The Palm Beach Post: Letters: All Aboard bears no resemblance to actual high-speed rail

In the Oct. 4 Post, Business Editor Antonio Fins writes “All Aboard refuses to be derailed.” He says this is being privately funded through bonds sold to the public. However, these bonds are tax-free, so doesn’t this constitute a government subsidy?

AAF is being advertised as “high-speed rail.” But “high-speed” conjures up images of sleek bullet trains traveling at over 200 mph, like in France and Japan. All Aboard Florida, as I have read, will attain its top speed of 125 mph after it heads inland from the coast toward Orlando.

High-speed rail also runs on dedicated tracks, not on the same tracks as slower-moving freight trains.

High-speed rail does not go through the center of densely populated areas. Additionally, the trains will be using 90-year-old drawbridges. This sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Every passenger rail service in the United States is subsidized by the government. What will make this one different? Will we be paying subsidies to AAF in three years, after it goes into service? If there was a demand for direct rail service from Miami to Orlando, wouldn’t Amtrak be providing this?

We already have Tri-Rail providing service to Miami from Palm Beach County. I don’t understand why every community along coastal South Florida isn’t fighting this like the communities on the Treasure Coast.

DAVID OGDEN, BOYNTON BEACH