Brightline service between Miami and Orlando opens

Brightline’s service now expands across 235 miles between Miami and Orlando, connecting the two cities in three to three and a half hours. 

 

Work to extend Brightline’s service 170 miles to Orlando began in June 2019 and was officially completed in June 2023. The project also included construction of Brightline’s $100-million maintenance facility, Basecamp, which provides 24/7 maintenance for Brightline’s trains and is situated on 62 acres south of the Orlando International Airport as well as 56 bridges, 156 level crossing upgrades and 60 miles of new track. 

 

Wes Edens, co-founder of Fortress Investment Group, owner of Brightline, is hopeful for the role of passenger rail in America - “Over the last century, America has perfected the automobile and pioneered space exploration, but we’ve barely budged in terms of passenger rail. Today is an historic event for Brightline and the state of Florida that represents a decade of hard work and determination. This moment also marks the beginning of a new industry and outlines a blueprint for expanding high-speed rail in America.' 

 

The rail service explains it has “bold plans to transform high-speed rail in the U.S. on the West Coast.” Its Brightline West project plans to connect Los Angeles and Las Vegas using fully electric trains that operate at 200 mph. The project is scheduled to break ground at the end of 2023 and is expected to “connect millions” of riders between the two cities annually.