Virgin Trains Addresses Funding, Safety in Plan for Orlando-Tampa Route
by Hayley Michelle Clemmer | The Florida Free Press
ORLANDO — Local organizations have discussed an Orlando to Tampa train route for years, but concerns over funding and safety have historically slowed the progress of its construction. Virgin Trains is now making headway after taking both issues into account.
In 2011, Brightline proposed a rail between Orlando and Tampa, which Gov. Rick Scott (R) rejected. Among his reasoning was fear that taxpayers would foot the $2.4 billion in federal funds if the project was unsuccessful.
In June of 2018, Brightline proposed that the project be privately funded, and Scott agreed to solicit bids. In November of the same year, Sir Richard Branson bid on the project, and Brightline changed its name to Virgin Trains USA, making it the first privately funded inner city passenger train in over 100 years.
The current rail is now funded entirely by private money, utilizing investor risk bonds that are federally authorized and tax exempt.
While worries over funding have subsided, safety has continued to be a concern amidst revisions to the rail’s plans. Since 2017, 28 people have died after being struck by Brightline trains, creating public hesitation over adding this train route. With proposed speeds of 125 miles per hour, the train between Orlando and Tampa is classified as a high-speed rail, which requires additional precautions to guarantee passengers’ safety.
In addition to continuing to caution the public to heed crossing guards, lights and warning bells, the trains will be installed with a technology called Positive Train Control. This technology automatically stops trains before accidents occur, and all Brightline trains will have this technology installed by the end of this year.
Brightline’s senior vice president of corporate affairs, Ben Porritt, said the company would also like to see continued education for the public, as well as partnership with law enforcement to keep Florida residents safe as this method of transportation grows.
Virgin Trains is currently working on refining their proposal for The Florida Department of Transportation and Central Florida Expressway Authority, with a deadline of March 31, 2020.
This is part of an ongoing series investigating transportation innovation in Central Florida.
