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 Brightline train at Southern Blvd in 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overview | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Service type | Higher-speedintercity rail | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | Florida, United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First service | January 13, 2018; 7 years ago (2018-01-13) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current operator(s) | Florida East Coast Industries | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ridership | 2,763,512 (2024)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | gobrightline.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Route | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini | Miami Orlando | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stops | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance travelled | 235 mi (378 km)[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average journey time | 3.5 hours | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service frequency | Hourly | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| On-board services | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class(es) |
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| Disabled access | Level boarding | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seating arrangements |
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| Catering facilities | At-seat service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Baggage facilities | Overhead racks, checked baggage available | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rolling stock |
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| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)standard gauge | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating speed |
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| Track owner(s) |
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Brightline (reporting markBLFX) is anintercity rail route in the United States that runs betweenMiami andOrlando,Florida. Part of the route runs on track owned and shared by theFlorida East Coast Railway.
Brightline is the only privately owned and operated intercity passenger railroad in the United States. Its development started in March 2012 asAll Aboard Florida byFlorida East Coast Industries, a Floridianreal estate developer owned byFortress Investment Group. Construction began in November 2014 and the route began revenue service in January 2018, initially betweenFort Lauderdale andWest Palm Beach; the Miami to Fort Lauderdale segment began revenue service in May of that year.Infill stations atAventura andBoca Raton opened in December 2022, and the West Palm Beach to Orlando segment began revenue service in September 2023.[4] Additional stops are being planned for the route.[5]
Brightline's maximum operating speed is 125 mph (200 km/h). Trains cover the 235-mile (378 km)[2] route in 3 hours and 25 minutes,[6] with an average speed of 69 mph (111 km/h).
In 2012, All Aboard Florida, a wholly owned subsidiary ofFlorida East Coast Industries (FECI), announced plans to operate passenger rail service betweenMiami andOrlando.[7] The construction was projected at the time to be $1.5 billion.[8] In March 2013, All Aboard Florida applied for a $1.6 billionRailroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan, which was administered by theFederal Railroad Administration,[9] and in late 2014, the company applied for a $1.75 billion private activity bond allocation, with proceeds from the bond sale substantially reducing or replacing entirely the amount of the RRIF loan request.[10]
The company received a Finding of No Significant Impact from the Federal Railroad Administration in January 2013, effectively clearing way for work to begin between Miami and West Palm Beach.[11] The Final Environmental Impact Statement was released on August 4, 2015.[12] By the beginning of 2015, the company had started site work at the Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach stations, plusright-of-way improvements along stretches of the corridor. On November 10, 2015, All Aboard Florida announced that the service would operate under the name Brightline.[13]
Service between Miami and West Palm Beach began on May 19, 2018.[14][15]
In September 2018, Brightline acquiredXpressWest, a private company that intends to connectLas Vegas,Nevada withSouthern California viaVictorville, California. Brightline announced the intent of purchasing 38 acres of land near theLas Vegas Strip for a station and following theInterstate 15 corridor from Las Vegas to Southern California.[16]
Two key counties on the coastal route north of the West Palm Beach station have, for various reasons, been fighting the extension of the rail line throughMartin andIndian River Counties in court. One of their objections is that Brightline is owned by a private corporation, so they should not be allowed to issue tax-exempt bonds as if they were a municipality. On December 24, 2018, after four years of legal battles,[17] a Federal District Judge threw out a suit by Indian River County that claimed the U.S. Department of Transportation improperly approved the bond allocation, clearing the way for construction of the new rail corridor through the Treasure Coast and Space Coast.[18][19][20] On October 5, 2020, the US Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal of that decision, ending Indian River County's efforts to stymie development. The county's efforts at a Supreme Court hearing were financed with over $200,000 in private donations in addition to over $4 million in County funds.[21]
In April 2019, the company secured $1.75 billion in funding for the Orlando extension and said construction would begin right away.[22][23][24]
In November 2018, it was announced thatVirgin Group would become a minority investor in the railroad and would provide rights to rebrand the service as Virgin Trains USA.[25] However, in August 2020, railroad managers announced that Virgin had not provided the agreed investment money and the company would be ending its branding deal, returning to the previous Brightline brand.[26][27][28] In March 2021, Virgin sued Brightline for $251.3 million because of the broken contract.[29][30] In October 2023, Virgin won the lawsuit and the judge awarded Virgin $115 million in damages.[31]
Construction began on the Miami–West Palm Beach section with the laying of new tracks and closure of the temporarysurface lots inGovernment Center,Downtown Miami, in mid-2014.[32] Preliminary work on the Miami station, such as site preparation and demolition, began later in the year.[33] Suffolk Construction was the general contractor for the Miami station.[34] Piles were being set on the four lots of MiamiCentral in early 2015.[35]
On October 29, 2014, work on the Fort Lauderdale station began with the demolition of existing buildings on the site.[36] A groundbreaking ceremony for the West Palm Beach station was held in November 2014.[37] Moss & Associates, of Fort Lauderdale, was the general contractor for the West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale stations.[38]
In January 2015, crews started replacing tracks throughout the corridor.[39][40] All Aboard Florida secured leasing of easement rights alongside theBeachline from theCentral Florida Expressway Authority for $1.4 million in December 2015.
Construction work on Phase 2, between West Palm Beach and Orlando, officially began in June 2019, with a groundbreaking ceremony atOrlando International Airport.[41] Preliminary work on the corridor began in September 2019, in the area ofJensen Beach andSebastian,[42] and began path clearing for construction of the Orlando–Cocoa portion in October of that year.[43]
As of May 2019[update], the contractors on the project were the Hubbard Construction Company, Wharton-Smith Inc., The Middlesex Corporation, Granite, and HSR Constructors. These five contractors are responsible for the development of 170 miles (270 km) of new track into the completed state-of-the-art intermodal facility located in the new South Terminal at the Orlando International Airport (MCO).[44]
In 2019, Brightline operations sent a letter to the city ofBoca Raton about the possibility of adding their city as aninfill station along the Florida route. Brightline proposed constructing the station and rail infrastructure while the city would cover access and zoning requirements and costs.[45] In December 2019, the formercommunity garden next to theBoca Raton Public Library was officially chosen as the site for the station.[46][47]
In October 2019, Miami-Dade County allocated $76 million to build a BrightlineAventura station by theAventura Mall inOjus, Florida, between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. At the time of the announcement, the projected opening date was October 2020.[48] Groundbreaking on the station occurred in September 2020.[49] On June 21, 2023, it was announced that construction was completed.[50][51][52][53][54][55][56]
Revenue service betweenFort Lauderdale andWest Palm Beach began on January 13, 2018.[57][58] Revenue service betweenMiami and Fort Lauderdale began on May 19, 2018.[14][15] The station inBoca Raton began service on December 21, 2022, while the station inAventura began service on December 24, 2022.[59][60] Revenue service between West Palm Beach andOrlando began on September 22, 2023.[4]
Brightline suspended operations on March 25, 2020, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[61] All train services ceased, and the company cut 250 jobs.[62] Construction north to Orlando continued, as well as plans for the stations in Aventura and Boca Raton.[63][64]
In January 2021, the company stated that service would begin again in "late 2021," contrary to their earlier estimate of thethird quarter of 2021. The company said that most station and operations staff would be brought back approximately 30–60 days before services resumed. Throughout January 2021 and May 2021, the trains ran occasionally with no passengers, in order to test an upgraded corridor between the West Palm Beach and Miami train stations.[62] Services resumed on November 8, 2021, between West Palm Beach and Miami.[65]
The route is made up of the following stations, from north to south:
| County | Station | Brightline in-service date | Time to Miami | Connections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange | Orlando | September 22, 2023[4] | 210 min |  Orlando International Airport Lynx: Links 11, 42, 51, 111, 311, 407, 436S SunRail Train to Plane: Link 111 Nonstop Express |
| Palm Beach | West Palm Beach | January 13, 2018 | 72–80 min |  Palm Tran: 1, 40, 41, The Bolt 1 Palm Trolley: Yellow Line Tri-Rail Commuter Connector: WPB-1 |
| Boca Raton | December 21, 2022[59] | 51 min | Palm Tran: 1, 94 | |
| Broward | Fort Lauderdale | January 13, 2018 | 30–33 min | Broward County Transit: 1, 6, 9, 10, 11, 14, 20, 22, 30, 31, 40, 50, 60, 81, 101(at Central Terminal)Sun Trolley: Downtown Link, Neighborhood Link, NW Community LinkTri-Rail Commuter Connector: FL-1, FL-3 |
| Miami-Dade | Aventura | December 24, 2022[60] | 17 min |  MetrobusBroward County Transit: 1, 28, 101(at Aventura Mall) |
| MiamiCentral | May 19, 2018[14][15] | – |  Metrorail: Green Line, Orange Line(atGovernment Center)Metromover: Omni Loop, Brickell Loop, Inner Loop(atGovernment Center)Metrobus: 2, 3, 7, 9, 11, 21, 51, 77, 93, 95, S (119), 120, 207, 208, 246, 277, 500Broward County Transit: 109, 110Miami Trolley: Coral WayTri-Rail |
As of September 2023[update], there are 18 daily round trips between Miami and West Palm Beach of which 16 cover the full route between Miami and Orlando. Roughly half of trains make all stops along the line, while the remainder skip Boca Raton station.[6]
During the first two and a half months of introductory service between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, ridership totaled 74,780, increasing from 17,800 in January to 32,900 in March 2018.[66] The company itself announced that the ridership has been triple what had been expected.[67] The forecast provided to bond investors calls for 240,000 passengers per month by 2020, which includes service to Miami,[68] and analyst Fitch Ratings has said that the company could break even at 56% of their ridership forecast.[67]
By the end of 2018, almost 600,000 passengers had ridden the train,[69] and the line welcomed its 1 millionth rider in August 2019.[70]
Service was suspended from March 2020 until November 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In August 2022, Brightline transported over 100,000 passengers. This was the first time it crossed the 100,000 passengers per month mark.[71] In December 2022, Brightline served over 183,000 riders.[72]
In April 2024 Brightline Florida carried 223,117 riders, which was an increase of 48% year over year.[73]
| Year | Ridership |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 579,005[74] |
| 2019 | 1,012,804[74] |
| 2020 | N/A |
| 2021 | 159,474[75] |
| 2022 | 1,230,494[75] |
| 2023 | 2,053,893[76] |
| 2024 | 2,763,512 |
| 2025 |
| Year 2024 | Ridership |
|---|---|
| January | 236,263 |
| February | 228,138 |
| March | 258,307 |
| April | 223,117 |
| May | 231,883 |
| July | 220,395 |
| August | 208,062 |
| September | 205,479 |
| October | 217,735 |
| November | 246,563 |
| December | 264,201 |
| Year to Date | 2,763,512 |
| Year 2025 | Ridership |
|---|---|
| January | 266,346 |
| February | |
| March | |
| April | |
| May | |
| July | |
| August | |
| September | |
| October | |
| November | |
| December | |
| Year to Date |
The five South Florida stations were designed bySkidmore, Owings & Merrill in association withZyscovich Architects.[77] Rockwell Group designed the interiors.[78] All of the Brightline stations have adjacent parking at a paid rate per day.[79]
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The downtown Miami station, known asMiamiCentral (not to be confused with Miami Central Station, now known asMiami Intermodal Center, nearMiami International Airport), spans 9 acres (3.6 ha) located just east of Miami-Dade County Hall and includes 3 million square feet (280,000 m2) of mixed-use development with residential, office and commercial, and a retail concourse. The station connects Brightline with the Metrorail, Metromover, Metrobus, City of Miami trolley, andTri-Rail systems.[80][81] This increases connections to activities and tourist destinations, including the Performing Arts Center, Bayside Market and Bayfront Park. Service to Miami began on May 19, 2018.[14][15] Tri-Rail service commenced in January 2024.[81]
The Aventura station is located on West Dixie Highway west of theAventura Mall inOjus, Florida. The station is 34,000 sq ft (3,200 m2) on a 3 acre site. There are 240 parking spaces at the Aventura station, as well as a Miami-Dade Transit bus drop-off.[82] Complimentary shuttle service is available to and from the mall. In the future, it will include another bridge that will connect the platform to Aventura Mall, and it will serve as the terminus of plannedNortheast Corridor Rapid Transit Projectcommuter rail service.
The Fort Lauderdale station is located at NW 2nd Avenue between Broward Boulevard and NW 4th Street. The four-acre station site has a 60,000 sq ft (5,600 m2) station and platform. The Brightline train service in Ft. Lauderdale connects to the Sun Trolley and Broward County Transit system.[83] Brightline also owns about three acres of land to the east of the Florida East Coast Railway corridor, where there are plans to build atransit-oriented development.[84]
The Boca Raton station is located next to theBoca Raton Public Library. The station is 22,000 sq ft (2,000 m2) on a 1.8-acre site across from Mizner Park. The station has access to a 455-space parking garage that will also provide dedicated free parking for library patrons.
The West Palm Beach station is located between Datura and Evernia Streets and to the west of South Quadrille Blvd. The two-acre station site has a 60,000 sq ft (5,600 m2) station and platform that connect with the neighborhood's existing vehicular, trolley and pedestrian networks and establish links to the Tri-Rail, Palm Tran Downtown Trolley andAmtrak West Palm Beach station.[85]
In 2017, the newOrlando International Airport Intermodal Terminal atOrlando International Airport was opened.[86] Brightline terminates at this station after the 170-mile (270 km) Orlando Extension track was built. Trains run up to 125 mph (200 km/h) with a travel time of approximately 3.5 hours from Orlando's airport to Miami.[87][88] The first test run of the Brightline train into Orlando station happened on May 17, 2022.[89] Revenue service began on September 22, 2023.[4]
As of September 2019[update], Brightline is in negotiations with theFlorida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to lease right-of-way along theInterstate 4 corridor.[90] Brightline was the only bidder to submit a proposal to construct an intercity rail line along Interstate 4, which has been designated for federally funded high-speed rail.[90] This would be utilized for an extension of the line from Orlando International Airport toTampa.[90] Potential stops along this route are theSunRailMeadow Woods station andLakeland.[90] The deadline for the negotiations between Central Florida Expressway Authority, FDOT, and Brightline was March 31, 2020.[91] In September 2020, the railroad entered into a memorandum of understanding with a local developer to potentially construct the terminal station inYbor City.[92]
In November 2020, Brightline andWalt Disney World Resort announced an agreement to build a station inDisney Springs as a part of its Tampa extension. The high-speed rail corridor between Disney Springs and Orlando International Airport was projected to cost $1 billion and travel alongsideFlorida State Road 417. As of 2021 the project had yet to secure needed funding, but passenger service was planned to start by 2026.[93] Then, on May 5, 2022,Universal Orlando offered 13 acres of land near the site whereUniversal Epic Universe is being built for a commuter station, as well as bond guarantees. This was claimed to promote construction of an extension of Brightline that would include a brief confluence withSunRail between SunRail's Meadow Woods and Pine Castle stations, and lead through Disney eventually to Tampa. They did not mention the existing proposal to run Brightline down SR 417 to Disney Springs, but it did suggest a future SunRail service to Epic Universe, theOrange County Convention Center, and Disney Springs.[94] On June 27, 2022, Disney announced that Brightline would not run on their Walt Disney World park property; however Brightline said it would still build a station near Disney World to get riders as close as possible.[95]
On March 4, 2024, Brightline officially announced that aninfill station on theTreasure Coast would be built inStuart. The current plan sees the station beginning service by 2028.[96][97]
On March 12, 2024, Brightline officially announced that aninfill station on theSpace Coast would be built inCocoa. The current plan sees the station beginning service by 2028.[98][99][100]
As part of the initial construction for Brightline, All Aboard Florida said it was considering an extension toJacksonville, Florida.[101] Brightline currently owns passengertrackage rights along the entire Florida East Coast Railway corridor, making the prospect of an expansion of Brightline to Jacksonville much simpler due to some of the existing rail infrastructure already in place. However, no commitment has been made in writing, as starting the development of the line to Tampa is the top priority for Brightline.[102]
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In 2020, it was revealed that Brightline and local governments were planning acommuter rail service to complement the existing Brightline service. Referred to as the Northeast Corridor,[103] trains would run between MiamiCentral and Aventura with five stations between.[103] Brightline and the Miami-Dade County Commission agreed to access fees in November 2020.[104] The estimated cost for full buildout of the line is $325 million.[103] Operations were expected to start as early as 2024.[105] By 2023, station locations had been identified and service frequencies for trains were expected to be every 30 to 60 minutes.[106]
In 2021, the Florida Department of Transportation and Broward County executed a memorandum of understanding to implement a passenger transportation system along the FEC corridor. Plans call for a 27-mile (43 km) commuter rail route starting at Aventura station in the south and running as far north as Deerfield Beach.[107] Service could start in 2028.[108]
It has also been proposed that the commuter service could go throughPalm Beach County if a deal is reached with the county, stopping at destinations such asDelray Beach and going as far north asJupiter, the latter of which has no passenger rail service.[109]
On September 18, 2018, Fortress Investment Group announced that it would acquire XpressWest, aventure capital proposal to build a privately funded high-speed rail passenger train fromApple Valley, California, toLas Vegas, Nevada, from hotel developerMarnell Corrao Associates.[110][111][112] When Fortress subsequently entered into its partnership with Virgin Group in 2019, it was announced that the newly formed consortium will build and operate XpressWest when it opens.[113] In September 2020, Fortress Investment Group renamed the project Brightline West.
Despite funding difficulties, Brightline West has secured $3 billion dollars from theBipartisan Infrastructure Law and $2.5 billion dollars ofprivate activity bonds from theUS Department of Transportation.[114][115] Construction for the 180-mile (290 km) long track started in April 22, 2024.[116] They plan on carrying passengers betweenLas Vegas andRancho Cucamonga with speeds of up to 200 mph (320 km/h) for an 85-minute trip. Trains on this line will be fully electric and run mostly in the median ofInterstate 15. Fortress'sWes Edens has stated that Brightline's service is modeled off ofEurostar's Paris-to-London commute. Its coach design includes white-and-blue interiors, roomy seating, and free Wi-Fi.[88]
Wes Edens has also expressed interest for Brightline in interviews during the Brightline West groundbreaking ceremony to connect other city pairings which are denoted by Brightline as "Too Long To Drive & Too Short To Fly", with the new "Brightline 2.0" model of utilizing Interstate land and medians to connect city pairs up. With Edens using example of city pairs such as:[117][118][119][120][121][122]
Other corridors have been shown on official Brightline "Too Long To Drive & Too Short To Fly" maps with more denoted corridors than mentioned above:
Upon full buildout of the Miami–Orlando route, trains operate at up to 79 mph (130 km/h) between Miami andWest Palm Beach, up to 110 mph (180 km/h) between West Palm Beach and Cocoa, and up to 125 mph (200 km/h) between Cocoa and the Orlando International Airport.[126] A future extension to Tampa from Orlando is in the planning stages. Originally, trains on this corridor would operate at up to 125 mph (200 km/h); but a maximum speed of 150 mph (240 km/h) has been reported more frequently as of 2024. Although unconfirmed, these speeds may potentially mean Brightline Tampa sharing similar infrastructure and rolling stock that will be seen withBrightline West.[127][128] It is one of the few rail services in the United States to approach the lowesthigh-speed rail standard set by theInternational Union of Railways of 200 km/h (125 mph).[129][130]
The travel time between Miami and Orlando is around3+1⁄2 hours.[131] Driving (without traffic) between the two takes3+1⁄2 hours using theFlorida's Turnpike, and3+3⁄4 hours using theI-95/SR 528 freeways along the planned train route via Cocoa. The flight time between MIA and MCO (Orlando International Airport) is 1 hour, though with the suggested 2 hour arrival at the airport prior to departure by airlines, the flight trip is around 3 hours (not including last mile transportation). InHigh speed rail in Europe and East Asia, the travel time at which rail starts to attract a significant sector of the rail/air travel sector is usually given as around four hours with rail becoming dominant over air travel at travel times below three hours.
As of 2024, trains travel at an overall average speed of 69 miles per hour (111 km/h), making the journey in about 3.5 hours. To meet the target 3-hour schedule, trains would have to operate with an overall average speed of 80 mph (130 km/h), which is similar to the overall average speed of theAmtrakAcela operating on theNortheast Corridor betweenNew York City andWashington, D.C.[132][133][134]
The project to connect Miami and Orlando called for more than $1.5 billion in upgrades to the rail corridor between Miami and Cocoa. The company double tracked the corridor, improved signaling systems, and upgraded everygrade crossing to meet the highest applicable safety standards set by FDOT and Federal Railroad Administration.[135][136] In January 2013, the Federal Railroad Administration issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Miami–Cocoa phase of the project, effectively clearing the way for work to begin.[137] Part of the corridor safety upgrades included installingpositive train control (PTC), which enhances Brightline's ability to monitor and control train movements safely.[138]
Responding to citizen concerns about increased noise from additional horns, the company stated that it will work with local communities to implement quiet zones where possible.[139] Federal law requires quiet zone requests to originate from the local authority that has jurisdiction over the roadway, not the railroad company.[140]
In August 2014, the company announced a partnership with the Broward and Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organizations to implement quiet zones between the city of Hallandale Beach and 15th Street in West Palm Beach.[141] In December 2014, the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization approved funding to construct quiet zones betweenPortMiami and the northern Miami-Dade County line.[142] The quiet zones were originally planned to be in place when Brightline would become operational between Miami and West Palm Beach by the end of 2017. Brightline started service on January 11, 2018, but various delays in constructing the quiet zones stretched their in-service date to sometime in March.[143]
On May 14, 2018, quiet zones went into effect in West Palm Beach, in Lake Worth on May 21 and in Boca Raton on May 30. The "no train horn" areas apply to all trains, freight and passenger.[144] Quiet Zones remove the legal duty of a train engineer to sound the horn. Train engineers do still use the horn in quiet zones for emergency situations (such as a trespasser fouling the tracks).[145]
The FEC rail corridor includes several fixed-span bridges that were replaced as part of the project. Most did not requireUnited States Coast Guard (USCG) permitting as they do not span significant navigable waterways and clearances did not change. Twelve other bridges—St. Johns River, Eau Gallie River, St. Sebastian River, Crane Creek, Turkey Creek, West Palm Beach Canal, Boynton Canal, Middle River (both the North and South Fork), Oleta River, Arch Creek and Hillsboro Canal— required permitting by the USCG. In addition, the project called for significant investment and upgrades to three movable bridges: St. Lucie, Loxahatchee, and New River. These improvements ensure that bridge mechanical systems for raising and lowering the bridge spans are either fully upgraded or replaced. The company has stated that, prior to it becoming operational, it would start to regularly notify mariners of scheduled bridge closings via the internet, smart phone application and countdown signage on the bridges to enable mariners to have real-time information to decrease wait times at each bridge. Also, the company would station a bridge tender at the New River bridge.[146]
Prior to the opening of service to Orlando, Brightline began asking municipalities around the St. Lucie River to support a potential federal grant to fund the replacement of the single-track rail bridge over the river with a new, raised double-track span.[147]
In January 2024, the Biden administration funded the construction of the bridge with a $130 million grant from the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) grant program.[148]
The line between Cocoa and Orlando is the only segment that did not have existing track or right-of-way owned by FEC. Originally, theCentral Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) believed it could accommodate building new tracks for the project within theBeachLine Expressway's 300-foot (91 m) wideright-of-way. This segment of the proposed line would operate at speeds of up to 125 mph (200 km/h).[149][150] Other high speed rail corridors have in the past been built next to highways as well – for example theCologne–Frankfurt high-speed rail line runs parallel to theA3 federal highway for more than half of its 180 kilometres (110 mi) length.
CFX began negotiations withDeseret Ranch, which owns the land just south of the BeachLine, to purchase additional land in order to widen the right-of-way. According to a pact made on July 16, 2013, CFX tentatively agreed to pay $12 million for an extra 200 ft (61 m) along the 22-mile (35 km)BeachLine corridor between Cocoa and Orlando International Airport.[151] In early October 2013, CFX and All Aboard Florida reached a formal purchase agreement for the land required for the right-of-way. Although construction was slated to originally begin in early 2015, construction of the segment started on May 22, 2019.[152][153]
Also in October 2013, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) board approved development of a station and maintenance facility on Orlando International Airport property, as well as an easement to build track between the station and the mainline to the coast.[154]
For the initial opening of the line, it is single tracked for most of the route, however all the bridges and infrastructure are designed for double track thus saving effort when upgrading.[155]
Brightline has two maintenance facilities. Their primary vehicle maintenance facility, Basecamp, is located near the Orlando International Airport and opened in early 2023 to commission and service trains prior to the beginning of service to Orlando.[156]
Brightline's secondary Running Repair Facility, workshop b, is located north of theWest Palm Beach station, and designed for maintenance and minor repair work that does not require the train to be removed from service. The facility includes a maintenance pit for accessing the underside of the trains and can handle up to four 10-car train sets.[157]
All Aboard Florida ordered five Siemens trainsets in 2014. Each Brightline trainset initially consisted of four 85-foot (26 m) longSiemens Venture passenger coaches, with aSiemens Charger SCB-40 diesel-electric locomotive on each end.[158][159] The coaches, with interiors designed by the LAB at Rockwell Group,[160] feature ergonomic seating, Wi-Fi, and level boarding, and meet ADA standards. Each trainset holds 248 passengers.[14] Working with All Aboard Florida, the LAB also conceived the Brightline name, brand platform, and visual identity.[161] The entire trainset, including passenger cars, were manufactured by Siemens in its solar-powered plant inFlorin, California. Brightline's plan originally called for the trainsets to be expanded to seven coaches, and five more complete trainsets would be purchased once the route to Orlando went into operation.[162][163] The first of five trainsets departed the Siemens factory on December 8, 2016,[164] and arrived in West Palm Beach on December 14.[165] The fifth trainset arrived in South Florida in October 2017.[166] The final of the additional five train sets for the Orlando service arrived in February 2023, with these train sets only having four coaches instead of the planned seven.[167]
The trains offer two classes of service, with one "Premium" coach and three "Smart" coaches on each trainset. "Premium" offers 2x1 and four-to-a-table seating with 50 21-inch (530 mm)-wide seats per car and complimentary snacks and beverages, while the slightly less expensive "Smart" fare coaches seat 66 with narrower 19-inch (480 mm)-wide seats, with snacks and beverages available for purchase.[168][169]
| Photo | Model | Year | Total | Nos. | Power | Weight | Seating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Siemens Charger SCB-40 locomotives | 2017 | 10 units[159] | 101-110 | 4,000 hp (3,000 kW)[170] | 267,000 lb (121,000 kg)[171] | n/a | |
| 2023 | 11 units[172] | 111-121 | n/a | |||||
| Siemens Venture trainsets | 2017 | 40 units (+30 future units) | 5 four-car trainsets[159] | 201-205 (Premium), 401-405, 431-440 (Smart) | unpowered | 112,000 lb (50,802 kg) per coach[173] | 248 (50Premium, 198Smart) per four-car trainset | |
| 2023 | 5 four-car trainsets[172] | 206-210 (Premium), 406-410, 441-450 (Smart) | 248 (50Premium, 198Smart) per four-car trainset | |||||
| 2025 | 30 cars in production to lengthen existing trainsets[174] | TBD | TBD | |||||
Due to havingrailroad crossings in built up areas, there have been numerous incidents of motorists, pedestrians and cyclists being on the tracks when a train passed, several of them resulting in fatalities. Over 100 deaths have been connected to Brightline operations since 2017.[175] According to AP analysis, as of February 2022, the train averaged one death per 35,000 miles (56,000 km) traveled, the highest rate in the nation.[176] A 27-year-old inPompano Beach and a 56-year-old inHollywood were killed in a two-day period in April 2022,[177][178] a viral video from April 2023 showed a Brightline locomotive colliding with a trailer of luxury cars,[179] and there was another fatality on September 28, 2023 just days after the line was extended to Orlando.[180][181] Three people were killed in two separate accidents on January 10 and 12, 2024 at the same crossing inMelbourne.[182][183] There have been no onboard fatalities as a consequence of accidents.
Law enforcement and federal reports found that the deaths were not caused by crew error or faulty equipment, but were all related to either suicides, or people trying to cross and beat the trains.[184] Outside railroad experts add that the problem lies with Floridians, used to trying to beat slower freight trains on the line, and not the new higher speed passenger trains.[185] In many other countries – for example, Germany[186] – level crossings are not allowed to exist where trains faster than 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) pass through, and in Japan – a nationvery heavily reliant on rail transport – lines with grade crossings are restricted to 80 miles per hour (130 km/h) maximum.[187]
By August 2024, more than 30 pedestrians and driver deaths had occurred in Palm Beach County since service began.[188]
On December 28, 2024, a Brightline service collided with a fire truck at a grade crossing near Delray Beach. Three firefighters and twelve passengers were injured.[189][190]
FECI envisions a three-hour trip between the cities at an average speed similar to the Acela between New York and Washington, DC... The initial 240-mile project between Orlando and downtown Miami is expected to cost $1 billion.
The 225 mile (362 km) New York Penn Station to Washington, DC takes 2 hours 48 minutes, an average of 80mph (129 km/h).
Media related toBrightline at Wikimedia Commons
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