Originally Posted By mousermerf Lookie here: <a href="http://www.wesh.com/automotive/22354556/detail.html" target="_blank">http://www.wesh.com/automotive...ail.html</a> Tampa will be connected to Orlando and WDW via high speed rail. Why does this matter to WDW? Tampa/St. Petersburg is the largest WDW AP market outside the parks' immediate metro area.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I'll believe this will happen when the trains are running. Even though I am a HUGE proponent in rail in the USA ...
Originally Posted By dshyates Obama is coming to Tampa tomorrow to make the announcement. He just said so in the SOTU speech.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 I really hope this does happen, we need rail in this country. Personally, I'd rather the money was spent to first give our cities true, mass transit within the city centers, and then spend the money to connect our cities. But at least their doing something. Compared to Europe and Asia, America's mass transit system is embarassing!
Originally Posted By Manfried We need trains again. Before long, its going to take so long to get onto an airplane that you might as well walk to where you're going.
Originally Posted By leobloom Does anyone know projected cost for passengers? I'm assuming this is going to be fairly inexpensive if this is supposed to be a viable travel option for locals. And any word on the speed of the trains?
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy I doubt it will be inexpensive. The "high speed" Acela train I can take to Boston from Providence can cost nearly $50 for the 35 minute trip. The "low speed" regular Amtrak gets there 1 minute later for half the price. Discounts are offered for off-peak hours, but I still wouldn't consider it "cheap." If you would otherwise pay for parking and gas (and parking in Boston is expensive), it just about works itself out if you're traveling along. In Orlando, I can't imagine a family shelling out a hundred or more bucks just for the trip from Tampa to see Mickey.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***The "high speed" Acela train I can take to Boston from Providence can cost nearly $50 for the 35 minute trip. The "low speed" regular Amtrak gets there 1 minute later for half the price.*** Now that's just pathetic.
Originally Posted By leobloom >>I doubt it will be inexpensive.<< I like public transportation, but only when it's efficient and affordable (like the Metro system in Washington). If the Central Florida rail is expensive, who exactly is expected to use it? People who fly into Tampa and then vacation in Orlando?
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I like public transportation, but only when it's efficient and affordable (like the Metro system in Washington). If the Central Florida rail is expensive, who exactly is expected to use it? People who fly into Tampa and then vacation in Orlando?*** Good point. I think what you have to look at is, how does it compare cost wise and time wise to other options. Seems to be a pretty short corridor, I'm much more interested in the 3 hour train ride from L.A. to SF, but in a case like that I'd have to say that it would depend on price, since a flight is probably comparable time wise (maybe a LITTLE faster, but probably more subject to delays IF the train is halfway decent).
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Does anyone know projected cost for passengers? I'm assuming this is going to be fairly inexpensive if this is supposed to be a viable travel option for locals. And any word on the speed of the trains? >> From $10-$29, I read ... I think $10 will get you between the first two stops in O-Town, while $29 is the full shot from O-Town to Tampa.
Originally Posted By mousermerf In Tampa the news has said $10-30. Considering that parking is $15 it's really not so bad. Notably - it'll be priced like the European systems where last min tickets will cost you $30 but pre-purchase, commuter, etc.. will be much cheaper.
Originally Posted By mousermerf Also, driving from Tampa to Disney I calculated it cost me $10 in gas round trip, so add that cost in.
Originally Posted By sjhym33 What a complete waste of money. Not enough people will ride to support that system and the people of Florida will be subsidizing it forever. Maybe the should fix the roads first.
Originally Posted By mousermerf So there's not enough traffic from Orlando airport to WDW and there's not enough traffic with Tampa being WDW's largest AP population outside the immediate metro area? No one likes driving I-4, that's why they've been pushing for this system for so many years.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << What a complete waste of money. Not enough people will ride to support that system and the people of Florida will be subsidizing it forever. Maybe the should fix the roads first. >> You mean subsidize the highways forever? It's far cheaper for them to subsidize the rail system so it can have lower prices than to maintain those high traffic interstate corridors. I'd rather see them put a toll on I-4 so that it doesn't have to be subsidized before they kill the rail projects.
Originally Posted By Mr X It really amazes me when Americans claim that high speed rail is "a waste of money", considering the incredibly wasteful, congested and downright dangerous highway systems people put up with. Trust me, travel is a BREEZE in countries that actually have decent trains. I just don't get what the resistance is all about, but my theory is that America is pathetic compared to Japan, Europe (and even China now!) and will likely never catch up...and since we can't be #1 at it, the obvious knee-jerk response is "it sucks". Not very inspiring, to say the least. The Eastern Seaboard with it's 5 (?) major cities should be so connected by now that you can get anywhere easily, quickly (3 hours or less) and inexpensively without having to put up with clogged highways or obnoxious TSA agents demanding to see your shoes...instead the rail system is a complete failure. The Acela at its' fastest takes 6 hours and 36 minutes to lumber along between Washington and Boston. I don't get it.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy ^^ And even as backward as our rail system is, I still prefer taking the train on my commutes between New England cities over driving. Every time I choose to drive, I regret it. I either sit in traffic that doubles my travel time or I'm fighting for parking. The train is so much more pleasant and easier. I can only imagine what it would be like if it were a modern rail system.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I had the opportunity to ride the Italian rails last June and I was very pleased with the experience. The price was reasonable compared to flying, the rail stations are closer to (or in) the City making it easier to plan hotels and so forth. I had one delay over the course of 3 trips. And, the trains were heavily travelled. There is something pretty romantic about arriving in Venice on a train and stepping out of the station to see the Grand Canal immediately in front of you. I have a lot of friends that travel between Tampa and Orlando regularly. Will they ride this? I don't know. But, if they extended the line from Orlando to Miami then I'd be on it. I'd do just about anything to avoid driving the Florida turnpike. (Which, by the way, costs me about $16 each way and the tolls continue to go up.)
