Since Sunrail first rolled down trucks over a decade ago as a weekday commuter train, passengers have complained about why they don’t run frequently, are not available on weekends, and are unable to board Orlando International Airport despite high demand for such services.
On Thursday, the Central Florida Commuter Railroad Commission received responses on one of these wish lists. An eye-opening staff report showing Sun Rail trains will operate Saturday and Sunday shows that the Central Florida area will cost nearly $26.3 million per year.
In addition to that, Sunrail will need to spend an estimated $61.8 million to purchase three additional locomotives and CAB vehicles over the weekend.
“We have to educate residents that if you want to have something nice, you have to pay them,” said Luis Nieves-Ruiz, chairman of Sunrail’s customer advisory committee. “It’s difficult, but that’s the reality.”
Sunrail Chief Operating Officer Charles Heffinger estimated that the Sunrail Service generates between 4,600 and 9,500 trips. The average daily rider (or trip) from April to June was 5,184, a 13% jump a year ago.
But despite that estimate, board members of the committee wanted to know the relationship between costs and benefits of spending money to expand over the weekend.
“The answer to that is intertwined with knowing. How many cars are you taking off the road? Are we helping us move across the area and perhaps improving traffic congestion?” said board members and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.
The expansion of Sunrail Services will significantly increase operational costs. Board chair Seminole Commissioner Amy Lockhart said that for the Sunshine Corridor to become a reality, a proposed extension of the Sunrail from the airport to the Orange County Convention Centre and the theme park district – “We basically have to run almost 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
The Sun Rail train currently travels Monday through Friday along a 61-mile route between Poinciana in Osceola County and Deland in Borussia County, travelling downtown, Orange and Seminole counties in Orlando. The first train will greet passengers by 5:06am, and the last train will close at about 9:40pm.
Each government along the route will pitch the operating costs of Sunrail based on passenger travel and truck lengths in each jurisdiction. For example, Volusia will provide $5.4 million for this fiscal year. Seminole, $12.1 million. Osceola, $12.2 million. Orange, $15.3 million. Orlando $20 million.
Sunrail may offer weekend services during special events, but is generally paid by private companies.
For example, on July 4, the Sun Rail train closed nearly 5,000 passengers in downtown Orlando with a FIFA Club World Cup match at Camp World Stadium and a fireworks at the Fountain Show at Lake Eora Park. That special service was sponsored by the Orlando Downtown Development Board.
The Orlando drone show in downtown on a holiday last December captivated 6,300 Sunrail passenger trips.
Operating trains on Saturdays is not a cheap option, and Sunday costs an estimated $22.7 million per year, saving about $3.6 million in operating costs from weekend services.
Whether service is offered on Saturdays or weekends, additional employees will need to be hired to work on weekends. Additionally, Sunday Services may have fewer events than Saturdays, so service may be more limited.
However, Sunrail will require three additional locomotives to operate the train every weekend. This allows staff reports to switch new locomotives with current locomotives using current locomotives for daily maintenance and repair services.
Otherwise, the vehicle will not be able to be used for weekday service consistently, Heffinger said.
Sunrail can lease for around $3 million a year, instead of buying a new locomotive for $15 million each. According to the report, passenger cars with controls to pull the train from the other side of the locomotive and passenger cars with trains will each be purchased for $5.6 million.
“How would you suggest we pay for it?” Demings asked the staff at Sunrail.
John Tyler, district director of the Florida Department of Transport, said he runs Sunrail and “have multiple funding options” to buy locomotives and cars.
“However, operating costs are primarily borne by the local community and are supported by some additional federal government,” he said.
Board members and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said the sales tax referendum “is possible… I’m just throwing it.”
Lockhart said that if it was split into five local governments and supplemented with contributions from private organizations, the cost of weekend services would not be considered as high.
According to staff, revenue from ticket sales currently does not meet the costs of selling fares. Tickets range from $2 to $5 depending on the distance you travel. But that’s just a small portion of the cost of the ticket machine, and employees who help passengers buy tickets and collect fares.
“Sometimes we’re (broken), but most of the time, we’re not,” Heffinger said. However, he was unable to provide detailed ticket revenue and expenses to the board.
Board members and staff agreed to delve into more details about weekend service at workshops over the coming weeks.
