Orlando International Airport spending $65 million on new trains

[JEANYLASER]

I love it awesome news!

 

[twilight mitsuk]

Hogwarts' trains are not self-propelled. They're attached to a cable running between pulleys on either end. A motor turns a drum which propels that trains one way or the other. It's essentially a horizontal funicular.

-Rob

hogwarts express uses the same type of control system with cables, much like the luxor tram in Vegas

 

[jt04]

I think this is about the airport expansion project. I know that involves more people movers similar to what they already run. Could be replacements for existing trains. In any case, MCO is turning into one of the greatest intermodal transportation hubs in the US.

Bright future for greater Orlando.

 

[lazyboy97o]

IMO, Disneys better off investing in Maglev technology for the monorail system. I personally don't think adding modern tech to "rinkydink" late 80s machines is wise long term.

Maglev is about distance and speed.

 

[marni1971]

I think this is about the airport expansion project. I know that involves more people movers similar to what they already run. Could be replacements for existing trains. In any case, MCO is turning into one of the greatest intermodal transportation hubs in the US.

Bright future for greater Orlando.

This is to replace the oldest 4 trains.

The parking expansion line is a separate project.

But yes, MCO is a great airport. Aside from Airside 4 immigration when they can't staff more than half a dozen lanes.

Or when the ESTA system says you don't exist....

 

[Club34]

whatever you want to call it, i call it the first ride of any vacation!

 

[TimeTrip]

For those curious about the proposed expansion and alignments for new people-movers/rail at MCO:
http://www.orlandoairports.net/planning/tiger4/docs/Full_Buildout.pdf

 

[EOD K9]

Hogwarts' trains are not self-propelled. They're attached to a cable running between pulleys on either end. A motor turns a drum which propels that trains one way or the other. It's essentially a horizontal funicular.

-Rob

Universal and Hogwarts' put the fun back in funicular.

 

[prberk]

MCO's system is very similar in use/visuals to the AirTrain at SFO

And for cost discussions.. Airtrain was built in 2003 for 430 million for 6 miles. This kind of system is not unique and is in use at several airports around the country.

And that comment highlights the problem with the monorail.. It's no longer innovative and is just germane.. you've likely ridden similar systems on your way to WDW as part of your utilitarian airport experience.

I still think that MOST kids and a lot of adults still think it is cool. And a lot of people still drive to WDW and cannot afford to fly. Many do fly, but a good portion of people still don't -- and both groups still have many people who associate Disney with the monorails and still think they are cool.

 

[Weather_Lady]

MCO's system is very similar in use/visuals to the AirTrain at SFO


And that comment highlights the problem with the monorail.. It's no longer innovative and is just germane.. you've likely ridden similar systems on your way to WDW as part of your utilitarian airport experience.

Germane? As in "relevant?" Do you mean pedestrian, instead?

 

[flynnibus]

Germane? As in "relevant?" Do you mean pedestrian, instead?

That works - I'm pretty sure my brain was thinking mundane... but my fingers were typing the very similar sounding germane

Sometimes multi-tasking isn't the best thing

 

[JoeCamel]

Much closer to TPA's rail, in fact identical if one can go by appearance. Built by Westinghouse.

 

[Prince-1]

isn't that how hogwarts express works

Hogwarts' trains are not self-propelled. They're attached to a cable running between pulleys on either end. A motor turns a drum which propels that trains one way or the other. It's essentially a horizontal funicular.

-Rob

You are both wrong. The Hogwarts Express works on magic and unicorn dreams. Duh!!!! Everybody knows that.

 

[dstrawn9889]

You are both wrong. The Hogwarts Express works on magic and unicorn dreams dung. Duh!!!! Everybody knows that.

fixed that for ya...

 

[JEANYLASER]

very interesting post! and I hope Disney Magical Express joins to the All aboard Florida train!

 

[PeterAlt]

This is actually for the All Aboard Florida station that will be at OIA. AAF is a subsidiary of the privately owned FEC Railroad Company. AAF has announced plans to build the first privately owned and operated passenger rail service in the US since the industry collapsed decades ago and was taken over by the Federal government as Amtrak. AAF will offer non-stop passenger higher speed train service from OIA to downtown West Palm Beach (my home town) and then on to downtown Ft. Liquordale (Lauderdale) and ending at a huge company-financed $200 million "grand central" downtown Miami station.

The company just broke grand on the West Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami stations. From Miami to Cocoa Beach, the company will double track and improve the existing FEC railroad tracks. From Cocoa Beach to OIA, the company will build new tracks on land they are leasing from the Orange County Expressway Authority. The segment between Cocoa Beach and OIA will be completely grade separated, meaning it will bridge over roads so that trains do not interfere with traffic.

The company will open the section from Miami to West Palm Beach first. The section north of West Palm Beach is being held up because residents in the Treasure Coast are protesting over the potential negative impact the trains may have on their respective neighborhoods (such as noise from train horns).

While the company's legal team works on finding a solution for the opposing Treasure Coast residents, it will focus on the segment between Miami and West Palm Beach and have their trains operating along that section first.

The Miami station will be a real gem. The company owns many blocks of downtown property and plans to develop mixed use skyscrapers. The AAF tracks will elevate 150 feet in the air as it crosses downtown Miami through these new skyscrapers, which will use a single underground support footing (for both the buildings and the tracks). The station itself will include an indoor shopping mall, bridging over city streets and connecting the buildings. A level of the bridge structure will enclose the tracks and station platform. The station will connect with an already existing station for Miami's Metrorail urban transit system and Miami's Metromover downtown automated people mover system. The design includes a platform for a future city light rail system that will connect to Miami Beach (South Beach). The station sits right next to a huge mall, hotel, convention center, and mixed use skyscrapers planned as a single mega-development called Miami World Center.

The OIA station is being built by the state and the OIA Authority as part of a planned expansion of the airport. The station is designed to accommodate multiple train lines. Besides AAF and the airport' own automated people mover (being expanded to the new station), American Maglev Corporation hopes to use the station for its slow-moving intra-city maglev-propelled automated people mover that would stop at the Orange County Convention Center and the Florida Mall. A future phase of the system would bring it to WDW.

A future phase of AAF hopes to bring the system also to WDW, and possibly to Tampa.

 

[JEANYLASER]

A future phase of AAF hopes to bring the system also to WDW and Disney Magical Express!