[ferret111]

Originally Posted by Kevin from Tampa

One more thing...the projected time to get from downtown Tampa to Orlando Intl Airport is 1 hour, 4 minutes.

Right now, Amtrak offers service between Tampa and Orlando that takes 1 hour and 51 minutes.

Is that worth the tax money?

Amtrak is great. I've taken it to Jacksonville and New Orleans and the Tampa to Orlando segment is a breeze. The only downside is that the Tampa station is on a spur and trains only come into the station when they're going either to or from Miami, so you have to take an Amtrak bus to Orlando.

[mango23]

Originally Posted by Kevin from Tampa
"One more thing...the projected time to get from downtown Tampa to Orlando Intl Airport is 1 hour, 4 minutes."
Is that worth the tax money?"



By Ferrett111
Amtrak is great. I've taken it to Jacksonville and New Orleans and the Tampa to Orlando segment is a breeze. The only downside is that the Tampa station is on a spur and trains only come into the station when they're going either to or from Miami, so you have to take an Amtrak bus to Orlando.
[+] Rate this post positively

Thank you for responding from personal knowledge to someone who just throws out something without any idea what they are talking about what so ever.

[UB50]

Originally Posted by ferret111

Amtrak is great. I've taken it to Jacksonville and New Orleans and the Tampa to Orlando segment is a breeze. The only downside is that the Tampa station is on a spur and trains only come into the station when they're going either to or from Miami, so you have to take an Amtrak bus to Orlando.

Amtrak between Tampa and Orlando is a bus, not a train?

[EclecticTastes]

As a state employee, I am not a fan of the new governor.

However, I always thought this project was short sighted. It would be economically foolish to pay to park my car in Tampa, take the train to Orlando, and then rent a car in Orlando.

The money would have best been spent developing the infrastructure at both ends, i.e. decent public transportation that presents a viable alternative to the private automobile.

[beachmouse]

Showdown between the state senate and the governor:

Veto-proof majority of Senate rebukes Rick Scott over high-speed rail | Florida politics blog: The Buzz | tampabay.com & St. Petersburg Times

The number of senators, 26, is significant in that it sends Scott a subtle message: The Florida Senate could override a future veto of rail money.


Other senators said they also didn't like the fact that Scott decided to reverse a decision of the Legislature without giving lawmakers a heads up.


"This is a sign: Talk to us first," said Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by EclecticTastes

As a state employee, I am not a fan of the new governor.

However, I always thought this project was short sighted. It would be economically foolish to pay to park my car in Tampa, take the train to Orlando, and then rent a car in Orlando.

The money would have best been spent developing the infrastructure at both ends, i.e. decent public transportation that presents a viable alternative to the private automobile.

Bingo.

[Kevin from Tampa]

Originally Posted by mango23

Originally Posted by Kevin from Tampa
"One more thing...the projected time to get from downtown Tampa to Orlando Intl Airport is 1 hour, 4 minutes."
Is that worth the tax money?"



By Ferrett111
Amtrak is great. I've taken it to Jacksonville and New Orleans and the Tampa to Orlando segment is a breeze. The only downside is that the Tampa station is on a spur and trains only come into the station when they're going either to or from Miami, so you have to take an Amtrak bus to Orlando.
[+] Rate this post positively

Thank you for responding from personal knowledge to someone who just throws out something without any idea what they are talking about what so ever.

You are COMPLETELY missing my point. If there is an overwhelming need to provide rail service b/t Tampa and Orlando, then why not just buy some more trains and let Amtrak handle it? Have Amtrak provide train service on the hour, every day. The time difference for such a trip between Amtrak and the HSR is only 47 minutes. We're going to spend $2.5B, plus maybe more, so some people can save 47 minutes/trip?

[UB50]

Originally Posted by Kevin from Tampa

You are COMPLETELY missing my point. If there is an overwhelming need to provide rail service b/t Tampa and Orlando, then why not just buy some more trains and let Amtrak handle it? Have Amtrak provide train service on the hour, every day. The time difference for such a trip between Amtrak and the HSR is only 47 minutes. We're going to spend $2.5B, plus maybe more, so some people can save 47 minutes/trip?

I went and looked at Amtrak service between Orlando and Tampa and it's actually a BUS, not a TRAIN. That's why it takes so long! Where is the TRAIN between Orlando and Tampa?

[ferret111]

Originally Posted by UB50

Amtrak between Tampa and Orlando is a bus, not a train?

It depends which way the train is heading. I think it's southbound trains that don't pull into Tampa.

[ferret111]

Originally Posted by UB50

I went and looked at Amtrak service between Orlando and Tampa and it's actually a BUS, not a TRAIN. That's why it takes so long! Where is the TRAIN between Orlando and Tampa?

Again, it depends on which way the train is heading. The bus only makes one stop on the way: Lakeland, for about five to ten minutes. The rest of the estimated time is spent on I-4. Don't think for a minute that those buses keep 55 MPH the whole way...they really haul arse.