plants. They actually are a pretty good idea. And they are very profitable once they are built. And they're a fairly good cost effective alternative to fossil fuels from the Middle East. So, why hasn't a new one started construction since the 70s?



Answer that, and you'll have the answer as to why no private company wants to build HSR in the US (or anywhere else in the world, for that matter). Sort of self-evident, if you think about it, really...

The reason no nukes have been built since the 70s is that the tree-huggers wont let them. Here in Illinois Com-ed has been trying to build one for years but everytime they bring it up the fight is on. All the good reasons you state and it still wont get it built. There must be some sweetheart deals with the unions to build this useless train. People in other countries use high speed rail because there highway system sucks not because its so much cheaper/effecient. If they had our highway system in Japan and the space to park............

 

[phorsenuf]

Just curious how one would get from this "super station" at WDW to their particular hotel--- lets say OKW.
Will you have to get on a bus anyway??

I would assume they would have to have dedicated busses/shuttles. Could you imagine if it was a stop between the the theme park and hotel.....Oy vey!

 

[doconeill]

Private companies wouldn't get involved at the start because the capital cost to start with is enormous, and the return won't be seen for many, many years. And they'd need deeper pockets than just the construction costs because of all the NIMBY lawsuits they'd need to fight, and the government would generally be involved at some level regardless because eminent domain will likely be invoked at some level.

 

[mousermerf]

Private companies wouldn't get involved at the start because the capital cost to start with is enormous, and the return won't be seen for many, many years. And they'd need deeper pockets than just the construction costs because of all the NIMBY lawsuits they'd need to fight, and the government would generally be involved at some level regardless because eminent domain will likely be invoked at some level.

That's another reason FL's plan was selected as a prototype. NIMBY's can't say much of anything since it's in the I-4 median, as designed when the road was widened last time. It was intentionally built that way for future use. The WDW station has been donated and Disney own's all the right of ways, MCO's station is on the airport property - that leaves only the convention center and tampa stops.

Tampa's is being built where the county used to have a jail, plus some extra space, where they'll have to take over like 3 small businesses. A local paper ran an article talking to the owners, none of them are playing ball with the property speculators who are trying to make money off the sale by buying it from them first. The concensus being that's they're disgusted with those people and just want a fair price to relocate.

That just leaves the Convention Center and the access to it.

 

[doconeill]

That's another reason FL's plan was selected as a prototype. NIMBY's can't say much of anything since it's in the I-4 median, as designed when the road was widened last time. It was intentionally built that way for future use. The WDW station has been donated and Disney own's all the right of ways, MCO's station is on the airport property - that leaves only the convention center and tampa stops.

Tampa's is being built where the county used to have a jail, plus some extra space, where they'll have to take over like 3 small businesses. A local paper ran an article talking to the owners, none of them are playing ball with the property speculators who are trying to make money off the sale by buying it from them first. The concensus being that's they're disgusted with those people and just want a fair price to relocate.

That just leaves the Convention Center and the access to it.

What about the ROW between the convention center and MCO? Do they already have that? And are there any abutters that may object (regardless of what they knew was possible when they bought the property...that doesn't stop them from suing)?

 

[phorsenuf]

Where in Tampa is this suppose to be?

 

[mousermerf]

Where in Tampa is this suppose to be?

Site of the old Morgan Street jail. It's meant to be an intermodal center, with the options for the light rail, buses, and other connections built on modularly - so the HSR budget isn't paying for some massive complex to support the other systems that aren't up and running yet (aka: Anaheim's plans). Rather, they build the 3rd floor as HSR to keep it on grade, then use the first floor for street level traffic (taxis, rentals) and buses and such and then leave the second floor open for the light rail if and when it comes online.

 

[nytimez]

What's nice about the location in Tampa is that it's right across the street from the cemetery where the dream of high-speed rail will ultimately be buried.

Ha.

 

[jerivera]

Private companies wouldn't get involved at the start because the capital cost to start with is enormous, and the return won't be seen for many, many years. And they'd need deeper pockets than just the construction costs because of all the NIMBY lawsuits they'd need to fight, and the government would generally be involved at some level regardless because eminent domain will likely be invoked at some level.

Ding ding ding ding! We have a winner!

Thank you!!!! Wasn't even going to repost on this one. Thought all I'd get is snark about unions. Thank you so much!

Some pixie dust for you!

 

[lugnut33]

Apparently France is the HSR example for the world? One question about it (and I don't know the answer), is it's annual budget subsidised or does it make enough money to self-fund itself?