US awards $15.9M for Brightline Tampa proj
The federal government will kick in $15.9M toward Brightline Florida’s plan to make high-speed rail happen between Tampa and Orlando. The grant will pay for half the preliminary engineering costs for the planned 67 mi route along the Interstate 4 corridor. Privately-owned Brightline will match the grant award. Brightline operates passenger service between Miami and West Palm Beach. A second phase, between West Palm Beach and Orlando, is expected to be open this year. The third segment, between Orlando and Tampa, is projected to be operating before the end of the decade. [tampabay.com]
Tri-Rail downtown Miami arrival stalled till 2023
A Nov. 1 start of Tri-Rail passenger trips at MiamiCentral Station is no longer feasible. Executive Director Steven Abrams has told the South Florida Transportation Regional Authority that Tri-Rail has been unable to train its staff due to a lack of cooperation from Florida East Coast Railway and Brightline. Mr. Abrams said that in a previous agreement with Florida East Coast, Tri-Rail was obliged to provide two dispatchers to FEC. Now, FEC is requesting additional dispatchers which will take seven months to hire and train, and require added payments from Tri-Rail. [miamitodaynews.com]
Amtrak call for Gulf Coast traffic info resisted
Amtrak’s effort to gain access to data relating to freight traffic along its proposed Gulf Coast passenger route has drawn strong protest from CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern. In a new filing, the freight railroads urge the Surface Transportation Board to reject Amtrak’s motion, saying it would delay proceedings and constitute discovery that is unhelpful to resolution of the case. CSX and NS say that if Amtrak’s request is granted, they would “insist on the opportunity to respond.” The hearing is scheduled to resume June 13, although the freight operators have already asked for a delay. [trains.com]
First maglev suspension railway to start trial
The world’s first magnetic levitation air train “Xingguo” will start trial operation in China, this July. This is the first time that permanent magnet levitation technology has been applied to an air train. The “Xingguo” train features a suspended monorail structure and is designed to run at a speed of 80 kph (50 mph). The main part of the trial track is an 800 m (0.5 mi) elevated single track, with a double track reserved for future operation. China is the third country after Germany and Japan to have developed non-contact traction technology. [ecns.cn]
