All Aboard Florida may halve Orlando travel time

DAVENPORT, Fla. - June 8, 2015 - PRLog -- In 15 years there could be up to 7million riders a year travelling on All Aboard Florida’s high speed trains from Orlando to South Florida and saving up to 50% in journey time, according to a new study.

The planned passenger rail service is likely to attract around 1million riders when it launches in 2017 and reach more than 5million a year by 2020, estimates the Ridership and Revenue Study, prepared by the Louis Berger Group.

All Aboard Florida is a private rail line that will connect Orlando with Miami and West Palm Beach. The first leg will run from Miami and West Palm Beach with a second planned to Orlando.

It aims to provide an hourly service from 5am-7pm each day from Orlando to Miami with 16 round trips per day in a journey that will take 3 hours – cutting the journey time by car by between a quarter and a half, the report claims.

Currently, around 110million travellers a year go to Orlando from areas where stations are planned with all but 5% travelling by car. All Aboard Florida hopes to change that by capturing 5% of the market itself.

Demand will be split between those travelling between Orlando and South Florida and those taking shorter trips between Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, the study suggests.

Most trips (43%) between South Florida and Orlando are likely to be for leisure or tourism, with 30% for business, and 27% for family visits or special events.

The high-speed trains will feature wireless internet, reserved seating and gourmet meals and will travel on the existing Florida East Coast Railway plus new tracks along the Beachline Expressway from Cocoa to Orlando International Airport.

Feltrim Group Chief Executive Officer, Garrett Kenny, says, “All Aboard Florida will provide a fast, convenient option for residents and visitors travelling to and from Orlando. It offers a welcome alternative for those who don’t want to drive.

“Businesses and the economy will also benefit, as it is thought that the scheme will generate an extra $6.4billion into Florida’s economy over the next eight years.”

Orlando station in Orlando International Airport's planned South Intermodal Facility will connect to rental cars, other transportation and an Automated People Mover to the North Terminal.

It is hoped that a privately-funded magnetic levitation train station connecting the Orange County Convention Center and the Medical City in Lake Nona will also be provided.