SunRail "Train to the Plane" is a good idea, but...

We really like SunRail’s “Train to the Plane” campaign to encourage more people to use the commuter train to reach Orlando International Airport.

Lynx bus 111 is pretty much a straight shot to the airport from the SunRail Sand Lake Road station. It’s less than 10 minutes between the train station and the airport terminal. Plus, you can get a free transfer from SunRail to ride the Lynx bus. That’s a pretty sweet deal.

The only problem is the train.

SunRail is America’s “most inconvenient train”.

Between the morning and evening rush hours there are SunRail service gaps of up to 2 ½ hours. On weekdays, the last northbound train leaves Sand Lake Road at 9:15 p.m. Worst yet, SunRail DOES NOT run on weekends or holidays.

For a few travelers to and from the airport, SunRail might work – especially if they don’t encounter flight delays.

For most, it is risky to include SunRail in your airport travel plans.

The train’s schedule has been a fundamental problem for SunRail since it launched operations more than three years ago. No wonder fewer than 2,000 ride the train daily.

The elected local officials who serve on the SunRail Commission proposed creating a rail link that would carry SunRail riders into the airport.

In an interview last year, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer – who chaired the SunRail commission at that time – said once SunRail had a rail link to the airport the train would HAVE TO run more frequently and on a 7-days a week schedule.

Extending SunRail to OIA is called Phase 3. The last we heard, that project is expected to cost at least $200 million. (Phase 2 southbound to Poinciana is expected to be completed by summer 2018.)

Here’s a bulletin for you.

That mythical SunRail Phase 3 is not going to happen. Or at least it’s not going to happen any time soon, despite the fact a special terminal has already been built at the airport for SunRail and other non-existent rail services.

Airport terminal for non-existent trains

Based on what we have seen so far from the Trump administration, it’s unlikely the feds will fork over the money needed to build and equip that airport rail link. A proposed SunRail extension to DeLand also is unlikely to happen because money isn’t forthcoming.

Like the pundits say: Elections have consequences.

Regardless, we can still make the train to the plane link viable.

Lynx is already doing its part providing frequent bus service to the Sand Lake Road station.

SunRail needs to cough up the money to run the train at least 18 hours a day and on the weekends.

That’s what Tri-Rail (South Florida’s version of SunRail) did for 20 years. They used a combination of the train and a bus and it worked pretty good. In fact, it was only until 2015 that they completed a rail link to Miami International Airport.

Improving SunRail’s schedule is essential to its survival.

In case you didn’t know, the clock is running out on SunRail.

The Florida Department of Transportation is paying SunRail’s operating cost until the summer of 2021. Then those expenses become the responsibility of Orlando, and Orange, Osceola and Volusia counties. SunRail’s daily ridership – fewer than 2,000 – is so low that the cost of collecting fares is more than the amount brought in with fares. It’s not the train. It’s the fault of the awful schedule.

Do you think taxpayers will pick up an annual tab of nearly $30 million for a train that runs bankers’ hours and only Monday through Friday?

We don’t.

That’s why the schedule needs to be fixed, not just for the airport, but for all the destinations on the SunRail corridor.

Click here for more SunRail news.

Let's make a SunRail statement on Black Friday #RideBlkFri

What a difference a day makes.

One of the accompanying photos shows what the Sand Lake Road SunRail station looks like on a busy weekday during normal train operations. The other photo shows what the same station looks like on a weekend when the SunRail train isn’t running.

The SunRail bosses are currently conducting a rider survey and preparing a “white paper” report to determine if weekend service makes sense. They want to figure out how great the demand is for weekend and late-night service.

We know anyone reading this article can tell SunRail bosses the demand is huge. Instead of telling them, we (the riders) have a unique opportunity to demonstrate the gigantic demand for weekend service.

This coming Friday – the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 28) – is almost like a weekend day because many people have Black Friday off from work. SunRail will be running its normal schedule on Black Friday.

So make believe Black Friday is a Saturday, and let’s ride the train to the places we would visit if SunRail ran on Saturdays. We need everyone’s help to make a big impression on the SunRail bosses.

Everyone who usually rides needs to ride on Black Friday. You need to get all your friends, coworkers and neighbors who haven’t had a chance to check out SunRail to ride the train on Black Friday too.

We’re calling this campaign Ride Black Friday and when you ride we’re asking you to Tweet selfies and other photos with the #RideBlkFri hashtag. Post to your Facebook Page. Post to our Facebook page Sunrailriders-Florida.

Together we can make a big impression and have some fun.

Allow us to suggest a few destinations you might consider exploring when you ride SunRail on Black Friday.

·        Historic Downtown Sanford

·        Downtown Lake Mary

·        Park Avenue in Winter Park

·        Loch Haven Park cultural venues

·        Downtown Orlando

·        Beth’s Burger Bar

·        Orlando Brewing

·        Lucy Bleuz café

·        Bauern-Stube German restaurant

·        Oak Ridge Gun Range

·        Florida Mall

·        Artegon Marketplace (This just opened. It’s not your typical mall, check it out)

See you on the Rail.

Crooks hit SunRail parking lot

We’re really pissed off.

Sunday afternoon while visiting the SunRail station at Sand Lake Road we discovered that some dirtbag broke into three cars left in the station parking lot.

The crook smashed out the side window of three cars parked in one section of the parking lot. Keep in mind that SunRail warns drivers that they park at their own risk. Some people park cars in the lot to drive to their workplaces after they get off the train. Others use the lot to park their cars while flying out of nearby Orlando International Airport.

We just hope this sad experience won’t sour the riders on SunRail. What happened in the SunRail parking lot could have happened overnight in anyone’s driveway. Still, it makes us furious to see the damage caused by the low life crooks.

There were four other cars parked elsewhere in the lot that don’t seem to have been touched by the crooks. The section where the cars were burglarized is in a remote corner of the lot.

Going forward, we suggest that riders who park overnight and over the weekend leave their vehicles in the section near Orange Avenue, across from three 24-hour restaurants. Even parking there is no guarantee against crime, but crooks are like cockroaches. They hate light and the possibility that someone will spot them breaking into vehicles. We also hope that Orange County deputies make a note to patrol the lots over the weekend to scare off the lowlife crooks.

SunRailRiders -- The Party Train

     So one day in early June we were talking to a Seminole County business owner who remarked: “I don’t know about this SunRail thing. I don’t think it’s going to be successful.”

     I wish that naysayer could have been with us on June 25, 2014 when we boarded the Party Train.

      The Party Train is the second passenger coach of northbound SunRail train departing Sand Lake Road at 6:45 a.m.

      While there’s no disco ball hanging from the ceiling, it’s definitely a party. The eclectic group of passengers who ride in that coach every work day are lots of fun and laughs.

    In a little less than 2 months of riding together, the Party Train passengers, have formed their own community. There are about 20 of them. Most board at Sand Lake Road, but a few get on a little further up the line at Church Street and Lynx Central Station.

     They know each other by name, and look out to see who’s missing and who is running to get aboard. But it’s much more than that.

     They laugh and joke with each other and their favorite SunRail conductor. One recent morning the subject was the U.S. victory over Ghana in the World Cup. About half the riders explained the soccer rules and team standings to the other half who were still learning about the game.

       On another morning they discussed ideas for one rider’s upcoming wedding – color of the dress, cake design and music. And they’re even planning an onboard baby shower for another rider.

        Sometimes the discussions are just among seatmates. One rider confided that he is in recovery and sometimes discusses that issue with another rider who is facing similar challenges.

       The folks on the party train are much more than a group of strangers. They’re close friends, almost family. What a way to start the work day!

        It just goes to show you that SunRail is much more than a means of transportation. It’s become a way of life.

Formed any interesting groups during your SunRail ride? Send us a note at info@sunrailriders.com.