Amtrak officials just told Sen. Bill Nelson they will not pursue high-speed rail in Florida. The reason: There's not enough time.

The company said it could not meet the April 4 deadline the federal government has given for applications for the $2.4 billion it had wanted to award the state before Gov. Rick Scott turned it away.

The news deals another setback to rail advocates who were hoping a coalition of local governments, including Tampa, Orlando, Lakeland and Miami, could attempt to win the funds to build an 84-mile line between Tampa and Orlando. (background here)

Now even Nelson, who pushed to buy Florida more time, says rail is dead.