All Aboard Florida

THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION HELD A TOWN HALL MEETING ON FEB 23 TO DISCUSS BEST PRACTICES AND STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING HIGHWAY/RAIL GRADE CROSSING AND TRESPASSING INCIDENTS. Officials from Brightline, Florida East Coast Railway, South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, Amtrak and CSX were among those in attendance.

The FRA called the meeting because of concerns about the "recent spate of grade-crossing and pedestrian fatalities in South Florida."

Since Brightline has developed in South Florida, an alarming number of deaths and injuries at railroad crossings and along the tracks have occurred.

There have been nine fatal crashes since Brightline resumed its operations in November, and 57 since Brightline began tests in 2017, the worst per-mile fatality rate in the nation, according to an ongoing Associated Press analysis.

TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AFTER A BRIGHTLINE TRAIN COLLIDED WITH AN SUV IN MIAMI, reports 7News Miami.

According to a witness, the vehicle had been caught between the lowered guard rails before being struck by the train. Two of the three victims inside the vehicle were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. All three will be OK.

Another witness, Preston Pugh, said the accident reminded him of a close call of his own at that very same crossing.

ANOTHER PEDESTRIAN DIED IN HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A BRIGHTLINE TRAIN. The unnamed pedestrian died by suicide, according to sources close to the investigation.

This is one among other accidents that have occurred since Brightline services have been reopened.

Read the full article here.

The original article was published by Miami Herald.

BRIGHTLINE IS BEING SUED BY VIRGIN ENTERPRISES FOR OVER $251 MILLION BECAUSE BRIGHTLINE TERMINATED THEIR NAMING DEAL EARLY. Virgin is accusing Brightline of using the pandemic to get out of the 20-year deal.

According to the lawsuit, Brightline told Virgin that they were terminating the agreement because the "Virgin brand had ceased to constitute a brand of international high repute, largely because of matters to the pandemic."

THE RULE REQUIRING SPECIAL PERMITS TO TRANSPORT LNG ON TRAINS EXPIRED LAST YEAR, making it easier than ever to move it through heavily-populated areas such as Southern Florida.

Although LNG has lower emissions and costs compared to other fuel sources, a potential LNG explosion could "literally level several blocks-even a whole town." Lac Megantic, Canada, experienced a rail disaster in 2013, where 47 people died and 20 buildings were destroyed.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY COMMISSIONER LAURA MOSS SHOULD CANVASS HER COUNTY RESIDENTS INPUT ON HIGH-SPEED TRAINS, remarks Susan Mehiel, coordinator of the Alliance for Safe Trains, in a letter to the TC Palm.

"Thousands of people have supported regional train organizations over the years, contributed to our efforts and lobbied their elected officials to push the tracks west or follow the experts' recommendations for more safety features," Susan states. "We find it hard to imagine 32 trains a day going over 100 mph will be welcomed."

FORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP FAILS TO SELL PRIVATE ACTIVITY LOANS FOR A HIGH-SPEED PASSENGER BRIGHTLINE TRAIN FROM CALIFORNIA TO LAS VEGAS. Since the end of September, they had been marketing $3.2 billion before reducing the number to $2.4 billion. The project has now been postponed.

THE US SUPREME COURT DENIED INDIAN RIVER COUNTY'S APPEAL OF ITS LAWSUIT AGAINST BRIGHTLINE AND THE FRA. The ruling was announced Monday, ending a mark to the county's case.

County officials said that they had expected the ruling results. Indian River County Attorney Dylan Reingold said that they "knew it was going to be an uphill battle" and that they "are still pushing hard on all the safety requirements that would be needed."

Read more here.

PERSON DIED TUESDAY AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A SOUTHBOUND TRAIN, a St. Lucie County sheriff's official said. Fire District crews went to the incident around 10:45 a.m.

Read more here.

The original article was written by Will Greenlee of TC Palm.