REDUCE SPEED TO NINETY.

Regular readers know there were a few spots along The Milwaukee Road that the Hiawatha could not safely exceed that speed.

Regular readers will therefore not be surprised that I was delighted to discover this.  Orlando's Sun-Sentinel is alerting readers to infrastructure construction that doesn't involve tax dollars.

Next month, motorists on S.R. 528 may notice earth work for rail corridor that will cross south Orange County through an area of state conservation lands and Deseret Ranches pasture.

Michael Cegelis, Virgin’s senior vice president for rail infrastructure, said the ride from Miami to Orlando will span three speed limits.

From Miami to West Palm, Virgin Trains will be limited to 79 mph.

From West Palm Beach to Cocoa, top speed will be 110 mph.

From Cocoa to Orlando International Airport, speed will vary slightly.

Cegelis said at Interstate 95, Virgin tracks will pass under S.R. 528 from its north side to its south side, a jog that will hold trains to 90 mph.

From I-95 to State Road 417, Virgin Trains will hug S.R. 528 – the Beachline – at 125 mph. Even motorists breaking the 70 mph speed limit on the adjoining expressway will be quickly overtaken by Virgin’s trains, company officials noted.

"Virgin" are the partners with Brightline. The trains will use existing Florida East Coast tracks as far as Cocoa Beach, and the area south of West Palm is thickly settled with lots of level crossings.  Thus "Free Rein to 110" is pretty good.  There's no reason to apologize for not running at Acela speeds.

Amtrak’s Acela Express between Washington D.C. and Boston advertises itself as capable of 150 mph, making it the nation’s fastest rail service. But Acela is hampered by an aging track corridor and doesn’t often reach that speed.

Virgin and Florida East Coast are demonstrating the value of diesel trains on existing track structures, as well as a less expensive line west to Orlando.