Virgin Trains in Orlando: 'Will change mobility in Florida forever'
At Orlando International Airport on Monday, hammering red spikes as homage to the golden spike of America's first first Transcontinental Railroad 150 years ago drove the message from Virgin Trains of a new era for travel in Florida.
"We will change mobility in this state forever," said Virgin Trains CEO Patrick Goddard.
The project, which was known as Brightline before taking the name Virgin Trains, will connect existing rail service in South Florida with new tracks in Central Florida, thus creating a rail line between Orlando and Miami.
"Our state will be the first in the nation to have a true, private express inter-city passenger rail system," said U.S. Rep. Val Demings.
The new rail line is said to be a major component of the airport's new terminal, which will service both planes and trains when it's done.
"This is a big deal for us," said Greater Orlando Aviation Authority board chair Domingo Sanchez. "Making this the local hub, the major hub, for all things Florida travel. We'd love to be that for the state."
The project includes about 170 miles of new track that will be built over the next three years by more than 10,000 construction workers, which Virgin Trains calls the largest private infrastructure project in the nation.
On those new tracks, the train will reach speeds of 125 miles per hour between Cocoa and Orlando.
Annual estimates have it taking three million cars off Florida roads beginning with the start of the new service in 2022.
Other annual estimates include a projection of six million riders and an estimated economic impact of $6.4 billion for Florida.
The projections could shift though, as plans are moving forward to eventually extend the rail line to Tampa.
"There's a very clean way to get to Tampa, we applied for that and got access to that right of way," said Wes Edens of the Fortress Investment Group. "Now it's just a matter of making it, kind of happen."
Edens said the Virgin Trains service in Florida will be used as a model as other similar projects are planned throughout the country. Next, the company is eyeing a project to link Las Vegas with greater Los Angeles.