Brightline completes Orlando extension, announces new route expansion
Brightline Rail Services has celebrated the completion of its extension to Orlando, marking the next milestone in the company’s plan to operate passenger trains servicing Miami to Orlando. The ceremony was attended by several mayors as well as Brightline officials, and construction teams. Notably, the new addition is the first intercity rail system to have been built in more than 100 years and could provide an economic boost of $6.4bn to the state of Florida, according to economic studies.
Brightline began working on the extension in June 2019, a year after starting operations between Miami and West Palm Beach. Additional stations opened in downtown Boca Raton and Aventura in 2022. The Orlando extension project includes a vehicle maintenance facility, tenant buildout of the Orlando station at Orlando International Airport, three underpasses, upgrades to 156 railroad crossings, and the construction of 56 bridges. The construction features two million spikes and bolts, 2.3 million tons of granite, limestone, and recycled American steel, six million cubic yards of rail embankment fill, and 450,000 concrete ties made in Fort Pierce.
Mayors attending the ceremony from the stops, among them, Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County and Orlando, spoke of the economic impact of the development on their communities. Mayor Scott Singer of Boca Raton stated, “Our residents and visitors have fully embraced passenger train travel and want more of it. Boca Raton is excited for service to launch to Orlando, and I applaud the Brightline team for being on the cusp of making it a reality.”
Despite the project’s completion, Brightline has yet to announce an official opening date. However, tickets are on sale for travel from September 1st through to early 2024, with one-way fares ranging from $79 for adults to $149 for premium tickets. Children’s fares will begin at $39, and discounts are offered for four or more tickets.
Brightline is continuing to test high-speed trains along the West Palm Beach to Orlando route, with tests set to reach 110 mph through Brevard County in July. In March, Brightline became the fastest train in Florida and the southeastern United States after reaching speeds of 130 mph. The accomplishment took place while Brightline conducted train testing along its new 35-mile dedicated rail corridor between Orlando International Airport and Cocoa. The new tracks were built along the Beachline Expressway/SR 528.
The completion of the project generated more than 10,000 jobs and is set to boost the Florida economy. Even as construction teams worked on the extension, they had to battle with the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain shortages, ultimately finishing the 170-mile corridor despite these difficulties. Despite the obstacles, Brightline has expressed the expectation of delivering 16 daily trips from Miami to Orlando once operations commence.
