I am not a huge fan of this project, that being said, I feel like a train between Tampa and Orlando is far more appealing than Miami to Orlando. I feel like a lot of people would use Tampa to Orlando. I question the viability of this project from South Florida to Orlando.
Back when I lived in Orlando, Tampa to Orlando is a 1 hr commute that most people don't mind making. People hate driving to South Florida. I would have taken the train almost every time I had to go to Miami if I could.
I can't see it being a spur. The passengers on one leg would be facing forwards, while on the other leg, would be facing backwards... Passengers will NOT like that. My significant other gets nauseous if she has to ride facing backwards....
Most trains worldwide have forward and backwards facing seats. To my knowledge, Brightline is no different.
The description of the station complex implies the actual tracks will be elevated at least by one story at the Springs station, so any grade transition is unlikely to occur on WDW property. After all these years, the Disney Village gets some manner of elevated rail after all!
For perspective on the kind of scale the station might take, this is the Miami terminal station, which is also elevated:
View attachment 515226
The Miami station is meant to be a statement that is way larger than it needs to be (Then again, so is the MCO station). See Brightline's Ft. Lauderdale and West palm stations for a better reference (but I expect Disney to have theming standards).
I feel it’s more likely this will be going in the WWOS/celebration area, I just can’t see how they would get it through all the interchanges at 192 and 536 without it being incredibly expensive
Most train proposals to WDW had their station in that area. Brightline has explicitly stated that they are going for Springs, and lord knows there are plenty of empty plots around Springs that could be used.
Brightline name returns, replacing short-lived Virgin brand as the passenger rail aims for Disney station The Brightline name is coming back, replacing the name Virgin Trains, according to a financial report issued Friday that also suggests a station at Walt Disney World may open soon after...
forums.wdwmagic.com
TL;DR It looks like its happening, and no it wouldn't replace DME. Imagine all those passengers having to walk thier luggage a good mile or so from a train station, to the bus depot, onto busses that have no luggage storage. It'd completely be the opposite of what the aims of DME is.
It could 100% replace DME. Already, with DME, guests don't see their luggage after they check it at their first airport until it "magically" shows up in their rooms. The same could easily be done with the trains.
The latest proposal is for new tracks to be built in the OUC ROW that both Sunrail and Brightline would share. The Meadow Woods Brightline station would be eliminated and replaced by a completely new East-West Sunrail route, where Sunrail would be allowed to operate on Brightline tracks between Disney and Innovation Way, with stations at MCO and Meadow Wood (my understanding is that while rights will be granted to Sunrail to operate to Disney on the tracks, no conversation with Disney has been had about allowing Sunrail trains on its property, and I'd guess they won't allow that)
Disney's only rule when it comes to outside connections is "no connecting to Uni/I-Drive/SeaWorld/OCC." SunRail doesn't connect to that, so I see no reason why they'd be opposed to it.
If that's the case, I think another question would be whether Brightline would allow SunRail to share it's WDW station, if Disney were OK with it.
I'm curious about where you found this info?
Brightline would be happy to split the costs with SunRail. They are already trying to split costs with SunRail for a lot of the CFL sections of their rail network.
The only party that i could see objecting to SunRail's involvement is SunRail if they don't see a benefit/don't want to spend the money.
The train will never replace Magic Express. First the train is not a light rail line with trains constantly running. Realistically, they run every 30 minutes but more like every hour. Then dropping off everyone at the same station means another 20 minutes between busses and busses that require luggage. Not a good or speedy process compared to Magic express leaving every 30 minutes or so and taking everyone to their own resort. Now, the Bonnet Creek Resorts and Disney Spring resorts will benefit from this but not the Disney owned and operated ones. It will also bring in daily visitors from south South Florida. As someone who took the train daily in NJ, I can guarantee everyone here that the promised speed won't be achieved as stops are added, plus the cost will be higher than advertised.
IF this actually happens, I could see this replacing ME. Luggage is dealt with the same way. They could easily have extra trains run directly between Disney and MCO as a contingency on awarding Brightline a DME-esque contract to ensure that a train runs out of MCO every 15-30 minutes.
Sure it will be less convenient for s decent chunk of guests, but if the price is right, I absolutely see DME being handed over to the train. Maybe even make DME an upcharge alternative to the train.
But, at the end of the day, we have a while until this is even in the realm of possibility.
