Tri Rail, But Not Me.

[VentureForth]

As I settle into my new life as a Floridian, I had an opportunity to take my kid and a friend of his to the Everglades for some swamp rompin' in an airboat.

Afterwards, I discovered his friend really wanted to ride a train. So I took them to Hialeah and "raced" them to West Palm.

Even with a ton of horrible Friday traffic on the 95, I beat them by 30 minutes.

One thing I was REALLY happy to see was a little dinette on Track 2! This was a permanent little stall with good HOT food and great prices.


Then after their arrival we went to the front of the station to see its formerly glorious fascade. Oh, lots of the platform is in dire disrepair with rusted canopies, etc. Sad, but happy to have seen what people saw nearly 100 years ago along the Seaboard.

 

[railiner]

That's my new "home station"...thanks for the pics!

 

[railiner]

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Even with a ton of horrible Friday traffic on the 95, I beat them by 30 minutes.

But I bet they had more fun than you did.

 

[VentureForth]

But I bet they had more fun than you did.

That, they did!! And I'm "onboard" with that. ☺

 

[blueman271]

As I settle into my new life as a Floridian, I had an opportunity to take my kid and a friend of his to the Everglades for some swamp rompin' in an airboat.

Afterwards, I discovered his friend really wanted to ride a train. So I took them to Hialeah and "raced" them to West Palm.

Even with a ton of horrible Friday traffic on the 95, I beat them by 30 minutes.

One thing I was REALLY happy to see was a little dinette on Track 2! This was a permanent little stall with good HOT food and great prices.
View attachment 22873View attachment 22872
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Then after their arrival we went to the front of the station to see its formerly glorious fascade. Oh, lots of the platform is in dire disrepair with rusted canopies, etc. Sad, but happy to have seen what people saw nearly 100 years ago along the Seaboard.
View attachment 22874

That restaurant has been around since the late nineties. I remember riding Tri-Rail with my dad when I was a teenager and that little restaurant, or some version of it, was there. Good to know it’s still around.

 

[Barb Stout]

Can a person get to the Everglades or do much there without a car?

 

[Palmetto]

N

Can a person get to the Everglades or do much there without a car?

No, and no.

 

[Barb Stout]

N


No, and no.

That's what I thought, but was somehow still hoping.

 

[neroden]

Can a person get to the Everglades or do much there without a car?

If you're a hiker, or have the right sort of small boat. Otherwise not.

 

[joelkfla]

Can a person get to the Everglades or do much there without a car?

Where a man can hide and never be found, and have no fear of the bayin' hound.
But he better keep movin' and don't stand still. If the 'skeeters don't get him then the 'gators will.
--- Kingston Trio, 1960

 

[Old MM]

What's the current status of the Tri-Rail and its bus shuttles? There seems to be conflicting info online. Reduced schedule, no airport shuttles?

 

[VentureForth]

Seemed to be a full schedule when we checked it out last Friday. I don't know about the bus shuttles, but Tri-Rail pulls right into Miami airport... Are you referring to the other airports along its route?

 

[Old MM]

Seemed to be a full schedule when we checked it out last Friday. I don't know about the bus shuttles, but Tri-Rail pulls right into Miami airport... Are you referring to the other airports along its route?

YES.. thank you. Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and West Palm in particular.

 

[chrsjrcj]

What's the current status of the Tri-Rail and its bus shuttles? There seems to be conflicting info online. Reduced schedule, no airport shuttles?

Only the Fort Lauderdale Airport shuttle is running. The other commuter shuttles have been replaced by $15 Uber vouchers.

Tri-Rail is running a mostly full schedule, but there are still a few trains annulled. Their website has the latest schedule.

Palm Tran and Miami Dade Transit are back to full service. Broward County Transit is running an enhanced Saturday schedule during the week for most routes.

 

[chrsjrcj]

YES.. thank you. Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and West Palm in particular.

Miami Airport is connected by a people mover.
Fort Lauderdale has a connecting shuttle bus.
West Palm Beach has been demoted to an Uber voucher (more info here Tri-Rail )

 

[blueman271]

That's what I thought, but was somehow still hoping.

In non-COVID times there are plenty of tour operators that run excursions to the Everglades from South Florida. This link Everglades Tours from Miami is an example of one. I’m not sure what the status of such tours are at this time.

 

[VentureForth]

Sadly, the paint on those old Bombardier cars are flaking pretty bad. Many could all use a trip to the paint or wrap shop.