I’ve driven on I-95 in that area, and it feels like there are no traffic laws at all, there were people going 40 in one lane and 80 in another, and I was even passed by someone lane splitting in a cargo van, and a different time when I was a passenger I saw 3 accidents occur in the distance between the off ramp and on ramp of the same exit
@@timnewman1172 I think they'll do that in the future even further than what they've done now. There are a couple of sections on the existing line where I think a couple of grade crossings could be removed and replaced by nothing, while some of the remaining sections could be left as is or replaced with an elevated overpass. Do keep in mind that the rolling stock can only reach 125 mph as well as lacking a tilting system; and most of it follows FEC's tracks.
@@uriahlevi8640 Nope. It was supposed to start last December, but now they're saying construction will start in the 2nd quarter of 2021.....hint, we are in the 2nd quarter and no construction has started.
Very nice but a few corrections: #1 Virgin did not buy Brightline #2 The coaches are pre-Venture series #3 Amtrak has not (yet) purchased Venture coaches #4 (and this is the biggie) Brightline is NOT High Speed, 150mph sustained.
they are not even close to what high speed rail mean they brand them like as high speed and most likely underdeliver..., even their target goal 110 mph is below what a existing high speed rail run that were build in 1950!!! they run 130 mph on avg, and new high speed lanes are 150mph+.... they are not even targeting what is considered modern standard
FEC wouldn't allow it, they could try to convince them otherwise, but if not, they'd have to construct an entirely new line. And if they do, it would have stations in either Deland or Sanford, Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, and then Jacksonville. I don't know they would do this, but they could other two services, one that stops at all stations between Orlando and Jacksonville, and a nonstop service between the two.
The only problem is that Brightline is not high speed according to world standards from Miami to West Palm Beach. It will only be high speed on only a portion of its route from West Palm Beach to Orlando, which has not been built yet.
Keep in mind that further improvements such as removing grade crossings with either elevated overpasses or just solely removing them, or constructing using a straight section of ROW to connect to existing tracks, might be made in the future after it opens. Let's not forget that the Siemens Chargers, or the SCB-40s can only reach a top speed of 125 mph, does not feature active tilting, and also has to share tracks with FEC.
While the bright line project in Miami looks pretty good, especially with the new extension, I don’t think it’ll amount to anything without government supporting new infrastructure for the line, like grade separation and electrification. Those types of projects are a pipe dream with any funding from the public, IMO.
The Orlando section of track will be done late 2022 and service is stated for 2023... also Virgin didn’t buy Brightline just changed the name and told them they “Virgin” would invest money but that never came, one of the many reasons Brightline canceled the deal with Virgin in August. But great video man and yea Brightline will become a big competitor for Amtrak in the near future so Amtrak better step it up
It's idiocy that they even build these trains at grade at all. This will definitely be a test of what not to do when constructing 'high speed' rail. Other developers will learn from the countless half assed shortcuts they sure seem to implement here executing this project by the final design. At grade crossings and high speed rail don't mix period!
It's not, they are using FEC's existing tracks and they have removed a couple of grade crossings. Where I live, they replaced a crossing with an overpass near me so yeah, they're not idiots. You're also forgetting this is the initial line, they'll probably remove more grade crossings in the future and straighten out certain sections of tracks to travel even faster.
It's a shame people want to paint this as HSR when it's barely even marginal intercity or commuter line speeds. The LIRR goes 80 MPH on portions of it in New York. They should try to find a way to get speeds up to 100 MPH at least. Perhaps they can implement some changes and additions to get it up there like a couple Amtrak Midwest services have done, like the one in Michigan. For whatever reason, idiots in cars can't be trusted at crossings. They should get boxed gate guards so it's not possible to drive around them and also reduce grade crossings.
They did replace a grade crossing with an overpass near me. And do keep in mind, the Cocoa to Orlando section could allow for higher speeds, it's just that the rolling stock can only travel up to 125 mph and doesn't feature active tilting. This will probably end up being the same thing with the Tokaido Shinkansen, it can handle high speeds, it's just the first generation rolling stock, the 0 Series, couldn't travel that fast, as in 130 mph.
@@randomscb-40charger78 Only that the Tokaido Shinkansen was built from the start as a 250 km/h (155 mph) capable line with full grade separation and only very few sections where running speed has to be lowered because of terrain. And by todays standard the Tokaido Shinkansen is neither particularly fast nor all that modern in terms of infrastructure. Why model yourself after a 60 year old standard instead of current ones. Brightline is good and definitely needed but what it is is not high speed rail. It's by all normal standards a medium to low capacity mainline with limited potential to be upgraded to high speed running. It's not even completely double tracked and electrified.
@@lars7935 I never said it was ever high-speed rail it isn't, but it technically could be easily converted to one than what it may seem. Brightline follows part of FHSR's I-95 route between Cocoa and Orlando, so that means part of the former's plan is already under construction. You could build a new line between West Palm Beach to the S-bend on the 528, even though the Orlando to Cocoa section isn't very long, it saves a bit of money for Brightline if they ever wanted to upgrade.
@@randomscb-40charger78 I know. It's just a bit disappointing to see. I know it's probably more than you can expect from US rail infrastructure but still. I would have expected at least complete double tracking and fully protected crossings (4 crossing arms and automatic detection of objects in the crossing).
@@lars7935 They're using FEC's tracks, they can only do so much before FEC will straight up get pissed at them. And here's the thing, there are too many crossings between Miami and WPB, 173 I counted on Google Earth, that's an average spacing of 0.387 miles between crossings, it's not even funny.
Criticizing "government bureaucracy and inefficiency" is a bit disingenuous when you consider the only reason Amtrak exists is because private rail didn't/couldn't operate it 50 years ago. It was a bailout from the start. That is a reasonable and practical function of government: to provide valuable public services that would not be efficiently (profitable) or effectively (profitable while adhering to safety and other cost-cutting risks) by private enterprise.
I think Brightline will fill in an important gap in the US rail market. Private companies will inevitably be far more effective at tapping into and serving the markets. On the surface, it appears that they provide a far superior product at a far better rate than Amtrak's Acela service. It is also a shame that 110mph speeds won't be possible between West Palm Beach and Miami. I wonder if they ever fancied the idea of at least getting up to Class 5 speeds of 90mph. 79mph is unnacceptable, but 90pmh will probably shave at least a few minutes off. I'm also making my comment go in all sorts of directions, so I should stop talking.
If Brightline is using pre-existing rail owned by freight companies, does that mean the trains are often delayed due to freight trains getting priority?
@@packr72 It's not, but it's essentially like a little test track for HSR if you really think about it. It's what the U.S. should've done with the High-Speed Ground Transportation Act of 1965, upgrade existing lines to handle higher-speeds before build new lines.
@@doctordothraki4378 For existing lines it is. The 125 mph section between Cocoa and Orlando is newly built track, but the alignment could probably allow for higher speeds, it's the rolling stock that can't travel any faster than its 125 mph top speed.
@@fredstanley419 Yeah but they plan for their Orlando route to go 125. Also I wasn’t really talking about Brightline I was talking about the minimum HSR limit. I thought it was 125 mph.
@@MetraFan81 I could be wrong but. I understood the the trainset may be capable or running at that speed. But they are running on lines that don’t allow them to run the entire length at that speed. In Europe we have lines built from scratch for high speed trains. How many miles of finished high speed ‘lines’ that in parts don’t slow trains do you have in the US ?
@@davecooper3238 as a matter of fact, Texas Central will be using purpose built rail for its entire route. And their trains will run at speeds well over 160 mph.
Amtrak should be worried because a trip from Miami to Orlando takes approxiamtely 7 hours. When Brightline is running from Miami to Orlando the trip will take 3 hours and Amtrak is going to lose a lot of revenue in this region.
You're right Monty. Plus that 7 hours trip from Orlando to Miami (via Tampa), is like$30. BL probably gonna be closer to $100+. A completely different clientele.
I know this much about Brightline, for it's onboard workers, those that serve food. There's no union and no benefits. I'm not sure if that applies to train crews and/or track workers. When the pandemic hit, Brightline furloughed all onboard workers and most likely engineers and trainmen/women, meaning conductors and assistant conductors. While the individual rants and raves about this carrier, there's a lot of work to be done, concerning unionization.
What Brightline should have done is ignored the idiots who complained about the horns and kept their full potential. Without it, until their extensions are complete, they're nothing but a rejected Tri-Rail. And even at their limited power, they still averagely kill about 6 times as many people as Tri-Rail. I honestly hope Brightloser stays shut down for longer.
Brightloser? Talking about brightline? Because if that’s the cause then I guess you still want to take I-95 traffic. And it’s not brightlines fault if people act like idiots or want to die because it’s usually those types of people plus it costs way to much to remove crossings while working on a new extension and a whole new line in the west. But if you support being stuck in traffic and avoiding death on I-95 then that’s fine.
Good luck averaging 79 mph on I-95 from W. Palm and Miami most times and has also been listed as one of the most dangerous stretches of highway in US.
A few days ago, watched 5 accidents on I-95 on my way to Coral Gables
I’ve driven on I-95 in that area, and it feels like there are no traffic laws at all, there were people going 40 in one lane and 80 in another, and I was even passed by someone lane splitting in a cargo van, and a different time when I was a passenger I saw 3 accidents occur in the distance between the off ramp and on ramp of the same exit
Brightline You Rock
Actually it is a higher-speed rail not a high speed rail
lol, a moderate speed rail
It’s a step in the right direction
Hopefully they will be able electrify their new line eventually for true high speed service
Wait....110 crossing on 70 miles of track? That is insane!
In order to have true high-speed rail, at-grade crossings must be eliminated!
@@timnewman1172 They need sliding gates that prevent people from running the signal crossings.
@@timnewman1172 I think they'll do that in the future even further than what they've done now. There are a couple of sections on the existing line where I think a couple of grade crossings could be removed and replaced by nothing, while some of the remaining sections could be left as is or replaced with an elevated overpass. Do keep in mind that the rolling stock can only reach 125 mph as well as lacking a tilting system; and most of it follows FEC's tracks.
Amazing how brightline launched in less than 10 years
It is, but it was pretty easy compared to other projects and they don't have a true electrified high speed railway so it's not all THAT impressive.
@@TheRailwayDrone yeah, that's the downside. At least express west is
@@erikkrauss8481 Right. I just wish they would start construction.
@@TheRailwayDrone I thought they just did?
@@uriahlevi8640 Nope. It was supposed to start last December, but now they're saying construction will start in the 2nd quarter of 2021.....hint, we are in the 2nd quarter and no construction has started.
Very nice but a few corrections:
#1 Virgin did not buy Brightline
#2 The coaches are pre-Venture series
#3 Amtrak has not (yet) purchased Venture coaches
#4 (and this is the biggie) Brightline is NOT High Speed, 150mph sustained.
No more Virgin. Brightline Pulled out of it.
But CDTX has bought 49 for CA, and 88 for IL, all for Amtrak services
I wish Brightline would come here to Pittsburgh
You already have decent rail service, how do you think us people from pheonix, az feel?
@@Adumzzinthehouse very true
High speed rail or high speed narration?
they are not even close to what high speed rail mean they brand them like as high speed and most likely underdeliver..., even their target goal 110 mph is below what a existing high speed rail run that were build in 1950!!! they run 130 mph on avg, and new high speed lanes are 150mph+.... they are not even targeting what is considered modern standard
I like the fast speech.
I saw them making the tracks near Orlando
Would like to see them extend up to Jacksonville (preferably the airport) and St Augustine.
FEC wouldn't allow it, they could try to convince them otherwise, but if not, they'd have to construct an entirely new line. And if they do, it would have stations in either Deland or Sanford, Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, and then Jacksonville. I don't know they would do this, but they could other two services, one that stops at all stations between Orlando and Jacksonville, and a nonstop service between the two.
@@randomscb-40charger78 The same company that owns FEC also owns Brightline so they can just negotiate those things.
@@natenae8635 No, a lot of FEC's business is up there beyond Cocoa, so there's no way it would be easy to negotiate.
The only problem is that Brightline is not high speed according to world standards from Miami to West Palm Beach. It will only be high speed on only a portion of its route from West Palm Beach to Orlando, which has not been built yet.
Keep in mind that further improvements such as removing grade crossings with either elevated overpasses or just solely removing them, or constructing using a straight section of ROW to connect to existing tracks, might be made in the future after it opens. Let's not forget that the Siemens Chargers, or the SCB-40s can only reach a top speed of 125 mph, does not feature active tilting, and also has to share tracks with FEC.
While the bright line project in Miami looks pretty good, especially with the new extension, I don’t think it’ll amount to anything without government supporting new infrastructure for the line, like grade separation and electrification. Those types of projects are a pipe dream with any funding from the public, IMO.
Hopefully after they get more up and running they can start bumping up the speeds. The speed will be the killer app
The Orlando section of track will be done late 2022 and service is stated for 2023... also Virgin didn’t buy Brightline just changed the name and told them they “Virgin” would invest money but that never came, one of the many reasons Brightline canceled the deal with Virgin in August. But great video man and yea Brightline will become a big competitor for Amtrak in the near future so Amtrak better step it up
Agreed, and if Amtrak doesn't get any initiatives soon, Brightline can end up placing Amtrak on notice.
Nice! Loving the series so far
Glad you're enjoying it! There's more where this came from!
Hopefully the new section being built between cocoa and orlando will have minimal road crossings to allow for higher speeds to be reached.
Or even better, no grade crossings at all. That will allow for true high speed rail service, as in 125+ miles per hour
@@doctordothraki4378 They also have to share tracks with FEC.
FEC had concrete ties as far back as the late 60"s, and continuous welded rail from the 80's.
Loving it, keep it coming.
Ah yes. A fellow Long Island Railfan viewing the same channel I subbed to.
It's idiocy that they even build these trains at grade at all. This will definitely be a test of what not to do when constructing 'high speed' rail. Other developers will learn from the countless half assed shortcuts they sure seem to implement here executing this project by the final design. At grade crossings and high speed rail don't mix period!
It's not, they are using FEC's existing tracks and they have removed a couple of grade crossings. Where I live, they replaced a crossing with an overpass near me so yeah, they're not idiots. You're also forgetting this is the initial line, they'll probably remove more grade crossings in the future and straighten out certain sections of tracks to travel even faster.
Good stuff. Thanks for creating.
If that´s considered to be highspeed railroading, than Europe, Japan and China operate supersonic trains!
I would say "ludicrous speed" to reference Spaceballs
No, it's just us getting excited about decent rail service.
It's a shame people want to paint this as HSR when it's barely even marginal intercity or commuter line speeds. The LIRR goes 80 MPH on portions of it in New York. They should try to find a way to get speeds up to 100 MPH at least. Perhaps they can implement some changes and additions to get it up there like a couple Amtrak Midwest services have done, like the one in Michigan. For whatever reason, idiots in cars can't be trusted at crossings. They should get boxed gate guards so it's not possible to drive around them and also reduce grade crossings.
They did replace a grade crossing with an overpass near me. And do keep in mind, the Cocoa to Orlando section could allow for higher speeds, it's just that the rolling stock can only travel up to 125 mph and doesn't feature active tilting. This will probably end up being the same thing with the Tokaido Shinkansen, it can handle high speeds, it's just the first generation rolling stock, the 0 Series, couldn't travel that fast, as in 130 mph.
@@randomscb-40charger78 Only that the Tokaido Shinkansen was built from the start as a 250 km/h (155 mph) capable line with full grade separation and only very few sections where running speed has to be lowered because of terrain.
And by todays standard the Tokaido Shinkansen is neither particularly fast nor all that modern in terms of infrastructure.
Why model yourself after a 60 year old standard instead of current ones.
Brightline is good and definitely needed but what it is is not high speed rail.
It's by all normal standards a medium to low capacity mainline with limited potential to be upgraded to high speed running.
It's not even completely double tracked and electrified.
@@lars7935 I never said it was ever high-speed rail it isn't, but it technically could be easily converted to one than what it may seem. Brightline follows part of FHSR's I-95 route between Cocoa and Orlando, so that means part of the former's plan is already under construction. You could build a new line between West Palm Beach to the S-bend on the 528, even though the Orlando to Cocoa section isn't very long, it saves a bit of money for Brightline if they ever wanted to upgrade.
@@randomscb-40charger78 I know. It's just a bit disappointing to see. I know it's probably more than you can expect from US rail infrastructure but still. I would have expected at least complete double tracking and fully protected crossings (4 crossing arms and automatic detection of objects in the crossing).
@@lars7935 They're using FEC's tracks, they can only do so much before FEC will straight up get pissed at them. And here's the thing, there are too many crossings between Miami and WPB, 173 I counted on Google Earth, that's an average spacing of 0.387 miles between crossings, it's not even funny.
Criticizing "government bureaucracy and inefficiency" is a bit disingenuous when you consider the only reason Amtrak exists is because private rail didn't/couldn't operate it 50 years ago. It was a bailout from the start.
That is a reasonable and practical function of government: to provide valuable public services that would not be efficiently (profitable) or effectively (profitable while adhering to safety and other cost-cutting risks) by private enterprise.
Y Y EEEEEEE SSSS !!
Y Y E S !!
Y EEEEEEE SSSS !!
Y E S
Y EEEEEEE SSSS !!
I think Brightline will fill in an important gap in the US rail market. Private companies will inevitably be far more effective at tapping into and serving the markets. On the surface, it appears that they provide a far superior product at a far better rate than Amtrak's Acela service. It is also a shame that 110mph speeds won't be possible between West Palm Beach and Miami. I wonder if they ever fancied the idea of at least getting up to Class 5 speeds of 90mph. 79mph is unnacceptable, but 90pmh will probably shave at least a few minutes off. I'm also making my comment go in all sorts of directions, so I should stop talking.
If Brightline is using pre-existing rail owned by freight companies, does that mean the trains are often delayed due to freight trains getting priority?
The best proof of concept in this country for HSR - seems like yesterday when it was All Aboard Florida!
Except it’s not HSR.
@@packr72 It's not, but it's essentially like a little test track for HSR if you really think about it. It's what the U.S. should've done with the High-Speed Ground Transportation Act of 1965, upgrade existing lines to handle higher-speeds before build new lines.
But its not a high speed rail. It only goes 110 MPH. Real high speed railways go 200+ MPH.
I thought that "high speed rail" was at least 125mph. At least that's the speed where you can't have any crossings
HSR is considered 150MPH+ in most places. 200+ MPH is a bit of a stretch.
@@doctordothraki4378 For existing lines it is. The 125 mph section between Cocoa and Orlando is newly built track, but the alignment could probably allow for higher speeds, it's the rolling stock that can't travel any faster than its 125 mph top speed.
Well, I support Amtrak no matter what, but I think things like brightline
Excellent video my friend ✌😉
Florida needs to stop complaining about noise, and they'll be better off trying to get rid of railroad crossings
Excellent coverage.It is difficult to keep up with the changes.
They're not a "high speed rail" service.
lovin Sam! How long did it take you to make all the episodes?
About 3 months from writing the first script to now
@@WorldwideRailfan wow. patience pays off
It’s not really high speed rail. High speed rail is 150 mph and more.
@Dan C. that’s the standard around the world 150mph and up
@@fredstanley419 I thought it was 125 and up.
@@natenae8635 brifhtlines top speed is 75 mph rn
@@fredstanley419 Yeah but they plan for their Orlando route to go 125. Also I wasn’t really talking about Brightline I was talking about the minimum HSR limit. I thought it was 125 mph.
@@natenae8635 yeah 125 is the min in Europe I think. In Asia it’s 150. My b
Nice
Your video was shot in 2020 but claims to be published in 2021. This is 2021.....
And????
American dont like high speed train ..they love car .period
Maybe they might get used to it in the Future.
Love ur videos but dude, slow down
And also brightline continue ordering more Siemens charger traninset as 2021
I think you had too much caffeine.
engines of antrak suggestion: GG1
The choice of using locomotives for a dedicated passanger service is unexpected. Why not DMUs?
Yep, reduce speed cos humans are stupid.
125mph is not considered high speed in Europe. Over here it starts around 150 & raises to over 200mph.
So you're saying the Acela is a high speed train? (It runs at 150 mph so technically you just jinxed yourself. :/)
@@MetraFan81 I could be wrong but. I understood the the trainset may be capable or running at that speed. But they are running on lines that don’t allow them to run the entire length at that speed. In Europe we have lines built from scratch for high speed trains. How many miles of finished high speed ‘lines’ that in parts don’t slow trains do you have in the US ?
@@davecooper3238 as a matter of fact, Texas Central will be using purpose built rail for its entire route. And their trains will run at speeds well over 160 mph.
@@MetraFan81 Did you say. Will be ?
@@davecooper3238 yes. The Texas Central Railway will be starting construction soon.
Not quite sure how you call this High-Speed rail. 110 mph is not high speed rail.
In the US it is. Yes, our current rail system is that bad.
The section from Cocoa to Orlando will be 125mph, but yes, that will still be higher speed rail, not high speed rail.
This would be a much better video if you didn't talk so rapidly!!
I don't think Amtrak needs to worry at all.
Amtrak should be worried because a trip from Miami to Orlando takes approxiamtely 7 hours. When Brightline is running from Miami to Orlando the trip will take 3 hours and Amtrak is going to lose a lot of revenue in this region.
@@Mjoseph117 No they won't. Most people riding Amtrak come from outside the region. Amtrak gets their revenue from long distance travel.
You're right Monty. Plus that 7 hours trip from Orlando to Miami (via Tampa), is like$30. BL probably gonna be closer to $100+. A completely different clientele.
pickle juice
Too political 😐
@@WorldwideRailfan frrfrfrfr
Slow your speech, great videos!
Do you like trains
79 mph is a high speed rail lol.... i guess in america there is a different definition of what high speed means....
That's the current top speeds on the tracks they already have built and running.
Just us Americans excited about decent rail service.
You’re such a libertarian lol
I read this too fast and for a second I thought you were calling me a librarian
@@WorldwideRailfan lmaooo when I posted it I thought I misspelled it and spelled librarian
I know this much about Brightline, for it's onboard workers, those that serve food. There's no union and no benefits. I'm not sure if that applies to train crews and/or track workers.
When the pandemic hit, Brightline furloughed all onboard workers and most likely engineers and trainmen/women, meaning conductors and assistant conductors.
While the individual rants and raves about this carrier, there's a lot of work to be done, concerning unionization.
That’s Florida for you. Absolutely no protections or viable safety net for workers.
Narrator talks very fast and choppy. Script too long?
100 gecs
Ajr
This is just another taxes payer bill!!!
Bruh it’s a private railway.
What Brightline should have done is ignored the idiots who complained about the horns and kept their full potential. Without it, until their extensions are complete, they're nothing but a rejected Tri-Rail. And even at their limited power, they still averagely kill about 6 times as many people as Tri-Rail. I honestly hope Brightloser stays shut down for longer.
Brightloser? Talking about brightline? Because if that’s the cause then I guess you still want to take I-95 traffic. And it’s not brightlines fault if people act like idiots or want to die because it’s usually those types of people plus it costs way to much to remove crossings while working on a new extension and a whole new line in the west. But if you support being stuck in traffic and avoiding death on I-95 then that’s fine.
Literally all of those deaths were morons trying to cross the tracks while the gates were down.
The Quiet Zones need to be removed. Florida is too stupid for Quiet Zones. Brightline proved that.