Brightline Florida

A model for intercity regional rail

Issue in Brief

Showing how great American trains can be

Brightline recently launched a regional rail corridor linking Orlando and Miami. They are the fastest American trains outside the Northeast.

Key Takeaways

  • Brightline planned for success with hourly service from the start.
  • The shared-use section along the coast offers a new model for freight and passenger railroads to work together.
  • The new-construction east-west section was made possible by Florida’s offical high-speed rail plan.

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Corridor Basics

Type

  • 125-mph Passenger-Dedicated Line between Tampa, Orlando and Cocoa
  • 110-mph Shared-Use Line between Cocoa and Miami
An icon of a clock face with 6 hands.

Existing Service:

  • Hourly + departures Orlando – Miami

Expansion Status:

  • Brightline is planning extension to Tampa and working with local transit agencies to develop local regional rail for Orlando and Miami.

Our Proposal:

  • Expedite completion of the existing plans.
A row of ticket machines at the Brightline station in Orlando airport.

Just want to buy a ticket?

Please visit Brightline’s page to buy a ticket or reach customer service.  Then, come back and join us to advocate for trains like this across the country.

What can we learn from Brightline?

There are several important lessons that need to be repeated across the country.

Great customer experience

Hourly departures, great trains, and well-located stations are the keys to Brightline’s success.

Joint real estate development

Hourly departures, great trains, and well-located stations are the keys to Brightline’s success.

Close partnership with the freight railroad

Brightline invested heavily in new track, new signals, and safer grade crossings.

State planning

The Tampa – Orlando – Cocoa portion is made possible by an official high-speed rail plan from the 1990’s.

A map of Brightline Florida with existing and proposed stations.

The Brightline experience

Several features make the experience better than most U.S. train riders expect—starting with level boarding; assigned seating (through an excellent app); stations that are clean and bright, with good signage; and a checked baggage requirement for luggage over a certain size, to keep the aisles free of clutter.

A woman is looking at the departures board at a Brightline station. it shows hourly departures.

Hourly Departures

People travel for many different reasons, throughout the day. Hourly service gives you the flexibility to travel when you want.
The waiting room of the West Palm Beach, FL Brightline station is very inviting.

Comfortable stations

Stations are clean, bright, and inviting.
There is a bridge plate that extends from Brightline trains to fill the gap between the train and the platform.

Level boarding

Level boarding makes it easier for everyone to get on and off the train.  And, it reduces time spent spent in the station.
The interior of a Brightline coach

Comfortable Coaches

Wide aisles, plenty of legroom, and wide windows make the train a pleasure to ride.
Two passengers are sitting at a table on a Brightline train.

Optional Tables

There are several tables available if you are traveling with friends or would like to work.
The interior of a Brightline first-class car.

Premium Class

Premium Class offers wider seats and more legroom.

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Well-Located Stations

Brightline’s stations are close to the action.  In fact, they are walking distance from the courthouses in both Miami and West Palm Beach.  A sister company has developed multi-use high rises near the stations.

Brightline's West Palm Beach station is shown from above. A new high-rise is next door.
A new high-rise developed by Brightline’s sister company is located next to the West Palm Beach station.

First and last mile connectivity

With Brightline+ you can request a private ride, shared shuttle, or bike to take you anywhere within a five-mile radius of the station.

Brightline to Orlando Airport

Brightline’s main Orlando station is part of Orlando International Airport’s Terminal C.

It offer the most direct connection from an intercity rail line to an airport terminal in the United States. There is an easy connection to Terminals A and B via the elevated people mover system. This was made possible because Orlando International Airport included the railroad station and track access in its master plan, in concert with a state high-speed rail plan.

A drone shot looking down on the Brightline Orlando station from the north with two trains in the station.
The Brightline station at Orlando Airport is part of Terminal C.
The luggage rack on a Brightline coach.
The side of a Brightline coach along the right-of-way.
The bike rack on a Brightline coach.

The Brightline Business Model

Strong partnerships with the host railroad, local governments, and state agencies is critical.

A Phased Approach

Brightline is being built in phases combining a shared-use section along the coast and east-west segments dedicated to passenger trains.

Miami – West Palm Beach

  • 65-mile shared-use line with freight, 79-mph
  • To be shared with Tri-Rail commuter trains.
  • Opened 2018

West Palm Beach – Cocoa

  • 120-mile shared-use line with freight, 110-mph
  • Opened 2023

Cocoa – Orlando International Airport

  • 35-mile dedicated line, 125-mph
  • Opened 2023

Orlando International Airport – Tampa

  • 85-mile proposed dedicated line, 125-mph
  • A portion to be shared with Sun-Rail commuter trains.
  • Still in planning phases

A map of Brightline Florida with existing and proposed stations.
This Brightline map illustrates the three expansion phases of the line.

Joint Real Estate Development

Brightline’s sister company owns and is developing real estate near the new stations to capitalize on concentrated travel activity.  This, in turn, feeds more passengers to the railroad. The biggest example is Miami Central station which was built in conjunction with three high-rise buildings on the site of surface parking lots.

A Strong Partner with the FEC

Brightline’s success is built on its strong partnership with Florida East Coast Railway, which owns the tracks along the coast.  Brightline invested heavily in new track, new signals, and safer grade crossings.  They also pay the FEC well to use the tracks. A separate company, owned jointly by both railroads, ensures that both freight and passengers run on time.

A Brightline train is crossing a highway in southern Florida.
Brightline added a second track and improved grade crossings along the entire line.
A dude is using an IPad on a station platform wth a high-speed train in the background.

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