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  • Brightline (All Aboard Florida) Orlando - Miami FL FEC fka Virgin Rail

  • This is a forum for all operations, both current and planned, of Brightline, formerly All Aboard Florida and Virgin Trains USA:
    Websites: Current Brightline
    Virgin USA
    Virgin UK
This is a forum for all operations, both current and planned, of Brightline, formerly All Aboard Florida and Virgin Trains USA:
Websites: Current Brightline
Virgin USA
Virgin UK

Moderator: CRail

 #1515933  by electricron
 
gokeefe wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2019 11:23 am My read from the above results is that a desire for more ridership may be driving the Boca Raton station proposal. I write this in the specific sense that Virgin is reacting somewhat to current results and may want to "juice" them a little more. Could be that they were planning this "infill" proposal all along but now those plans have accelerated somewhat ...

Almost no way to know for sure but the timing is interesting. I would have imagined that they were going to wait until after the Orlando extension was complete before looking again at the Treasure Coast.
I'm not going to suggest they had been planning this new station all along, but they have already replied many times that future stations was a possibility after initially entering operations. Well, they are doing that, why act surprised?
 #1515957  by Gilbert B Norman
 
Arlington wrote: Wed Jul 31, 2019 3:37 pmBoca Raton is a little odd in that they don't already own the station land.....
Mr. Arlington, the former FEC station in Boca has become a transportation museum that I believe is part of their Historical Society.

The two cars visible from the Googlemobile, the Obs is former SAL once assigned to the "Star" and placed mid-train, while the Diner is former ACL.

813 S Dixie Hwy
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Y1BN7iQcjCBFGdWw5
 #1517092  by Arborwayfan
 
When I first read the Brightline website I was pretty surprised to see that they would have security screenings before boarding. Mr. Norman and others who have ridden, what is the security screening like? Does it take a long time and/or disrupt boarding?
 #1517128  by Gilbert B Norman
 
From Pitter Hotel, Salzburg---

Brightline's security check is hardly obstrusive. You walk through a metal detector, your carry ons are searched electronically.

Go to a concert at the Festival over here. And it's a peek in anything you are carrying. For me, its a pair of shoes as I'm not about to walk 1.2 klicks hotel to the venue without my walking shoes.

It's disconcerting to see the Polizei walking about carrying "AR's" even in Austria with its very strict gun control laws. But this is our world today.
 #1517968  by Gilbert B Norman
 
An indeed encouraging report, Mr. CHRS.

Maybe the rebranding away from the (I thought) attractive Brightline in favor of the shaggy one and his sort of off-color trade name will prove worth it. Of greater interest is the apparent public acceptance of a higher fare level.

I'm sure that if and when they can somehow say they're breaking even, it will be "widely disseminated".
 #1517986  by Arlington
 
Where can we get details on the price hike?

As ridership grows and peak trains (and seasons) and near-sellouts can be predicted, targeted fare hikes should be very effective.
 #1518700  by EuroStar
 
Is Dorian the first major hurricane for Virgin Rail? Their website seems to have no information on when they plan to shutdown service. Do they have enough indoor space for all the trainsets? Are some of them going to need to stay outside?
 #1518719  by nomis
 
They updated the website, and sent out an email as well.
Based on Hurricane Dorian’s current path and anticipated high winds, Brightline will be operating on an alternate schedule on Saturday, August 31. Our final northbound and southbound departures from West Palm Beach and Miami will depart at 12:00 pm. Fares have also been reduced to $5 as guests make final storm preparations.

Brightline’s alternate schedule of southbound trains include an 8:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m.,10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. departure from West Palm Beach and northbound train departing Virgin MiamiCentral at 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Service will be suspended after the 12:00 p.m. departures both north and southbound at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 31.
All service is suspended on Sunday 9/1 and Monday 9/2. Please check Train Status for updates.
 #1518819  by Erie-Lackawanna
 
Latest email I received is that they are resuming service on a limited schedule beginning Sunday, September 1.

I understand their desire to resume service, but frankly, we in South Florida aren't out of the woods yet. Tropical storm forecasts have a degree of uncertainty to them and this one is more uncertain than most. I’ll be putting up the storm shutters tomorrow, just as Brightline resumes service.

I hope they’re right and I’m wrong, but I’d rather be wrong and safe than wrong and screwed.

Jim
 #1518909  by Rockingham Racer
 
gokeefe wrote: Fri Aug 30, 2019 8:02 pm Good on them reducing fares to help the public get out of the area.
Agreed. But unless folks have a place to go to further north of MIA-FLL such as a relative's home, they won't be going anywhere. Hotels tend to fill up with fleeing folks in a hurricane situation. Happened to me driving to Texas in 2003, when a hurricane had just happened. Absolutely no rooms anywhere.
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