Virgin Trains USA aims to bring a rail link to Walt Disney World

Disone5 days ago

If you find a way... Please let me know.

JoeCamel5 days ago

And once the survey is done conditions will change and it will need another survey. Wish I was a surveyor or at least could act like one on TV

Disone5 days ago

The convention center is the universal route. They are paying 2 million dollars of the a much larger cost of the survey for that route. The survey that will take TWO years to complete. And the survey is not even approved yet. So we're going to wait for the approval for the 2-year multi-million dollar survey. And then the two years of the land survey. And then provided the survey to give everything the green light then construction can start? I want too but I don't share your optimism on this project.

JoeCamel5 days ago

It will go to the convention center as well, strong motivation to choose that route

Disone6 days ago

Which they also did when it was high-speed rail sponsored by the federal government. That project fell through in part because of universal's temper tantrum although that was not the nail in the coffin for the project. However It does raise the question as to whether or not they really want do this? I suspect they don't. All they really want is to make sure there isn't a train that goes from the airport to Disney. It's okay if it goes to them first and then Disney but definitely not direct to Disney. Or no train at all is just fine and hence they put up A stance that seems like they support it when really they're putting up more obstacles than there are solutions. By design.

lazyboy97o6 days ago

Even crazier is that the connection to the airport already exists. A SunRail train can already get to the airport station. Universal though really needs to be the ones paying for all this extra rigmarole. They’re the ones who stomped their feet about the FL 417 route. They’re the ones who put this idea together. For something they supposedly want they’ve created more obstacles than solutions.

Disone6 days ago

Agreed. Spending a half million dollars to pay a portion of a "study" that is going to take 2 years? No thank you

JoeCamel6 days ago

I wonder how many millions have been spent "studying" SunRail and it's iterations? Might have built a few miles of rail and bought some rolling stock and maybe even operate late enough to be useful?

DCBaker6 days ago

The CFTOD will reportedly consider approving $500,000 towards the project development and environmental study for the Sunshine Corridor at the Board of Supervisors meeting next week - here's the article from OBJ: "The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the governing entity for the land of Walt Disney World Resort, has proposed providing the Florida Department of Transportation funds for a key Sunshine Corridor study. The district's board of supervisors on March 28 will consider approving $500,000 to support a project development & environment study for a shared rail corridor that will be utilized by both commuter rail SunRail and the Brightline intercity rail service. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District oversees more than 25,000 acres across 24 landowners in Orange and Osceola counties, including The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS). The study, which will cost $6 million, has already gotten commitments of $2 million each from the Florida Department of Transportation and Universal Destinations & Experiences, as well as $500,000 apiece from the city of Orlando, Seminole County and Osceola County. The corridor would have stops at Orlando International Airport, near the Orange County Convention Center and near South International Drive. It also would allow Brightline to expand to Tampa on a route along Interstate 4. Representatives with the district and Disney were not immediately available. Orange County also has said it will commit funding, but has not yet held a vote to do so. The PD&E study, which will take two years to complete, is expected to provide more detailed cost estimates and other information. The Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission — which includes the city of Orlando and Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties — could vote to move forward with the study as early as March 27. A meeting agenda had not been posted for the commission as of March 21. Early estimates have said costs could total more than $4 billion for the Sunshine Corridor and would expand SunRail's current annual ridership of 1.2 million." https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2025/03/21/central-florida-tourism-oversight-district-sunrail.html

DCBaker28 days ago

Here's the latest update from the Orlando Business Journal: "Universal Destinations and Experiences will help fund a study for the Sunshine Corridor. The theme park company — part of Philadelphia-based Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA) — will provide $2 million through its Shingle Creek Transit and Utility Community Development District for the development and environment study for the shared corridor for commuter rail SunRail and intercity rail service Brightline. The funding was announced at the Feb. 27 meeting of SunRail's Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission by John McReynolds, senior vice president of external affairs at Universal Destinations and Experiences. The study, which will cost $6 million, has already gotten $2 million from the Florida Department of Transportation, as well as $500,000 apiece from the city of Orlando and Seminole County. Universal saw it as important to help move the study forward and match funds provided by FDOT and the local governments — including incoming commitments for Orange and Osceola counties — McReynolds said. "We have done what we've needed to do as an organization to ensure our commitment. We stand still today — as Universal and the CDD — and still have land reserved for the station and some of the tracks, and we stand as committed today as we have ever been." Universal already has committed to providing land along Destination Parkway for the Orange County Convention Center station and using the district to help fund the project. Osceola and Orange counties plan to provide funding, as well, with the Orange County Commission's vote targeted for March 25, according to Orange County Mayor and SunRail board member Jerry Demings. Osceola County will put its $500,000 in funding on the agenda soon, though an exact date was not announced yet. It is expected to take roughly two years and will provide more detailed cost estimate for the project, as well as guidance for how to phase construction and how a transfer station would work between the corridor and existing SunRail stations, among other findings. John Tyler, FDOT District Five secretary, said during the meeting an action item to advance the study could go before the SunRail board as early as its March meeting, which is currently scheduled for March 27. FDOT — who will coordinate the project's development and environment study — will visit with the Federal Transit Administration in Atlanta in March. The corridor would have stops at Orlando International Airport, near the Orange County Convention Center and near South International Drive. It would also allow Brightline to expand to Tampa. Universal's new Epic Universe theme park, set to open May 22, will be near the convention center station. Catchlight Crossings, an affordable apartment community being built on land Universal donated, is also close to the proposed station. Once Epic Universe opens, there is expected to be more than 100,000 workers in the International Drive corridor. Early estimates have said costs could total more than $4 billion for the Sunshine Corridor and would expand SunRail's current annual ridership of 1.2 million." https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2025/02/27/sunrail-universal-sunshine-corridor-brightline.html

HauntedPirateJul 24, 2024

I would if I were more frequently visiting the cities it services. But it is also another good bit of info to know, thanks!

DisoneJul 23, 2024

Sign up for brightline emails. Get notifications like this 1-day sale..... $29 fares galor. Must dates San's Fridays and Sundays

HauntedPirateJul 23, 2024

Good info, thanks! I'll tuck that away for future reference, since getting to certain places can be cumbersome. We rented a car in FLL (return at MCO). Not worth the hassle for us to fly or take the train when we need a car regardless.

deeevoJul 23, 2024

Look into Silver Airways. $79 for one way. I fly them from Tampa to Key West about once a year and love it.