Brightline, a model for the future

Timeline:

• 1976: Conrail founded from the remnants of Penn Central and Erie Lackawanna Railway
  
• 1994: Privatization of British Rail began under RailTrack
  
• 1997: Privatization of British Rail completed
• 1999: Privatization of Conrail
• 2002: RailTrack failed and Network Rail was founded with a monopoly on British railways
• 2005: Brightline West proposed
• 2008: S-Bahn Mitteldeutschland call for tender
• 2012: Brightline Florida announced plans to start operation on track they already owned
  
• 2013: S-Bahn Mitteldeutschland begins operating 802 km of service
• 2018: Brightline Florida starts operation in Greater Miami
• 2023: Brightline Florida starts operation to Orlando, all on track they already owned
• 2028: Brightline West plans to begin operation

 

Conrail lasted for 23 years and it was profitable when it was discontinued.

RailTrack lasted for a full 5 years of independent operation before it failed.

It took Brightline Florida 11 years to start operating on track they already own.

It will take Brightline West about 23 years to go from going out to bid to being in operation.

It took S-Bahn Mitteldeutschland 5 years to go from being out to bid to being in full operation with 802 km of service.

Private monopolies do not work.