British transport group National Express is in discussions to become the operator of a $2.6bn high-speed rail route across Florida in the US.
National Express is in negotiations to join various potential consortia to operate the 84-mile link between Tampa and Orlando, for a 30-year period.
The winning bidder will design, build, operate and maintain the railway, which will include a stop at Walt Disney World in the first phase, according to The Guardian.
As the Florida link has already received $2bn, any remaining investment would be largely debt-funded.
Furthermore, Virgin Group has joined one of eight consortia bidding to operate the line, bidding for which is expected to open early next year, with completion planned for 2015, according to The Financial Times.
The second phase of the proposed link, a 240-mile line between Orlando and Miami, has received $8m for a feasibility study.
