Chris Chmura, FOX 13, here in Tampa reports: British billionaire Richard Branson, whose trendy airline Virgin Atlantic glamorized air travel, has entered the bidding to build the high speed rail line linking Orlando and Tampa.

The rail line will be the first in the U.S.

News of Virgin’s bid was published in Britain early Tuesday. Florida rail planners on Monday said eight companies were in the running.

Virgin already operates a UK rail company serving England and Scotland. Compared to the straightforward 80-mile-long Florida project, the firm’s current venture is downright complex — involving multiple lines and more than three dozen stations.

The Financial Times said Virgin will formally announce its bid for Florida’s high speed contract later this week.

It could make financial sense for Branson to tackle the bullet train project, seeing as how Virgin Atlantic Airways operates daily flights from Orlando International Airport, the eastern end of the rail line. Virgin Holidays often arranges for passengers ground transportation around Orlando — supplied by other vendors.

If marketed similarly, the rail would give tourists a cohesive Virgin experience — Edinburgh to London to Orlando to Tampa, by train, plane, and train.

Florida’s Passenger Rail Commission, which met in Tampa Monday, has hinted the state’s winning bidder might need to front hundreds of millions of dollars to reduce taxpayer outlay. So far, federal stimulus funding covers most, but not all, of the estimated $2.6 billion cost.

Governor-elect Rick Scott has said he could halt the project if it requires too much public subsidy.

The first train is planned for 2015.

FOX 13 photo

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/state/virgin-bids-to-build-high-speed-rail-between-tampa-and-orlando-11152010

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