The Orange Blossom Express is a proposed 36-mile (58 km) commuter rail system in the Central Florida (Orlando) area. It would connect Eustis, Tavares, Mount Dora, Apopka, and downtown Orlando. In Orlando, connections would be available to both Amtrak and SunRail trains. The line is currently owned by the Florida Central Railroad, which transports freight along the line.
| Orange Blossom Express | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Proposed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | Central Florida | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Regional rail | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line length | 36 mi (58 km) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Character | At-grade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating speed | 60 mph (97 km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
History
editLocal support for the Express hinged on the approval of the SunRail project, which was approved by the state Senate in December 2009.[1] The system was projected to cost $55 million in 2009.[2] In early 2012, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) was working on starting a $1.7 million study of the train. The study would look into potential ridership and expenses of the train including the cost of building stations and rolling stock. FDOT was expected to award a contract to perform the study in spring 2012, with it being expected to take two years to complete the study. In February, Orlando City Council agreed to pay $106,000 to the state to help pay for the study. This is in addition to contributions from other governments including Lake County, Orange County, Eustis, Tavares, Mount Dora, and Apopka.[3] As of 2018, the study was not completed and no details regarding funding, operations, or projected ridership have been provided.[4] In April 2019, the Florida Central Railroad closed the line from Tavares to Mount Dora to passenger rail traffic and began using it for train car storage.[5] In 2022, during a council meeting, SunRail officials proposed a new line called the Orange Blossom Express SunRail Line, which would be funded by a proposed 1 cent sales tax increase in Orange County.[6] The proposed tax increase was rejected by voters in November of 2022.[7]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ Donald, David (2009-12-08). "Local delegation weighs in on Sun Rail vote". Daily Commercial. Retrieved 2009-12-13.
- ^ Donald, David (2009-09-19). "Rep. Nelson pushes for commuter rail". Daily Commercial. Retrieved 2009-12-13.
- ^ "Orlando agrees to spend $106K on study of Lake commuter rail line". Orlando Sentinel. 2012-02-06. Retrieved 2012-05-03.
- ^ "Florida Passenger Rail System Study – Final Report" (PDF). CPCS. 2018. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 25, 2018. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ Fallstrom, Jerry (April 18, 2019). "Mount Dora Laments Loss of Tourist Train — Tracks Could Be Converted to a Rail-Trail". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on April 18, 2019. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ Dukes, Amanda. "Proposed SunRail expansion to Apopka depends on one-cent sales tax". WESH2. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
- ^ Hume, Jerry (2022-11-30). "SunRail connection to Apopka project is in limbo for now". Spectrum News13. Retrieved 2024-08-10.