Tackling the Headlines 68

Work begins — finally — on Miami-to-Orlando fast train
Take: Nothing's going to stop All Aboard Florida from running its trains. I plan on addressing the peculiar situation with train service Florida within a month.

Georgians tout passenger trains to Atlanta
Take: Georgians don't need high speed rail service. What they need is a network of well-connected lines that provide frequent service.

All Aboard Wisconsin explores privately funded passenger rail between Madison and Chicago
Take: It may be the only way Wisconsin's capital ever gets rail service.

Third Amtrak Route To D.C. And New York Coming To Lynchburg
Take: Well, it's time for there to be additional frequencies. The new trains would be the first time in decades that there would be marketable frequencies along the route because the Cardinal's times aren't conducive four times a week and it may be sold out with Midwestern passengers.

Addendum: Overhauled Amtrak Florida schedule

The Silver Star would split and be combined at Clifford Lane with only the FEC segment serving Union Terminal (a local FEC route will also serve the existing Amtrak station).  This way, Amtrak avoids having to back up at the historic station.  #91’s times have been altered because the Silver Star is expected to be put back on its original route between Petersburg and Raleigh upon SEHSR service starting. #92 has earlier times so it won’t siphon riders from #80 in North Carolina.

In order to preserve the Cross-Florida route (renamed the Silver Palm), the number of local frequencies (excluding the split Silver Star) along the FEC route has been reduced to one. The FEC Locals would be provided with surplus Horizon Cars on an interim basis (the Silver Meteor schedule is unchanged in both directions).

I have assumed that Metro Jacksonville’s rumors of a Palmetto extension to Jacksonville are verified and I've taken the extra step to send Trains #89 and #90 down the S-Line to Tampa via Ocala, once again allowing residents in that part of Florida to experience train travel. At that point, the Palmetto would be equipped with Viewliner I equipment and one of the last remaining Heritage baggage cars while the Silver Palm will get the Palmetto’s Business Class cars.

Amtrak would temporarily use this setup while the Florida DOT comes up with a plan to provide permanent corridor service. Once a plan is in place, Amtrak would likely concentrate on the Silvers and the local stops FEC service (frequencies would be doubled) and the A-Line, S-Line, and Cross-Florida local runs would then be franchised out to other operators.

SOUTHBOUND	Palmetto 89	Silver Star 91	Silver Star 991	Silver Palm 891	Silver Meteor 97	East Coast Local 875
New York	6:15	11:02	Thru Train		15:15
Washington	R9:05	R15:00			R19:30
Raleigh		19:17
Charleston	19:15				5:06
Savannah	21:08	2:32			6:50
Jacksonville-Clifford Lane	23:43	4:55			9:23
	23:58	5:25	5:50		9:48	15:00
Ocala	1:43
Winter Park		8:04			12:27
Orlando-Sligh Blvd		8:41			13:10
Tampa	3:33	10:24a
				12:45
Winter Haven				13:43b	14:24
Jacksonville-Union Terminal			R6:05			R15:15
St. Augustine			6:43			15:52
Daytona Beach			7:35			16:42
West Palm Beach-S. Tamarind Ave.			D11:01	D16:13	D16:54	D19:57
Fort Lauderdale-Broward Station			D11:49	D17:12	D18:02	D20:41
Miami-Central Station			12:27	18:20	19:10	21:18

NORTHBOUND	East Coast Local 872	Silver Meteor 98	Silver Palm 892	Silver Star 992	Silver Star 92	Palmetto 90
Miami-Central Station	6:15	8:05	11:35	14:00
Fort Lauderdale-Broward Station	R6:47	R9:00	R12:30	R14:35
West Palm Beach-S. Tamarind Ave.	R7:36	R9:57	R13:27	R15:29
Daytona Beach	10:42			18:45
St. Augustine	11:01			19:37
Jacksonville-Union Terminal	D12:18			D20:22
Winter Haven		12:10	15:44
Tampa			17:05 c
					14:47	1:57
Orlando-Sligh Blvd		13:35			16:54d
Winter Park		13:52			17:11
Ocala						3:47
Jacksonville-Clifford Lane	12:33	16:48		20:37	20:07	5:32
		17:08		Thru Train	20:57	5:47
Savannah		19:38			23:30	8:20
Charleston		21:23				10:00
Raleigh					6:54
Washington		D7:21			D11:11	D19:57
New York		11:06			15:13	23:47

D-Stops only to discharge passengers

R-Stops only to receive passengers

a-Stops in Lakeland at 9:50

b-Stops in Lakeland at 13:21

c-Stops in Lakeland at 16:04

d-Stops in Lakeland at 15:23