Amtrak, Brightline, VIA Rail Canada, Ontario Northland Railway and Mexico: 2024 is looking good for passenger trains

By J. Bruce Richardson, Corridor Rail Development Corporation; January 4, 2024 A remarkable year is over and we are at…

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U.S.: Looking at Amtrak, Brightline, Caltrain, West Central Wisconsin and Montana’s Big Sky Rail at the end of the year

By James E. Coston, Executive Chairman, Corridor Rail Development Corporation; December 20, 2022 CHICAGO – Those of us with just…

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U.S., France: Banning Planes For Trains; Think Twice

By J. Bruce Richardson, Corridor Rail Development Corporation; April 14, 2021 Word has come the French – known for great…

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U.S., More Amtrak and Brightline History: Remaking Passenger Rail in Florida

Editor’s Note: Parts of this history article were first written in 2018 and 2019; updated today. By J. Bruce Richardson,…

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U.S., Amtrak and Brightline South Florida History: Two Railroads, Two Very Different Results for Stations

Editor’s Note: This story was originally written in early 2019 and was updated today. By J. Bruce Richardson, Corridor Rail…

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U.S., Central Florida: I-Drive Chamber ‘strongly opposes’ future Brightline corridor. Here’s why.

By Ryan Lynch, Staff Writer, Orlando Business Journal; November 24, 2020 The International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce wants local…

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U.S., Florida: Brightline, Disney share details on future high-speed rail station

By Ryan Lynch, Staff Writer, Orlando Business Journal; November 23, 2020 Brightline and Walt Disney World Resort have shared new details…

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U.S., Florida: Brightline gives construction update on Orlando expansion

By Ryan Lynch, Staff Writer, Orlando Business Journal; November 12, 2020 Brightline has made additional progress on its $2.7 billion Orlando…

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U.S., Florida: Brightline reveals new timeline, details for Tampa connection

By Veronica Brezina-Smith, Reporter, Tampa Bay Business Journal; October 23, 2020 High-speed rail company Brightline has pushed back the starting date…

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It’s official: PortMiami is getting a Virgin Trains USA station

By Anne Kalosh, Seatrade Cruise News; October 29, 2019 Miami-Dade County commissioners on Tuesday gave the green light to Brightline,…

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Virgin Trains USA targets timeline for Orlando-area theme park station

By Ryan Lynch, Staff Writer, Orlando Business Journal; October 21, 2019 Virgin Trains could be nearing an agreement soon on…

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Orlando to Miami higher-speed Virgin Trains USA passenger train project getting real

By Scott Powers, Floridapolitics.com; October 11, 2019 It’s getting real, this long discussed, debated, fought over, raved about, warned against,…

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Orlando International Airport is right on cusp of major milestone

Editor’s Note: Many passenger rail traditionalists have questioned the wisdom of Brightline/Virgin Trains USA constructing its primary Orlando area train…

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Florida extends Virgin Trains’ deadline for Orlando-to-Tampa right-of-way negotiations

By Veronica Brezina-Smith and Ryan Lynch, Orlando Business Journal; September 11, 2019 The state is allowing more time for Virgin…

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Here’s how work is progressing on Virgin Train USA’s Orlando-to-Miami route

By Ryan Lynch, Staff Writer, Orlando Business Journal; July 22, 2019 Virgin Trains USA has offered a further look at…

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Virgin’s Brightline train dreams are going to be derailed | Opinion

Editor’s Note: The author of this opinion piece, Carl Hiaasen, is a decades-long, well-respected marquee columnist for the Miami Herald.…

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Florida: Virgin Trains officials to break ground on high speed rail system in Orlando

By Amanda Castro, Reporter/Anchor, WKMG ClickOrlando.com; June 19, 2019 ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A multi-billion project to bring high-speed passenger…

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Virgin Trains in Central Florida will leave highway traffic in the ‘dust’

By Kevin Spear, Orlando Sentinel; June 17, 2019 When Virgin trains begin service from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach…

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Florida: Virgin Trains kicks off work on rail line to link Orlando to Miami

From The South Florida Sun Sentinel; May 21, 2019 Virgin Trains USA started work Tuesday on its long-awaited rail line…

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Central Florida: SunRail Eyes Record Ridership and Future Expansions

By Greg Angel, Spectrum News 13; April 23, 2019 ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s just before noon and the northbound SunRail…

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Florida: Virgin Trains finally set to launch construction of West Palm Beach-to-Orlando link

By Rob Wile, Miami Herald; April 19, 2019 Virgin announced Friday it is finally set to build its West Palm…

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Virgin Trains plans to link with Disney World, SunRail at same time as Orlando International Airport

By Kevin Spear, Reporter, Orlando Sentinel; April 4, 2019 The train that will run from South to Central Florida is…

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Brightline to start building rail from South Florida to Orlando in March while it rebrands as Virgin Trains

By Kevin Spear, Reporter, Orlando Sentinel; January 3, 2019 Buffeted by oppositional lawsuits, doubts about financing and an identity makeover,…

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All Aboard Florida’s Brightline: On to Phase 2?

By William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief, Railway Age Magazine; September 5, 2018 The Florida Development Finance Corp. (FDFC) has approved Brightline’s…

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Central Florida: 2 routes eyed for possible high-speed Orlando-Tampa route

By Greg Angel, Spectrum News 13; July 25, 2018 ORLANDO, Fla. — Two options are emerging as likely routes for…

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