Brightline Launches Rail Service Connecting Miami to Orlando

Brightline’s passenger rail service between Orlando and Miami has officially commenced with the first train completing the 235 mile journey on September 22, 2023. The first train, Bright Pink, arrived in Orlando at 11:05 a.m. and was greeted by more than 500 elected officials, business leaders, community partners and company leaders from across the state. The celebration put an exclamation point on the boldest private infrastructure project in the nation and marks the revitalization of Henry Flagler’s original vision for the Florida East Coast Railway. A decade in the making, Brightline’s launch is poised to reinvent train travel in America and offers a blueprint to connect city pairs that are too short to fly and too far to drive.

The start of service was celebrated at the Brightline Orlando Station with guests who joined Brightline’s Founder Wes Edens, CEO Mike Reininger and President Patrick Goddard. Upon the train's arrival, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer greeted guests on the platform and presented the Key to the City to Edens who was joined by Reininger, Goddard and other Brightline representatives. Officials from the Federal Railroad Administration, the Florida Department of Transportation, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, Central Florida Expressway Authority and more, were present to greet the first train.

Brightline launched operations in South Florida in 2018, connecting Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Stations in Boca Raton and Aventura opened last year. Construction on its 170 mile extension from West Palm Beach to Orlando began in 2019. The $6 billion project has generated substantial economic benefits in Florida creating 10,000 jobs and approximately $6.4 billion in direct economic impact to the region. Construction teams worked more than seven million hours over the course of four years to complete the project.

Brightline covers 235 miles between Miami and Orlando and the new route will take between 3 and 3.5 hours depending on South Florida station stops.

Brightline has quickly become known for its guest experience, innovative station design, spacious lounges and comfortable train sets. Designed by The Rockwell Group, and set with Brightline’s signature yellow, the stations are meticulously built through the lens of today’s modern traveler. All stations and trains are packed with amenities including Starlink Wifi, chargers and outlets at every seat, and a selection of food, beverage and cocktails available for purchase for SMART and complimentary for PREMIUM. Guests can enjoy a wide selection of light bites, beverages and cocktails throughout the day at one of Brightline’s signature in-station Mary Mary Bars or pick up last-minute gifts, sundries and refreshments at one of the MRKT shopping retail locations.

The new Brightline Orlando Station in partnership with Orlando Health, is located at MCO’s 37,350 square foot Train Station adjacent to its new Terminal C. This is the only intercity passenger rail station of its kind to be located in a U.S. airport and stands three-stories tall, including a 72,000 square feet platform area, making it the company’s largest train station. The Train Station connects directly to the airport’s Parking Garage C, which will have more than 350 parking spaces marked for Brightline guests. The Train Station provides direct access to the other airport terminals A and B via the airport Terminal Link (automated people mover) in under five minutes.

MiamiCentral is strategically located on an 11-acre complex in downtown Miami and represents Brightline’s southern flagship terminus. MiamiCentral is a unique live-work-play destination featuring luxury rental residences, commercial offices and dynamic retail and entertainment space. Guest’s looking to connect have a number of options including Brightline+, the Miami Metromover and Metrorail which are both connected to the station.

Brightline trainsets were made in partnership with Siemens Mobility in Sacramento, Calif. The stainless-steel coaches are made with components from more than 160 suppliers across 27 states. They are designed for luxury and comfort, featuring special ergonomic seating, contemporary communication systems and enhanced Wi-Fi. Thanks to wide aisles, wheelchair storage and fully accessible restrooms, the Venture trainset exceeds ADA requirements from end to end.

Brightline’s Orlando extension showcases engineering skill, cutting edge technology and design to create a transportation system that redefines intercity travel.

The Orlando expansion project included 56 bridges, including 18 new bridges, three underpasses, drainage installations, track and signalization installation and 60 track miles of new rail. Over the four years of construction, upgrades and improvements were made to three underpasses and 156 railroad crossings. Engineering of double track under active airport taxiways and tug roads and a new 35-mile rail alignment along the Beachline Expressway/SR 528, were also made.

The expansion to Orlando also included the development of Basecamp, a $100 million state-of-the-art train maintenance facility situated on 62-acres south of Orlando International Airport (MCO). The facility operates 24/7, servicing trains with skilled engineers, conductors, technicians and inspectors.

Brightline’s phase I and II construction along with the launch of service have and will have an indelible impact on the state's economy. Independent studies show the combination of construction and operations will generate more than 10,000 jobs, 2,000 permanent jobs and over $6.4 billion in direct economic impact to the state. The system is expected to have a major impact on Florida’s travel and workforce industries while bringing a sustainable transportation alternative. Environmental benefits are equally impressive and include reduced highway and city congestion and CO2 emissions by an estimated 72,000 metric tons per year. Studies show the system will remove more than three million cars from roadways each year.

In 2022, Brightline launched a concierge service to connect guests to and from stations with Brightline+. The mobility service, powered by the Brightline app, makes planning a trip with Brightline from start to finish seamless through its add-on options available within the booking platform. Ground transportation and mobility options at the Orlando Station will cater to the unique needs of the Orlando visitor with new Brightline+ products including MEARS shuttles, Uber rideshare and car rental options through Avis. Upon booking a Brightline ticket, guests will receive confirmation email and instructions on how to add extras, such as parking, checked baggage, and Brightline+ mobility options available closer to their trip date.

Brightline recently unveiled a new digital experience for guests featuring a redesigned website and native mobile app available for iOS and Android devices. The enhanced guest journey is driven by a cutting-edge backend system, modern and intuitive design, and multiple additional upgraded features. Introduced ahead of expanded service connecting Miami and Orlando, the new digital journey transforms the booking process into a fast, dependable and frictionless system.

Images via Brightline

Brightline+ Partners With Uber To Offer Rideshare At Brightline's 5 South Florida Train Stations

Brightline and Uber have entered into a new partnership that will make getting around South Florida seamless and convenient. The new collaboration will offer guests a familiar rideshare option integrated within Brightline’s app, making it easier to get to and from all of Brightline’s five South Florida stations. The partnership is designed to meet customer demand and enhance Brightline+, a mobility service that already includes airport shuttles, event shuttles and electric golf carts.

Brightline+ was launched in 2021 to make it easier for guests to access Brightline stations and their final destinations. The service has received rapid adoption with nearly one-third of Brightline riders using the service. A partnership with Uber will expand Brightline+’s fleet of mobility options and offer access to unlimited vehicles at an affordable rate. The partnership represents the first time Uber has linked directly to an intercity higher-speed rail service in the United States.

“It is critical to our guest experience that access to our stations is convenient and seamless,” said Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline. “This partnership meets our guests’ preferences and demands by unlocking an online fleet of vehicles to provide a door-to-door service when using Brightline.”

“Through this partnership with Brightline, Uber continues our work in complementing mass transportation and expanding transportation access in South Florida,” said Dmitriy Vanchugov, Head of Partnerships for Transit, Uber. “By making Uber easily available to Brightline users, we can together bridge first and last-mile gaps and bring shared mobility options under one roof, making it more convenient and accessible for customers.”

Guests can now add private or shared Uber rides when booking a train ticket all within the Brightline app or website. This new in-app booking capability is designed to eliminate guest wait times and ensure a ride is ready and waiting curbside to take them to their final destination. PREMIUM guests will receive complimentary rides within a five mile radius, while guests in SMART can add a ride to and from the station for a fee - without distance restrictions.

Brightline+ fixed-route and EV shuttles will continue to offer convenient walkup rides. Brightline+ fixed-route shuttles connect guests to Miami International Airport, destinations in Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport. Brightline+ continues to provide event shuttles and electric golf carts to top attractions in close proximity to its stations.

Brightline Reveals New Renderings Giving First Look Inside Its Future Orlando Station

Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail in America, is pulling back the curtain on Central Florida’s latest attraction, Brightline’s Orlando Station. Brightline has released a video and renderings of the future station, located at Orlando International Airport, that will connect millions and regionalize the state. The station spans three-stories, featuring groundbreaking design and a unique synthesis of luxury amenities that meet the demand of today’s modern traveler. Opening this year, Brightline’s Orlando Station will revolutionize train travel in America and continue Brightline’s vision of offering a guest-first travel experience.

The guest journey begins at the main entrance, located off the airport’s expansive two-story glass atrium. Once inside the station, passengers can purchase tickets from guest services or one of several self-service kiosks, and check luggage before proceeding through touchless turnstiles into the security screening area. Brightline is currently the only rail system in America that screens all passengers and bags prior to boarding.

“This world class train station continues our mission of transforming train travel in America,” said Patrick Goddard, president at Brightline. “We have carefully thought through each detail of this station to ensure that it exceeds the expectations of the modern traveler.”

The station takes the luxury amenities Brightline is known for to new heights featuring an upscale retail experience with convenient in-station shopping and its Mary Mary Bar, serving hand-crafted cocktails and lite bites. The signature sit-down bar is positioned at the far end of the station with a stunning panoramic view overlooking the train platform where guests can leisurely watch as trains arrive and depart the platform.

Located above the Mary Mary bar is an iconic, flip-flap message board that can rotate alphanumeric text and/or graphics to form a message. A nostalgic nod to historic train stations, the flip-flap will provide updated train schedules, boarding times, news of the day and other announcements complete with the flip-flap sound reminiscent of the first passenger train stations in America.

Passengers will access trains by escalator or elevators to the first level platform and board from one of two new track platforms. These platforms are 1,000 feet long and will accommodate a train with four coaches and two locomotives that will transport guests on the Orlando to Miami route in just over three hours.

Brightline offers two classes of service, SMART and PREMIUM. Brightline’s PREMIUM service, will provide complimentary drinks and snacks in a dedicated lounge and train coach. Throughout the station, all guests will have access to free high-speed Wi-Fi, charging stations at every seat, 87 big screen televisions and a children’s play area located in the SMART lounge.

The 37,350 square foot station is located in the heart of Orlando International Airport’s new 80,000 sq. ft. Terminal C and connects directly to the airport’s parking deck C, which will have more than 350 parking spaces reserved for Brightline guests. An automated people mover connects the terminal to the rest of the airport facilities including Terminal A and B in under five minutes.

Brightline’s Orlando station is designed by Bigtime Design Studios, an architecture firm based out of Miami, Florida, that also designed the newly opened Brightline stations in Boca Raton and Aventura, alongside the architect of record Sonny Fornoles of Borrelli + Partner. The buildout of the station is led by Orlando-based contractor Gomez Construction Co., a minority owned business whose headquarters are based in Orlando, Florida, and employs more than 100 workers on this project.

Brightline Opens New Stations In Aventura and Boca Raton

Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail in America, along with its partners in Boca Raton, Aventura and Miami-Dade County, celebrated the ribbon cutting of its Aventura and Boca Raton train stations. Congressman Carlos Gimenez and Mayors Daniella Levine Cava, Scott Singer and Howard Weinburg were joined by officials from the City of Boca, the City of Aventura, Miami-Dade County and Brightline executives to officially launch the highly-anticipated opening of the two new stations. The first day of service for Boca Raton and Aventura is December 21, 2022.

The ceremony commenced at the entrance of the Boca Raton station at 9 a.m. where city officials and media were welcomed with remarks by Brightline’s President Patrick Goddard, City of Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer, Florida State Senator Tina Polsky and Milton Segarra of Discover The Palm Beaches. The ceremony proceeded with a tour of the completed station and the inaugural ride from Boca Raton to Aventura.

The ceremony at Aventura began at noon with remarks by Brightline President Patrick Goddard, Congressman Carlos Gimenez, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, City of Aventura Mayor Howard Weinburg, former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman and Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust (CITT) Second Vice Chair Robert Wolfarth. The ribbon cutting ceremony was followed by a tour of the Aventura station and the inaugural ride from Aventura to MiamiCentral.

With the station openings of Aventura and Boca Raton, Brightline now has five stations in South Florida and will connect travelers to existing stations in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Both stations feature Brightline’s signature autonomous MRKT, SMART and PREMIUM lounges in addition to touchless turnstiles and free high-speed WiFi throughout the station and onboard the train.

Brightline Aventura Station

Brightline’s Aventura station is located at 19796 West Dixie Highway, Miami FL 33180. The Aventura station will allow guests congestion-free travel between all of Brightline’s stations with an estimated travel time to MiamiCentral of about 20 minutes. The station will also offer express service between Miami during the peak morning and evening hour commute periods, saving time and stress for commuters.

As part of the agreement with Miami-Dade Transit, Brightline guests will have access to discounted rides between Aventura and MiamiCentral through the Brightline website and app. Monthly commuter passes for travel between Aventura and MiamiCentral can be purchased at a discount at the Aventura station guest services desk. Starting in January 2023, discounted commuter passes will be available online or through the app. Brightline will reserve capacity on commuter trains for rides between Aventura and MiamiCentral up until 48 hours of train departures.

The 34,000 square foot station features 240 parking spaces, a bus drop-off for Miami-Dade Transit passengers, newly landscaped and hardscape areas and a pedestrian skybridge that transports guests from the vertical transportation towers to the train platform. Brightline is currently designing a new pedestrian bridge which will connect the platform to the Aventura Mall. Upon the station’s opening, Brightline will provide a complimentary bi-directional Brightline+ shuttle to Aventura Mall for guests. The shuttle will be available 14 hours of the day.

The Aventura station has been designed to LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Silver criteria as part of Brightline’s goals to reduce contribution to global climate change, enhance individual human health and protect water resources. These LEED Silver station design features include a solar canopy and installation of electric charging vehicles to reduce emissions and encourage clean transportation, a careful selection of materials to increase healthy indoor spaces and smart technology to reduce water use.

In October 2019, the Citizens' Independent Transportation Trust (CITT) passed a resolution to approve the property acquisition and development agreement between the County and Brightline. It also approved the use of $76.7 million of surtax dollars for the development of this project, which will serve the Northeast Corridor – one of six corridors in the Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Program.

“As Mayor of Miami-Dade County, I spearheaded efforts to alleviate traffic, expand connectivity, and provide more transportation options to our residents. The opening of the new Brightline Aventura station will allow our residents to shorten their commute time and travel comfortably in world-class trains. I look forward to continuing fighting in Congress to deliver much-needed traffic relief for my constituents.” Said Congressman Carlos Gimenez (FL-26)

“This station is an important piece of our plan to bring commuter rail service to the Northeast of our county. Miami-Dade's investment in this station finally brings a new, fast, and convenient connection that is our first important step in providing relief from traffic while slashing our carbon footprint from our transportation system – the largest contributor to climate change in Miami-Dade.” Said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

Brightline Boca Raton Station

Brightline’s Boca Raton station is located on a 1.8-acre site adjacent to the downtown library and across from Mizner Park and at 101 NW 4th St, Boca Raton, FL 33432. The 22,000 square foot station features a 455-space parking garage which will service Brightline’s guests and visitors to the library, who will have dedicated, covered, and complimentary spaces on the first floor. The station will also provide two complimentary, on-demand Brightline+ EV carts to destinations within downtown Boca Raton. Travel between Boca and MiamiCentral will be approximately 60 minutes.

“Boca Raton is thrilled to welcome Brightline to our community. This train station is a game changer for how our residents and businesses connect throughout South Florida and ultimately Orlando. It’s already spurring additional growth and economic opportunities. It’s a great day for the City of Boca Raton.” Said Mayor Scott Singer, City of Boca Raton

Partners in this project include the City of Boca Raton and Federal Railroad Administration that awarded Brightline and Boca $16.4 million for construction of the station.

“Multi-city inner-state travel just became much more attainable for locals and visitors to southeast Florida. With visitation forecasted to reach new heights this season, Brightline’s enhanced connectivity couldn’t come at a more fitting time. Brightline’s unique transportation offering, presents travelers ease of access into Palm Beach County’s two largest cities’ business/cultural downtown areas, and we can’t wait for new and returning visitors to try it out.” Said Jorge Pesquera, president and CEO for Discover The Palm Beaches- the official destination marketing organization for Palm Beach County

Station Travel Times, Parking + Passes (both stations)

Brightline’s initial schedules for Aventura and Boca are designed to optimize commuter patterns and will focus on peak morning and evening weekday service. During non-peak hours and weekends, Brightline will provide service approximately every other hour. Regular hourly service will continue in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and MiamiCentral. You can view a full schedule for Boca and Aventura here.

Parking options will be available at both stations upon opening with rates for Brightline guests starting at $7 and walk-up parking rates starting at $6 for up to an hour. Guests traveling from Aventura and Boca Raton stations will also have access to Brightline+ shuttle services offered to South Florida’s biggest games and events.

For guests looking to save on fares, a commuter SMART pass will be available for $229 per month. Passes for SHORT (2-leg) and LONG (4-leg) bookings will also be available for both SMART and PREMIUM. Miami-Aventura passes can be purchased in-person at the Aventura station and will become available for purchase online in early 2023 for $170 per month.

Brightline Gives A Sneak Peak Preview At The Nearly Completed Aventura Station

On November 2, 2022, Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail in America, along with Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman and City of Aventura Mayor Enid Weisman held a first look of the future Aventura station, which is set to open in weeks. County and city officials were joined by members of the media and the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust (CITT) as some of the first to preview the Aventura Station.

The event began at 10 a.m. with brief remarks by Brightline’s president, Patrick Goddard, followed by Commissioner Heyman, Mayor Weisman and CITT Second Vice Chairman Robert Wolfarth. The remarks were followed by a tour of the station and concluded with media interviews. The group was joined by city officials from the City of Aventura including the incoming commissioners and mayor, Howard Weinberg.

Located across from Aventura Mall, Brightline’s Aventura station, platform and vertical towers feature 34,000 square feet of space and an 860-foot center loaded platform located within the Florida East Coast Railway and Brightline right-of-way.

Brightline will provide frequent, express service from the Aventura station to downtown Miami during the peak morning commute period and return service during the evening rush hour period. Trip time between downtown Miami and Aventura is expected to take about 17 minutes. Miami-Dade County will offer subsidized fares for a percentage of riders between Aventura and MiamiCentral.

The station will include its signature autonomous MRKT, SMART and PREMIUM lounges and Brightline+ services. After passing through security, Brightline passengers will be able to access the skybridge from the passenger lounge utilizing an elevator or escalators to the vertical transportation towers. Brightline has also started the design of its east bridge that will connect the platform to Aventura Mall.

The Aventura station has been designed to LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Silver criteria as part of Brightline’s goals to reduce contribution to global climate change, enhance individual human health and protect water resources. These LEED Silver station design features include a solar canopy and installation of electric charging vehicles to reduce emissions and encourage clean transportation, a careful selection of materials to increase healthy indoor spaces and smart technology to reduce water use.

The Brightline Aventura station will be located at 19796 West Dixie Highway, Miami, FL 33180.

Brightline Tops Off Aventura Station With Placement of 131-Foot Long Pedestrian Skybridge

Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail in America, along with its contractor Lemartec, has topped off the Aventura Station. The topping off took place in the early morning hours of October 8 and consisted of putting into place a 131-foot long, 68-ton pedestrian skybridge on two 41-foot-high vertical transportation towers over a 90-minute period. Stretching across Harriet Tubman Highway (formally known as West Dixie Highway), the skybridge is the final piece of the Aventura station’s structure and connects the station to the platform. This topping off marks the completion of vertical construction.

“This topping off is a testament of our team’s dedication to bring the vision of connectivity to the Northeast Corridor,” said Patrick Goddard, president at Brightline. “Our partners at Miami-Dade County were an integral part of making this station a reality and bringing enhanced access to area residents.” 

Once completed, the 3.5-acre project consisting of the station and its surface parking lot will be Brightline’s fourth in the state, connecting travelers in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach, followed by Orlando in 2023. The site also features 240 parking spaces, a bus drop-off for Miami-Dade Transit passengers, and newly landscaped and hardscape areas. 

Located across from Aventura Mall, Brightline’s Aventura station, platform and vertical towers feature 34,000 square feet of space and an 860-foot center loaded platform located within the Florida East Coast Railway and Brightline right-of-way. The station will include its signature autonomous MRKT, SMART and PREMIUM lounges and Brightline+ services. After passing through security, Brightline passengers will be able to access the skybridge from the passenger lounge utilizing an elevator or escalators to the vertical transportation towers. 

“A tremendous amount of effort and energy went into what culminated in the lifting and setting of Aventura station’s pedestrian skybridge,” said Manny Garcia-Tunon, president at Lemartec. “With the help of Miami-Dade County and Florida East Coast Railway, Brightline and Lemartec were able to safely facilitate the coordination of this top off ensuring roads and railroads were clear.” 

“The topping off of the Aventura station brings us one step closer to increasing  mobility for northeast Miami Dade County,” said Mayor Daniella Levin Cava, Miami Dade County. “This station is an important component of my plan to enhance transportation options throughout the county, making it easier for our residents to go to work, school or leisure activities.”

“It is great to see the Aventura Brightline station closer to completion. This commuter stop in Aventura will not only help to alleviate road congestion but will connect a key community to four major downtown communities in South Florida and Orlando in 2023. The impact of this connectivity is vital for northeast Miami Dade County and its residents,” said Commissioner Sally A. Heyman, Miami-Dade County, District 4.

Brightline will provide frequent, express service from the Aventura station to downtown Miami during the peak morning commute period and return service during the evening rush hour period. Trip time between downtown Miami and Aventura is expected to take about 15 minutes.  Miami-Dade County will offer subsidized fares for a percentage of riders between Aventura and MiamiCentral. 

In October 2019, the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust (CITT) passed a resolution to approve the property acquisition and development agreement between the County and Brightline. It also approved the use of $76.7 million of surtax dollars for the development of this project, which will serve the Northeast Corridor – one of six corridors in the Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Plan. The $76 million investment made by Miami-Dade County has created more than 400 jobs during construction and will continue to generate significant economic benefit, including $90.8 million annually in economic impact and $2.7 billion over a 30-year period.

Brightline is expected to launch service to Aventura before the end of the year. The station is located at 19796 West Dixie Highway, Miami, FL 33180.

Brightline Completes First Major Construction Zone For Orlando Extension

Brightline has completed its first major construction zone (Zone 2) on its 170-mile extension from West Palm Beach to Orlando International Airport (OIA). One of four zones along this extension, Zone 2 is a 3.5-mile-long section on Brightline’s corridor leading into OIA and represents one of the most complex and challenging areas for construction in the entire project.

Brightline’s Zone 2 is an engineered double track that travels under active airport taxiways and over tug roads running through the heart of OIA. Brightline’s construction of this zone includes six bridges, two underpasses and several airport improvements, including a new traffic interchange configuration at Cargo Road, located north of the airport, and the airport’s first roundabout designed to assist with traffic flow. Additionally, the steel used throughout Zone 2 and throughout Brightline’s Orlando corridor extension is 100 percent recycled, American-made steel sourced from Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Beginning in 2023, Brightline trains will travel through the airport corridor at 35 miles-per-hour before heading east along SR 528 towards Cocoa where they will reach top speeds of 125 miles-per-hour. Trains traveling along Zone 2 will have access to the airport’s new Intermodal Terminal Facility and the Beachline Expressway/SR 528.

“Our construction through OIA presented one of the most complex construction efforts of this entire project and our successful completion is a testament to partnership, teamwork and out-of-the-box thinking,” said Michael Cegelis, executive vice president, development and construction for Brightline. “The collective efforts of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, The Middlesex Corporation and our team resulted in the first ever high-speed rail corridor in one of the busiest airports in the nation.”

“The completion of Zone 2 is a major milestone for the Brightline construction and engineering team as we continue to work towards the completion of the corridor to Orlando from West Palm Beach,” said Donald Jello, project manager at Brightline.

Brightline completed additional infrastructure on the project to accommodate future transportation options through the airport including embankment, bridge foundations at the tug roads, and a shared underpass at Cargo Rd. The project was constructed in partnership with The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA).

The Orlando extension is 70 percent complete and employs more than 1,300 daily construction workers and is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2022. The Middlesex Corporation, based in Orlando, served as general contractor, and constructed the corridor over 33 months through the work of over 100 employees who logged more than 419,000 hours.

Subcontractors on the project included Delta Railroad Construction, Inc. of Ashtabula, Ohio, HWR (a joint venture of Herzog and Railworks) of Melbourne, Florida, Sterling Enterprises, L.L.C. of Lake Helen, Florida, Transportation Systems Inc. of Orlando, Florida, G&C Welding Specialists of Sanford, Florida, Keller of Orlando, Florida, and Tierra, Inc. of Winter Garden, Florida. The track was constructed with American made recycled steel from Steel Dynamics North America Inc., in Ft. Wayne, Indiana and concrete ties manufactured by Rocla in its purpose-built plant in Ft. Pierce, FL. With Zone 2 now complete, Wabtec of Jacksonville, Florida will install Positive Train Control (PTC) under contract with Brightline.

In January of 2022, Brightline began daily crew training and qualifying test runs between West Palm Beach and Cocoa as part of its extension to Orlando. Over an eight-year period, Brightline’s corridor between Miami and Orlando will result in $6.4 billion in economic impact while creating more than 10,000 jobs. Brightline currently serves Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, with its expansion stations in Aventura and Boca Raton opening in fall of 2022.

Brightline And Disney Announce Plans To Build A Train Station In Walt Disney World Connecting To Orlando International Airport And Miami

Brightline has recently announced a plan to build a new train station at Walt Disney World in Orlando, connecting directly to Orlando International Airport and Miami. Brightline, who currently operates trains between Miami and West Palm Beach, has been seeking expansion to Orlando since launching in 2018. The next stop will be Orlando International Airport, expected to be completed by 2022, with future plans to extend to Walt Disney World. The new Disney station will open in the Disney Springs complex, a popular spot for dining and entertainment such as live music and shows. 

Millions of people visit Disney World every year. Brightline’s new train will make easy access for Disney tourists flying into Orlando International Airport, and also will allow visitors from Miami to travel directly to Disney World without a car for the first time. The train service from Miami to Orlando International Airport is on schedule to begin in 2022, but there is no set timeline for the Disney World station yet. Brightline is also currently working on engineering a future expansion to Tampa. The Brightline was developed by Florida East Coast Industries.

License Agreement Ends Between Brightline And Virgin Trains USA Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The partnership between Brightline and Virgin Trains has been terminated amid the COVID-19 pandemic and South Florida’s new commuter train service will go back to using the Brightline brand. The train service which runs between Downtown Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, has not run since March 25 and has laid off 250 employees. Virgin Trains USA was expected to make a minority investment into the Brightline train system which was set to complete their rebrand to Virgin Trains by mid-2020. Brightline and Virgin Trains had signed a Licensing Agreement in November 2018 although Brightline’s parent company, Fortress Investment Group, reportedly sent a termination notice in July of this year.

Meridiam Becomes Lead Investment Partner in Miami Beach Monorail Consortium’s Beach Corridor Plan

The Miami Beach Monorail Consortium has announced that the global infrastructure investment firm Meridiam has become the lead investment partner for the Consortium’s proposed mass transit monorail that would connect Downtown Miami and Miami Beach. The company, which has over $8 billion in assets under management across the globe, previously took over and completed the Port of Miami Tunnel project. The tunnel’s infrastructure required a workforce of 7,000 people, 83% of which came from the local community.

Over the past 30 years, studies have shown that the Interstate 395/MacArthur Causeway Beach Corridor is in need of a robust mass-transit solution that can benefit both visitors and regular commuters. The Miami Beach Monorail Consortium hopes to fulfill this public transit need for commuters and visitors alike with the County’s Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Beach Corridor plan. The Corridor, which runs from the Design District and Downtown Miami to the Miami Beach Convention Center area, has been identified as one of the six SMART Plan Corridors by Miami-Dade County’s Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), which are priority areas that need public mass transit. 

The Consortium presents the monorail as an innovative and modern model that will enhance Miami-Dade County’s standing as a smart city and alleviate traffic congestion on the MacArthur Causeway. The monorail is expected to create more efficient methods of transportation for Miami residents, while also generating thousands of jobs for its construction.

A Parsons study commissioned by Miami-Dade County estimates ridership for the monorail at more than 9,000 passengers per day and suggested elevated rubber tire technology as the best option to use for the Beach Corridor plan. These findings were later approved by Miami-Dade County’s TPO in December 2019.

“We are excited with the possibility of delivering another cutting-edge infrastructure project in Miami that will serve the community for decades to come,” said Jamie Rubin, CEO of Meridiam Infrastructure North America Corp. Meridiam is a founding member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Investment Partnership. “We have submitted a proposal that we hope meets all Miami-Dade County’s requirements to bring a much-needed public transit solution that will connect two of Miami’s most important hubs for residents, tourists and businesses. After the Port of Miami, it will be another sustainable and impactful infrastructure for Miami, dedicated to improving the quality of people’s lives”

“The success of the Port of Miami Tunnel would not have been possible without a strong partnership with hundreds of Miami companies with local knowledge,” said Christopher Hodgkins, Chief Executive Officer for Port of Miami Tunnel. “Meridiam can now utilize the expertise gained through the Tunnel project to once again hire local workers and companies who will help deliver the monorail safely and efficiently.” 

Meridiam joins existing Consortium partners Genting and Aqualand Development, which submitted an unsolicited proposal in 2019 that became the source for a public Request for Proposals (RFP) that is currently being conducted by the County. The Consortium has submitted a proposal with further details on its approach in response to that RFP.

By Isabella Zimmermann