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Rumor Higher Speed Rail from MCO to Disney World
- Thread starter UCF
- Start date
TrainsOfDisney
Well-Known Member
I’m 99.9% certain there won’t be any grade crossings on Disney property.
Have you ever heard the SunRail train that goes from Kissimmee straight to downtown Orlando via Orange Ave with the train horns blaring throughout the day going past residential homes while it runs on the tracks?
All it takes is one fool to be walking on the tracks or driving across it to cause an incident to affect the train's progress.
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corran horn
Well-Known Member
You've guessed incorrectly. West Creek Elementary is yards from 417. I imagine a train'll be pretty loud. So is Endeavour off Town Center. Hunters Creek Middle School too.
If you can see many sound walls between developments and 417 you're doing a better job than I have driving that route.
"they bought next to a major highway" is a hell of a thing as they potentially put a train in there.
I'm not against it, but I can see why people on that route wouldn't be jumping for joy.
(there's also businesses, particularly around Landstar and OBT/Town Center that I'm sure will be impacted. This isn't a monorail riding high in the sky)
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maxairmike
Well-Known Member
If someone from a nearby residential area is walking across this, they have tried very, very hard to trespass and is in no more danger than if they had walked up there to cross 417 for some inexplicable reason. Again, this is grade separated, likely running at the same/similar level as 417, or possibly elevated.
As for the SunRail mention, SunRail uses level crossings/is not grade separated for the entire route and needs to use their horn. I don't believe there's any requirement for sounding a horn on a separated track (though I could be wrong on that).
I never said many, I'm surprised there aren't more, but I do believe there are a few. I've been driving 429/408 more than 417 lately though, so I may be misremembering. With new track and proper maintenance, I believe new trains are generally no worse than highway noise.
ETA: And if they're putting them up all along US27, they really should be putting them up along 417. I just hope the widening helps cut down on the typical congestion between the Landstar and JYP area toll plazas every afternoon once things get back to more normal traffic levels.
corran horn
Well-Known Member
It'll be interesting to see where they put the tracks here, for example...
That's a down-berm between the highway and the school and the overpass (over Town Loop) is literally the width of the lanes both ways and that's it.
That's a down-berm between the highway and the school and the overpass (over Town Loop) is literally the width of the lanes both ways and that's it.
maxairmike
Well-Known Member
Unless CFX is modifying their widening plans to go entirely outward with an extra lane instead of expanding almost entirely using the median like current documents/concepts show, I expect the tracks to run on the north/west side of the roadway for the entire stretch along 417. Those lines on either side are the property/ROW boundaries, so you can see they have room for roughly another pair of 2-3 lane roadways, the berm would likely just be steep or a wall.
EDIT: I realize that likely means some slight configuration changes for all westbound exits, but that might have already been in the cards for some. Have to try and find the widening plans again. Think I may have linked them earlier in the thread.
I disagree. Highway traffic noise and train noise on the tracks sounding their horns day and night is completely different. In regards to the Sun Rail track that goes via Orange Ave through Kissimmee and Orlando SunRail goes through residential neighborhoods, homeless areas which it is fairly easy for someone to walk on or near the tracks. One group that will be displaced are the nearby gators in the small bodies of water around the 417 Toll Road. The gators will relocate somewhere else.
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TrainsOfDisney
Well-Known Member
Brightline won’t be sounding their horns... the ROW will be grade-separated.
SunRail runs on a Mainline Railroad right of way that the Atlantic Coast Line was operating on in the 1920’s.
maxairmike
Well-Known Member
Ok, let me try and make this simple. Just like 417 the tracks will cross roads via bridges. SunRail crosses roads at road level. The Brightline track in 417 ROW is essentially 417 in train form. There's no pedestrian or cross traffic on 417. After breaking to the new track to reach 417, it will (almost certainly) be entirely grade separated just like an interstate all the way to any station at Springs.
The only level crossings in the understood proposed Brightline route are around the Meadow Woods SunRail station. Outside of that, it's essentially interstate in train form, so no need (as far as I know) to use their horn.
Also, here's a link to the (current?) renderings for the 417 plans again. It shows the median being completely eliminated for the extra travel and breakdown/emergency lanes. Either way they go, putting tracks to the outside or bumping their widening to the outside, they'll have some exit reconfiguring to do.
417 rendering
*Edited to clean up what I was saying and for more information.
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Got it , thanks for these renderings , I can understand the residents of homes, condos, apts of Hunters Creek/Meadow Woods concern of train noise etc . I don't think they will go quietly about this train project being built in their area.
maxairmike
Well-Known Member
Without the need for using the horn, it shouldn't be much or any louder than the already existing highway traffic noise. A moving diesel train seems to be about the same volume as highway traffic from what I can tell. I believe the tracks for Meadow Woods have been there decently longer than any of the subdivisions bordering it, so they knowingly bought near rail tracks. No different than buying near an airport and having to live with it possibly growing in air traffic, IMO.
Agreed, I think living on the flight path right near the airport runway is worse for the homeowners. Those planes are beyond loud.
JoeCamel
Well-Known Member
I spent 6mo north of MCO 2019 and 5 years outside of O'Hare on the flightpath. Nice when they quit for the night.....
trainplane3
Well-Known Member
I actually have relatives that live less then 200ft away from active tracks with no barrier. Honestly if you aren't looking or listening for the train, you can miss it entirely. And these are long, slow freight trains passing by. A highspeed, relatively short passenger train would probably be quieter.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
This. The train will not be much louder than the highway. It is also only going to be going by a few times an hour at a relatively good speed. It’s not a bunch of slow, long freight trains.
homerdance
Well-Known Member
How do kids that attend these schools know not to enter the highway?
corran horn
Well-Known Member
It's almost like safety isn't the only concern, right?
Obviously, any overcrossing will require new bridges for either additional lanes or rail tracks.
Perhaps the retention ponds and fence provide a clue.