Talk of The Villages Florida - High speed train?

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Get real (Post 2210386)

The next step is the rail link between The Villages and Disney to help vacuum out grandparents wallets when the grandkids visit.

Guessing your grandkids really take advantage of you to give such a horrible life experience. Maybe we just raised our children differently, but in no way sharp or form have they ever not paid their own way.

Our grands are even worse, won’t keep even birthday or Christmas money. They gently return in the form of gift cards back to us. Eventually they will all have to take the money when we take that dirt nap:clap2:

They talked about a similar thing in Ohio. What happens when you get to destination? Taxi, rent a car, Uber, Lyft etc. So there are those costs. As you stated-driving to MCO, paying to park there. Would it be easier on my nerves than driving the, whole way? Sure but not sure it is worth all the additional cost

Quote:

Originally Posted by asianthree (Post 2210673)

I didn't mean the grand kids were talking advantage. I meant that Disney was looking for another way to separate people from their money.

Yes, 5 hour drive to Miami but not from Orlando.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdeikenberry (Post 2210371)

An article in "the other" online newspaper announces the Florida high speed train running from Orlando Intl airport (MCO) to Miami will take 2:59". Interestingly when I google the route using my auto I can drive the same distance in 3:05". Factor in the time to travel to MCO, parking, etc., and it ends up taking longer on the high speed train...which has been touted as saving time..and the cost of the trip is much more expensive than driving. Makes me wonder if this train will be successful.

having traveled the state by car for work, I can definitely say that is slower than driving it. The ONLY relief is traffic. I've made it Orlando to Miami in 3'ish" hours.... it all depends on that traffic West Palm and south. Will the train be successful? without a doubt, with Branson behind it the train isn't going anywhere but what it's meant to do. I plan on using it I just wish it lived up to it's "high speed" expectation. as a high speed I expect to be in Miami in 90 minutes

Quote:

Originally Posted by spinner1001 (Post 2210638)

The current Brightline plans (as of last week) are to run Brightline trains leaving Orlando MCO hourly starting around 500am and into the evening. That seems like heavy passenger demand for the train. Remember, the train runs in both directions, meaning demand to travel from South Florida to Orlando in addition to the other direction. Rumor has the one way fare at $79 to/from Miami.

I’ve driven the Florida turnpike to and from South Florida many times. It is very stressful with crazy drivers and, if an accident, the two-lane portion of the turnpike is at a dead stop for perhaps an hour or more. I will use Brightline out of MCO to South Florida when service begins (I hear the plans are during the summer) whenever I travel there. The cost of my time at the steering wheel, stress, gasoline, and tolls are too high for me to drive if given the train alternative. YMMV.

By the way, the drive from Fort Lauderdale to downtown Miami during the week in daylight hours is often around one hour — sometimes less, sometimes more. I believe your 3:05 time drive from Orlando to Miami is very wrong if driving Monday to Friday other than the early morning hours. South Florida has very bad traffic problems on its highways. I know from lots of experience. If you are doubtful, look at State’s turnpike and I-95 cameras around the Golden Glades interchange in Miami on Monday through Friday daylight hours.

Here are some photos of traffic in the Miami area this morning at 730am.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Get real (Post 2210682)

I didn't mean the grand kids were talking advantage. I meant that Disney was looking for another way to separate people from their money.

Sorry your post was very open ended.

At last discussion Disney turned down getting a station, bus will still be the only venue, so money will still flow just by slow bus, not fast train. Either way Disney won’t shut down due to lack of a train

Quote:

Originally Posted by Two Bills (Post 2210389)

A high speed train should do that trip in under 2 hours.

But it will make 4 stops along the way.

And depending on what your visit to Miami is for, you might need to renta car.

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Originally Posted by wamley (Post 2210753)

And depending on what your visit to Miami is for, you might need to renta car.

Large cities such as Miami have car services that is much cheaper than car rentals and trying to find a parking space that doesn’t cost more than the car rentals

Quote:

Originally Posted by asianthree (Post 2210379)

For those who fly into Orlando not renting a car to get to Miami is worth it. As other stations open one will not have to drive to MCO.

Why wouldn't they simply fly into Miami instead of Orlando?

Quote:

Originally Posted by spexdr (Post 2210715)

But it will make 4 stops along the way.

Where? My kiddo has a winter place in Tequesta. I would take the train down if it off loaded near there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wamley (Post 2210753)

And depending on what your visit to Miami is for, you might need to renta car.

Ha. My limo driver drives an Uber.

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2210391)

Sounds like another money pit for taxpayers.

Please get your facts straight. This is entirely funded by Brightline, not Amtrak, not the government. They are also building one between Las Vegas and Los Angeles. That'll be a money maker for sure.

Skip

Quote:

Originally Posted by spexdr (Post 2210715)

But it will make 4 stops along the way.

Eventually, bean-counters will figure out if these stops help or hurt the over-all ridership.

Or if the train should jus run/stop from Atlanta, to Jacksonville, to Orlando, Miami.