Sunday, March 30, 2014

SunRail--Almost Ready

Crews were finishing the SunRail platforms at the Winter Park station weeks before passenger service begins.  

In only a month, Central Florida's commuter rail system, SunRail, begins a "soft opening," with free rides offered for two weeks beginning May 1.

The Winter Park station is particularly well-done. The northbound platform integrates seamlessly into Central Park.

SunRail northbound platform--integrated nicely into Central Park.
Soon enough, we'll know how many people will ride SunRail despite the ridiculous half-hour headways between trains, the two hour headways mid-day, and lack of night and weekend service.  Link to the schedule HERE.  If I have a hearing downtown that ends at 10:00 AM, I won't wait for a train at 11:15 AM to return to Winter Park.

SunRail needs 15 minute headways during peak hours, half-hour headways during non-peak hours, service until midnight and on weekends, as well as a connection on the OUC tracks to Orlando International Airport to become convenient mass transit.

SunRail test run along the Orlando Urban Trail.