MIAMI — Brightline President Patrick Goddard announced Tuesday the company will resume hourly West Palm Beach-Miami trains in “the first half” of November, with the exact date still to be determined.
When service returns, Brightline plans a major innovation designed to create a seamless experience for passengers. The company is collaborating with software company lomob to launch a mobility app in which travelers utilize company-sponsored vehicles to and from Brightline stations.
“Our research revealed that the main friction point in train travel all over the world is getting to and from the station and then to their final destination,” Goddard says. “Technology has now enabled us to make those connections for people. At Brightline we are very much focused on the guest experience. We want to control that experience to the extent possible, which is why we are providing our own branded fleet of vehicles: a selection of private cars, shuttles, and for small short local trips, we’re looking at using electric golf carts.” He adds, “We are sizing the fleet to provide the service to all of our passengers.” It will be manned by private drivers.
PTC system changeover
Goddard revealed a primary reason revenue service cannot resume sooner is that Brightline and host railroad Florida East Coast must complete testing and receive Federal Railroad Administration certification of Wabtec’s Interoperable Electronic Train Management System version of positive train control. Trains News Wire has learned that installation is complete but the simulated service demonstration certification process is expected to continue into October.
Immediately after Brightline service was suspended in March 2020 because of the pandemic, the companies made the decision to replace Enhanced Automatic Train Control, a modification to FEC’s legacy ATC signal system with positive train control functionality that Brightline used to launch service in 2018, with I-ETMS. The Wabtec system had been selected for installation on the West Palm Beach-Orlando International Airport segment, now under construction. But the E-ATC components would have to be deactivated and replaced, and the new system cut over. This was a long, complicated process. Trains News Wire is preparing an in-depth report on the reasons why the switch was made.
Other developments
In other topics covered during Tuesday’s media briefing:
–Goddard says the Brightline is looking to hire 200 additional employees in the coming months; all will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
–The company is requiring travelers to comply with existing CDC guidelines, which presently demand that all passengers on public transportation wear masks, but it will not require passengers to be vaccinated
–Brightline is “investing significant capital” to prevent trespassing on its corridor. Initiatives include extra fencing, signage, grade crossing delineators and safety ambassadors, a partnership with the Waze navigation app to warn drivers of upcoming grade crossings. New pilot programs include red-light cameras that will automatically send tickets to drivers who circumvent grade crossing warnings and an infrared detection system to identify trespassers and warn trains. It is also relaunching the mobile barbershop “Buzz Box” visits offering free haircuts in neighborhoods along the route.
–“Channelization” and an “autonomous market” is being implemented at stations to prevent groups of people congregating in confined areas. “The first-class service will be more of a self-serve model, more hygienic than buffets,” Goddard says.
–Construction continues on the new Brightline stations stops at Aventura and Boca Raton, with service to commence during the second half of 2022.
–The company plans to announce a “major partnership” at Miami Central. No date for Tri-Rail service sharing that facility has been set; it can’t happen until Brightline’s PTC system is certified and equipment is installed in Tri-Rail locomotives and cab cars.
—-Asked about possible changes in travel demand, Goddard was upbeat. “There are half a million new residents in South Florida … and an influx of companies coming into the market to do business. A lot of these people from other regions frankly might be more predisposed to train travel than Florida residents might be. This is the long game for us; as long as Florida continues to grow, we feel very resolute in our optimism,” he says.
A haircut in exchange for having to watch a “grade crossing safety film” sounds like a win-win to me and more than fair.
After the film the barber tries to sell you a time-share along the right-of-way.
For all trains entering a station track, those trains should be required to stop at the station and the gates should not go down until the train starts again. The Salt Lake City light rail uses this system and it prevents false crossing closures.
Brightline’s plan for “last mile” service seems brilliant — buses, Uber/Lyft cars and golf carts! If they can pull this off, it would be an answer to getting customers to the station so they can board the train.
I’m a little confused about how free haircuts would help improve safety at grade crossings. Will the customers be forced to watch a grade crossing safety film while getting their hair cut?
Amtrak already uses I-ETMS on it’s trains outside the NE Corridor and Michigan Line. So it shouldn’t be a problem.
Are there any new PTC – old PTC issues that would affect Amtrak coming into Miami Central?