The Phase 2 contracts were awarded on May 21 to Hubbard Construction Company, Wharton-Smith, The Middlesex Corporation, Granite and HSR Constructors. Virgin Trains USA currently operates a privately-owned service between Miami and West Palm Beach, but plans to extend this to Orlando and eventually Tampa. In April, the company received approval to raise $US 950m in debt to fund the Orlando extension. Construction of Phase 2 encompasses four zones, with zones one and two work, which includes the area of the Orlando International Airport and the Virgin Trains Maintenance Facility, beginning on May 21, while full-scale construction on zones three and four is “imminent.” Virgin Trains USA says the project will include the laying of 490,000 sleepers and transporting 2.13 million tonnes of granite and limestone. Additionally, approximately two million spikes and bolts will be hammered and put in place over the next 36 months. Zone one comprises approximately 28.3 hectares located 1.6km south of Orlando International Airport and will be overseen by Hubbard Construction Company and Wharton-Smith. Hubbard will mobilise in May to begin the extensive site preparation works, and Wharton Smith will follow with initiation of building construction activity in early 2020. Zone two is a 5.6km section in the heart of OIA. Middlesex’s scope of work will include clearing land, building drainage structures and pump stations, utility relocation, excavation and embankment, trench and bridge construction, track and signalling installation, and reconstruction of one of the airport interchanges. Zone three covers approximately 56.3km of new rail alignment following the Highway 528 corridor between OIA and Cocoa, where it will join the existing main line. Virgin Trains USA has contracted the Granite Construction Company for approximately 229,000 cubic meters of excavation, 4.1 million m3 of embankment fill, 80,000m2 of mechanically stabilised earth retaining wall, 30,400m of piling, 18 new bridges, three underpasses, drainage installations, track and signalization installation, and 96 track km of class VII rail construction. Zone four includes the upgrading of 207km of existing track between Cocoa and West Palm Beach from Class IV to Class VI, allowing trains to operate at up to 180km/h. Virgin Trains USA has awarded HSR Constructors, a joint venture between Herzog, Stacy and Witbeck and Railworks, a contract for the majority of the work within zone four, including the shift of 90km of existing track, the construction of 160km of new Class VI track within the existing right-of-way, the rehabilitation of 45km of existing passing loops, the installation of approximately 40 new turnouts and crossovers and relocation of another 40, the relocation of fibre duct parallel to the right-of-way, the installation of new signal systems including Positive Train Control, the construction of a second main track, modification/replacement of surfaces and the upgrade of crossing signal protection at 155 locations, and the replacement of 19 bridges. Trains are due to begin operating between South Florida and Orlando in 2022. For detailed information on rail projects around the world, subscribe to IRJ Pro.
