Posted on 07/20/2025 12:09:09 PM PDT by appeal2
Florida operates three separate rail systems: Tri‑Rail, Brightline, and FEC Freight. Tri‑Rail currently runs on the old CSX corridor to the west, while Brightline and FEC Freight share the Florida East Coast (FEC) main line.
But now, Tri‑Rail is actively testing on the FEC tracks — with dozens of daily tests into downtown Miami Central on the same rails used by Brightline and freight since June 2023 . Moreover, under the Coastal Link plan, Tri‑Rail is slated to begin regular passenger service along this corridor — effectively merging all three rail services onto one aging track .
Picture this: 110 mph Brightline trains, lumbering FEC freight cars, and commuter rail all funneling through the same at‑grade crossings — many without fencing or overpasses, in dense urban neighborhoods where safety is already a joke. Since 2017, Brightline, Tri-Rail and FEC Freight have collectively racked up 360 deaths and counting — the deadliest stretch per mile in the U.S.
This isn’t progress. It’s a policy train wreck. Florida had a chance to build a safe elevated rail system back in 2000, but in 2004 Jeb Bush killed it. Now, we’re cramming bullet and freight trains through intersections — and calling it modernization.
If Coastal Link goes full tilt, Florida will have all three lines collapsing onto a century-old corridor — and taxpayers will pay with their lives.
👉 Click the link above to read the full original oped.
(Excerpt) Read more at open.substack.com ...
If it’s so safe, why did the RR and the state lie about the number of deaths. Up until 7-4 we were told there had been 126 deaths. Then once the reporters started digging around the number mysteriously went up to 182 and probably has gone up since then. Originally NYC had trains at grade and they buried them or elevated them.This is not a safe situation and will only get worse over time.
The land does not permit you to bury them, and the weather does not permit you to elevate them.
I know you think everywhere is like where ever you are, but it is not.
NYC does not get hurricanes.
And perhaps the number of deaths increased because the number of deaths actually increased. Might have been a matter of updating record keeping.
Besides, that’s kind of irrelevant, making the rr somehow nefarious about the whole issue, which still doesn’t address why people were on the tracks where they don’t belong.
How is a discrepancy in the death count relevant to the fact that trains belong on the tracks and people and cars don’t and have an obligation to exercise caution in crossing, like... looking?
Also, why are you attributing to me something I didn’t say or even imply.
Show me where I said it was so safe. Give me the post number.
Matter of fact, the part where I said people should look both ways before crossing doesn’t even begin to imply it’s *so safe*. On the contrary, it implies that I think it’s not.
Why the false accusation?
I agree. There are more than a few idiots who think otherwise.
Florida has a little under three thousand miles of active rail road line.
Click the tiny “no thanks” button and go to article anyway. Not a paywall or personal info wall , not overly ad-infested so this content creator was ok by me.
The article was informative. The other side of what you hear about how Florida built a high speed rail between its cities in three years.
What about Sandy? They’re still recovering from it. Not sink the entire line although that would be ideal but cost prohibitive. Close all unnecessary crossings and tunnel under the tracks at intersections which is what was done in the east to address the issue. Accidents happen. Taking measures to avert train car accidents is no different then putting up barrels buy exits or guardrails. It’s called basic safety, where its understood that people do stupid things all the time and lets try to protect them from their stupidity. That’s what highway safety is all about.
Ya know what?
You’re just itching to pick a fight.
Not buying it.
Have a good day.
Florida built a tunnel by the port. We’re not talking about a long tunnel needing ventilation, we are talking about an underpass. Is that clear enough?
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