Editor’s Note: The author of this opinion piece, Carl Hiaasen, is a decades-long, well-respected marquee columnist for the Miami Herald. Mr. Hiaasen is the author of over 20 crime novels, with many humorous twists in the storylines. The novels also often take on environmental issues. Mr. Hiaasen, age 66, is a native of Fort Lauderdale, and has spent the majority of his life in South Florida.
Mr. Hiaasen was an early opponent of All Aboard Florida, which evolved into Brightline, and now Virgin Trains USA. Mr. Hiaasen remains entirely pessimistic about the future of Virgin Trains USA, often repeating “facts” and data spouted by South Florida NIMBYs strongly against the passenger train service. Also, Mr. Hiaasen has a false belief that if Virgin Trains USA somehow fails, it would fall to government to bail it out. He seems to also take a dim view of the Florida East Coast Railway, one of the most successful regional freight railroads in the country.
His opinion column is presented below in the interest of understanding what the opponents of Brightline/Virgin Trains USA believe is their reality. – Corridorrail.com Editor
By Carl Hiaasen, Miami Herald; June 21, 2019
Sir Richard Branson, the charismatic British billionaire who founded Virgin Atlantic airlines, has come to Florida to lose his marbles.
Branson is investing actual money in the crazy plan to run a high-speed train from downtown Miami to the Orlando airport via Cocoa, of all places.