AMTRAK, FLORIDA RACE AHEAD IN HIGH-SPEED RAIL

Two developments within a few days have dramatically revived hope that the United States may find the same high speed rail success as France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain and other nations already operating world-class intercity passenger systems. After several years of bleak news on the North American high speed rail front Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and a Florida system appear to be poised to leap ahead. Trains blazing along at 150 to 200 mph (241 to 322 km/h) may be here soon. Amtrak anticipates attracting some 3 million additional riders a year with a resulting $150 million in increase in new revenue. They expect the first high speed train to be ready to run by September 1999. If the present schedule holds, the Florida system will open in 2004 with the Miami-Orlando section, and in 2006 with the Tampa-Orlando leg. In all three cities, the system will tie into existing airports in true intermodal fashion.