Any News on Miami Airport?

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I believe I read somewhere that the crossing just north of the station will be closed to traffic while Amtrak is there, and that the next crossing north was being worked on and improved as a detour route.
 
And as things stand currently the passengers from the last few cars of an arriving Meteor will be dumped on the ballast. In other words until they figure out how to build additional platform on the North side of 25th Amtrak is unlikely to move to this station. And no one seems to know where the money for that is going to come from or what, if any, the plans are. So for all practical purposes the entire thing is in a state of suspended animation pending something to give somewhere AFAICT.
 
And as things stand currently the passengers from the last few cars of an arriving Meteor will be dumped on the ballast. In other words until they figure out how to build additional platform on the North side of 25th Amtrak is unlikely to move to this station. And no one seems to know where the money for that is going to come from or what, if any, the plans are. So for all practical purposes the entire thing is in a state of suspended animation pending something to give somewhere AFAICT.
Now wouldn't it be ironic if Brightline started serving Orlando before Amtrak starts running into Miami Airport?
 
It makes no sense to serve a station so far from the pax yard. It is like a mile or two or backup move. What purpose does it serve Amtrak to be there. Pax are not getting off at the new station to connect with American at MIA.
 
It makes no sense to serve a station so far from the pax yard. It is like a mile or two or backup move. What purpose does it serve Amtrak to be there. Pax are not getting off at the new station to connect with American at MIA.
It is an operational annoyance, but the location is better and the station is far more modern. In addition, transit connections will be greatly improved with direct access to Metrorail and many bus routes.
 
In a couple of months we have to get from the arriving Meteor to the car rental desks at the airport, what's the best method of doing this?

Thank you
 
It makes no sense to serve a station so far from the pax yard. It is like a mile or two or backup move. What purpose does it serve Amtrak to be there. Pax are not getting off at the new station to connect with American at MIA.
It may seem counterintuitive at first but I'd strongly prefer it if more Amtrak trains started calling at major airports. Mainly because that's where the vast majority of traveler related services are going to be located in most American cities. In many cases the airport is the only location where anything travel related is open when Amtrak pulls into town. It's not practical to take Amtrak to IAH but DFW might work and I've already transferred between LAUS and LAX several times. The FlyAway bus service is reasonably priced and practical but it would be great if it were possible to arrive at the airport by rail instead.
 
In a couple of months we have to get from the arriving Meteor to the car rental desks at the airport, what's the best method of doing this?

Thank you
The easiest way via public transportation is to get off Amtrak at Hollywood and transfer to a southbound Tri-Rail train which will take you to the Airport Station. Upon detraining Tri-Rail, board the MIA Mover to the Rental Car Center.
 
It makes no sense to serve a station so far from the pax yard. It is like a mile or two or backup move. What purpose does it serve Amtrak to be there. Pax are not getting off at the new station to connect with American at MIA.
It may seem counterintuitive at first but I'd strongly prefer it if more Amtrak trains started calling at major airports. Mainly because that's where the vast majority of traveler related services are going to be located in most American cities. In many cases the airport is the only location where anything travel related is open when Amtrak pulls into town. It's not practical to take Amtrak to IAH but DFW might work and I've already transferred between LAUS and LAX several times. The FlyAway bus service is reasonably priced and practical but it would be great if it were possible to arrive at the airport by rail instead.
There are so many missed opportunities.

If only, when DFW airport was first built for example, they had located the terminal buildings adjacent to the rail lines. Then establishing a station there at some later date would have been no big issue, and the Texas Eagle could call there. As it is now, having to catch two different buses, all within the grounds of the actual airport, discourages a large percentage of potential riders.

There are plenty of other examples of railroad tracks passing or coming very close to airport grounds, but the terminal being located so inconventiently as to prevent a rail service without having to invest big $$$ first.

Of course back then nobody could forsee the revival of rail transport. But just imagine if planners had been a bit more far sighted and at least made some allowance for the possibility.
 
I don't have a problem with railroads going into airports. Honestly, I like railroads from airports into the city centers they are associated with. But I'm not a huge proponent of flying into Orlando so I can take the train to Miami.

But back to the main point... Miami Airport DOES have an extensive intermodal operation, making that "last mile" even closer to travelers.

I understand the shortsightedness of the program management getting Amtrak to the airport. There much that could have been done properly, ie, restoring the WYE to turn the train, properly extending the platforms, etc.

But if the plan was to just stick their butt over the crossings during loading or unloading, the passenger can walk through the coaches to the platform and don't half to be unceremoniously dumped away from the platform onto the rocks below.

Of course, that's an inconvenience to sleeper passengers in the winter, and the go cart getting the baggage probably doesn't fare well on ballast.

So it looks to me that for now, Amtrak isn't doing anything to move there. I kissed wanted to see if that's the consensus grin those closer to the action.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk
 
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Thanks Brian, that looks like a very easy connection.

Have a dumb question though. Do TriRail and Amtrak use the same track and platforms at Hollywood?
 
Thanks Brian, that looks like a very easy connection.

Have a dumb question though. Do TriRail and Amtrak use the same track and platforms at Hollywood?
Yes
 
Quite simply, Amtrak should "just stay put" for any passenger convenience gained is more than offset by increased costs and operational disruptions.

Amtrak will have to pay another party for access to the Intermodal Center that they presently do not pay to access their own. The existing Miami station is "made for the convenience of the Operating Department", and no matter how much Marketing rants at now One Mass, saving additional expense is far more determinable than Marketing's dreams of additional Miami business.

Now let us consider disruption to FEC operations with eight additional "long train" moves over Iris X-ing. Yes, Tri-Rail goes over such many times a day, but those are three car "scoots" handling revenue passengers on each move. FEC already is making concessions to host additional passenger trains over their rails, as the connecting track through the NE quadrant of Iris is already built for the expectation that Tri-Rail will serve the AAF terminal - Miami Central.

Now let's consider passenger convenience. True, Mr. v.v. noted above that he and party will be arriving on 97 and plan to rent an auto at the IC. I could be mistaken, but most passengers are either going to be met by family or friends, or use taxicabs. For such meets, parking at the existing station is secure - and free. At the IC, secure yes, but hardly free. Taxicabs know when the trains are going to show up, and however absurdly expensive they are in Miami, will get fares.

All told, passenger convenience is questionable; the additional costs and potential to disrupt other railroad operations is quite determinable.

Amtrak, just stay put.
 
In a couple of months we have to get from the arriving Meteor to the car rental desks at the airport, what's the best method of doing this?

Thank you
The easiest way via public transportation is to get off Amtrak at Hollywood and transfer to a southbound Tri-Rail train which will take you to the Airport Station. Upon detraining Tri-Rail, board the MIA Mover to the Rental Car Center.
This is not quite accurate. The RCC is in the same facility as the Tri-Rail station, one does not need to board the MIA Mover if the destination is just the car rental desks. MIA Mover is for airline terminals.
 
In a couple of months we have to get from the arriving Meteor to the car rental desks at the airport, what's the best method of doing this?

Thank you
The easiest way via public transportation is to get off Amtrak at Hollywood and transfer to a southbound Tri-Rail train which will take you to the Airport Station. Upon detraining Tri-Rail, board the MIA Mover to the Rental Car Center.
Not quite. Once you get off Tri-Rail you don’t have to get on the MIA Mover. The rental car center and the train station are connected. Just follow the signs and head upstairs.
 
Thank you very much, I've got that now. Transferring trains at Hollywood couldn't be easier and arriving directly at the airport with either the car rental area or the light rail to the terminal is simplicity itself. Been pretty impressed with different Florida public transport systems in the last few years, good way to invest in the future.
 
Thank you very much, I've got that now. Transferring trains at Hollywood couldn't be easier and arriving directly at the airport with either the car rental area or the light rail to the terminal is simplicity itself. Been pretty impressed with different Florida public transport systems in the last few years, good way to invest in the future.
What are the TriRail schedules like at the time the Meteor and the Star come in? When we rode to Miami, the train was running an hour late, and the platform at Hollywood looked pretty dark and lonely. I don't think I'd like to wait there for a long time.
Also, how are TriRail cars with respect to handling luggage? Are there luggage racks, will the conductor help you haul your bag up from the low platform?
 
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MR, we have a long way to go before we get there but if you can wait until 1/2 April I'll post the answers for you
 
That sounds like an April Fools joke in the making.
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