Brightline and Disney strike deal to build rail station near Orlando, Florida
Rail operator Brightline and Walt Disney World Resort plan to build a train station at entertainment complex Disney Springs, which is only a few miles from theme parks, water parks and 25 hotels in the Orlando, Florida, metro area. The new station, construction of which is contingent on securing of government approvals, would serve as a connection to the rail company’s South Florida locations, a potential station in Tampa, Florida, and a new Brightline location at Orlando International Airport. The company’s $2.7 billion, 170-mile OIA expansion from West Palm Beach is expected to be complete in 2022. [constructiondive.com]
For VIA Rail plunging ridership and revenues
Coronavirus impacts on VIA Rail Canada’s third-quarter 2020 saw ridership fall 82% and revenue drop 86% below the same period last year. Temporary layoffs and cutbacks in promotion activities, in-station services, and administrative costs have not been sufficient to offset revenue reductions according to VIA Rail which continues to seek emergency funding from Transport Canada. While limited Québec City-Windsor corridor service continued during Q3 and Jasper to Prince-Rupert service resumed, Ocean and Canadian services remained shuttered and other long-distances services were limited. VIA’s flagship Canadian service is scheduled to resume Dec. 11.[railwayage.com]
It’s Official: Gardner named Amtrak president
Amtrak Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating and Commercial Officer Stephen Gardner has been appointed President, effective Dec. 1, 2020, succeeding Bill Flynn, who will remain as CEO and continue to serve on the company’s board of directors. Observers say that it was only a matter of time before Gardner was named President. It is widely understood that he has long been making most major decisions and quietly setting policy in his role as second-in-command. Democrat Joe Biden’s election set the wheels in motion to give fellow Democrat Gardner the throttle.
[railwayage.com]
