Highspeed Train station at MCO

[Brandis]

While doing some sightseeing around Orlando on Google and Bing maps, I noticed a strange addition at MCO which didn't make sense to me at first. It's a ramp coming from the South Access Road directly to the airport building, right underneath the Hyatt Hotel. Where it enters the building, it looks similiar to the People Mover stations from the terminals.

What I found strange was that it looked unused and a bit unfinished as well and the ramp ended just on the grassy median between the lanes of S. Access Road.

Here it is:
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=nr4kmg86r2y6&lvl=18&dir=0&sty=b&FORM=LMLTCC

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=nr...23003&dir=270.0438037586923&sty=b&FORM=LMLTCC

Then I realized that it must be the train station for the proposed (and now dead? ) Florida Highspeed Train project. Sure enough, when I searched some more on Google I found information that the airport had started to prepare for the construction of the train line.

It looks quite cool and hopefully it will be used sometime in the future.

Is any part of the station or its construction visible or noticeable on the inside of the airport? Looks as if it would be located right next to the Peoplemover for terminal 4. Anyone arriving or departing with Delta or any other airline in terminal 4 noticed anything there?

Thought you might find it interesting.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Doesn't seem like a logical configuration for a train line the way it is setup.

 

[NJ&SSR]

Doesn't seem like a logical configuration for a train line the way it is setup.

Actually is does since this was the planned train end of the line.

This is an Wiki article about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_high_speed_rail

 

[Da Man]

Disney should run a monorail out of that sucker straight to Buena Vista Drive.

(Yes, I know it would probably be an unrealistic amount of money, getting the right-of-ways would be impossible, and TDO bean-counters would have simultaneous brain aneurysms if it was pushed through, but it would still be hella-cool.)

 

[Brian Noble]

and now dead?

Yes, dead. The Florida Governor essentially said "Thanks, but no thanks." The money has been reallocated to the NE Corridor, Detroit-Chicago-St. Louis, and California.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Here it is:
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=nr4kmg86r2y6&lvl=18&dir=0&sty=b&FORM=LMLTCC

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=nr...23003&dir=270.0438037586923&sty=b&FORM=LMLTCC

Then I realized that it must be the train station for the proposed (and now dead? ) Florida Highspeed Train project. Sure enough, when I searched some more on Google I found information that the airport had started to prepare for the construction of the train line.

Although Orlando International Airport was one end of the first leg of the proposed Florida High-Speed Rail plan, the station and ramp in the Bing images were not built for High-Speed Rail.

The station and ramp are for the Intermodal Transportation System (ITS), which will connect North Terminal Complex (the existing terminal complex) with South Terminal Complex ($1 billion future expansion).

 

[joelkfla]

Although Orlando International Airport was one end of the first leg of the proposed Florida High-Speed Rail plan, the station and ramp in the Bing images were not built for High-Speed Rail.

The station and ramp are for the Intermodal Transportation System (ITS), which will connect North Terminal Complex (the existing terminal complex) with South Terminal Complex ($1 billion future expansion).

The definition of an intermodal transportation hub is a place to connect between between different modes of transportation -- e.g., high-speed rail, light rail, buses, and aircraft.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

The definition of an intermodal transportation hub is a place to connect between between different modes of transportation -- e.g., high-speed rail, light rail, buses, and aircraft.

Yes. That's correct.

The master plan for Orlando International Airport calls for the airport to be served by four types of rail (in addition to the current trains to the four airsides): light rail, commuter rail, high-speed rail, and the Intermodal Transportation System (ITS) line between the current terminal complex and the future terminal complex.

The station and ramp that we're discussing in this thread are for the short ITS line. I think they could come up with a better name for it. The train itself is not an Intermodal Transportation System, although it might allow passengers using one mode of transportation to transfer to another terminal to catch a different mode of transportation.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Actually is does since this was the planned train end of the line.

This is an Wiki article about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_high_speed_rail

The format, curve/bend and how close it is to the main roads doesn't lend itself well to a high speed rail, so no it doesn't. Also, as other's pointed out it really wasn't for the actual main rail, but the intermodal connection between it and the terminal that would be used for the actual train station.

 

[1tufgt]

I've always wonder what that ramp was for driving from and to MCO. Now that answers he question.

 

[joelkfla]

Yes. That's correct.

The master plan for Orlando International Airport calls for the airport to be served by four types of rail (in addition to the current trains to the four airsides): light rail, commuter rail, high-speed rail, and the Intermodal Transportation System (ITS) line between the current terminal complex and the future terminal complex.

The station and ramp that we're discussing in this thread are for the short ITS line. I think they could come up with a better name for it. The train itself is not an Intermodal Transportation System, although it might allow passengers using one mode of transportation to transfer to another terminal to catch a different mode of transportation.

OK

 

[seashoreCM]

Several years ago Disney had a plan to contribute to a high speed rail line between Orlando International Airport and Tampa with a public stop near or on WDW property. One of the conditions was that there would be no stops between WDW and MCO. The state did not take Disney up on that offer as it wanted a stop in the convention center International Drive area which is in between.

 

[Brandis]

That's true, bit last year they finally decided to still provide land for a WDW train station, even with additional stops along the way to MCO.

But then the governor killed it by declining the federal fund.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

That's true, bit last year they finally decided to still provide land for a WDW train station, even with additional stops along the way to MCO.

But then the governor killed it by declining the federal fund.

Governor Scott made a tough but financially smart decision, according to many Florida residents.

 

[Brian Noble]

Michigan's governor does not exactly have the reputation of a free spender, but even he was happy to accept the results of Governor Scott's abundance of concern.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Governor Scott made a tough but financially smart decision, according to many Florida residents.

There were two sides to the issue. The plan had overwhelming support from both parties in the Florida state legislature. Members of his own party were caught off guard when Governor Scott said no to the Federal billions.

I'm not trying to engage in a political debate. In fact, I think Governor Scott might have done the right thing, at least from a national perspective. There are better places to invest in high speed rail than in Central Florida.

Yesterland had an article about the Florida High Speed Rail plan from a Disney perspective:

http://www.yesterland.com/highspeed.html

The article includes the proposed WDW station, the route (including a stop at the Convention Center on International Drive), and mockups of how the trains might have been.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Michigan's governor does not exactly have the reputation of a free spender, but even he was happy to accept the results of Governor Scott's abundance of concern.

I may be wrong, and please correct me if I am, Brian, but this is comparing apples and oranges, in my opinion. Rick Scott, Florida's Governor, turned down $2.4 billion for a dubious, at best, rail project. It was to develop a short segment from Tampa to Orlando that did not make much sense to develop.

Rick Snyder, Michigan's Governor, had a specific upgrade project for his $200 million. Specifically, $199 million will go to the development of a 135-mile high-speed rail corridor between Dearborn and Kalamazoo which is part of the high-speed corridor between the Motor City and Windy City. The funds will be used to rehabilitate track and signal systems.

Notice that the funds are to rehabilitate existing track and signal systems in Michigan.

I don't see that the two states had similar projects.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

There were two sides to the issue. The plan had overwhelming support from both parties in the Florida state legislature. Members of his own party were caught off guard when Governor Scott said no to the Federal billions.

I'm not trying to engage in a political debate. In fact, I think Governor Scott might have done the right thing, at least from a national perspective. There are better places to invest in high speed rail than in Central Florida.

Yesterland had an article about the Florida High Speed Rail plan from a Disney perspective:

http://www.yesterland.com/highspeed.html

The article includes the proposed WDW station, the route (including a stop the the Convention Center on International Drive), and mockups of how the trains might have been.

Thanks for the information. My response has no political intent. Florida High Speed Rail from Tampa to Orlando did not have sufficient ridership projections to support the project, I believe.
Part of the reason is that the route between Tampa and Orlando looks a bit odd. At the Tampa end, the station is downtown, but at the Orlando end, the station is at the airport. Tampa International Airport and downtown Orlando are both excluded from the system. Oops.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Thanks for the information. My response has no political intent. Florida High Speed Rail from Tampa to Orlando did not have sufficient ridership projections to support the project, I believe.

I share your concern.

One of the justifications for Florida High Speed Rail was that it would carry guests to WDW. However, as it was planned, the trains would have run only once an hour or so; the WDW station would have been at the south end of WDW property; and the trains would have continued on to downtown Tampa (but strangely not to Tampa Airport).

Under that plan, I don't think Florida High Speed Rail could have replaced Disney's Magical Express. If DME motorcoaches would still carry the majority of those WDW guests who choose not to rent a car, I have trouble seeing how Florida High Speed Rail would fill seats with WDW guests.

I think that there's still a role for rail in Orlando, but I don't think Florida High Speed Rail was the right plan.

 

[Brian Noble]

As it happens, I wasn't a huge fan of a high-speed line with two dead ends, far from anything else it might eventually connect to, and unlikely to be used by the bulk of the vacationers who were its justification. I think the three main projects that were eventually funded are both much better uses of the money---especially the NE Corridor/Acela improvements.