All Aboard…the Casino Express?

A new passenger rail service projected to cost $1 billion is creating buzz of running trains beginning in 2015. All Aboard Florida, a wholly owned subsidiary of Florida East Coast Industries, is developing a privately owned, operated and maintained intercity passenger rail service that will run between Miami and Orlando.

A 40-mile spur is planned from Cocoa to Orlando International Airport. The Florida Department of Transportation issued a request for proposals to develop a rail line along State Road 528 and plans to choose one on Dec. 18. That means this private train would connect to Orlando International Airport, creating a direct link to Miami for tourists and business travelers.

However, there are more questions than answers at this stage of the project. To name a few, will East Coast Industries be able to generate the needed billion dollars in investments? Will passengers give up their cars to save one hour on the commute to South Florida? How much will tickets cost?

Despite the unknowns, All Aboard Florida does know a location for the Miami “Grand Central Station” envisioned for this line. Florida East Coast Industries controls more than nine acres on the west side of downtown that is currently used as surface parking lots next to a Miami-Dade Government Center.

It is known this is where All Aboard Florida wants their Miami station. Back in June, even Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Giminez jumped on board with it responding to a question asking what would be the best location. “It would have to be next to the government center,” he said.

And that’s what makes this whole project more interesting. This location is just blocks away from the Miami Herald site that Malaysian gambling giant Genting is hoping to develop into its mega casino resort. Genting has spent millions of dollars lobbying elected officials throughout Florida and is currently in negotiations with the state legislature as they revisit gambling in Florida.

Genting is now waiting for the state legislature’s planned two-year look at gambling with hopes that Florida will legalize destination casinos, allowing the company to build on the prime waterfront property. That would time the construction of the mega casino resort right in line with the opening of the new All Aboard Florida service, thus providing a direct train route to pull Central Florida tourists to the casino.

Walt Disney World and other Central Florida tourism interests may soon have issues with this proposal as it steams toward reality. Walt Disney World, whose four theme parks draw more than 45 million visitors a year to Orlando, has made preventing “destination” casinos a top priority. The Walt Disney Company is one of the most brand-protective companies and does not want to jeopardize its family-friendly reputation by any association with casinos. The company’s cruise line is the only major operator to sail ships without onboard casinos. Disney is also a major player in the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

Walt Disney World has “spoken to All Aboard Florida and are learning more about their proposal,” but does not know when they will have more from All Aboard Florida according to representatives. So one last question remains: where will Disney come down on the train? Will the potential uptick of South Florida tourist dollars outweigh a direct link to Genting Casinos?

All Aboard Florida could very well turn into the Casino Express ushering travelers and money right out of Orlando.