ORLANDO, Fla. — Although a firm start date for Brightline’s Miami-Orlando revenue service has yet to be firmed up, the company used a Thursday grand opening event at its Orlando International Airport station to release more details about fares and how trains will operate.
Brightline says ticket sales will begin next month and revenue service will start this summer, pending Federal Railroad Administration certification and the completion of all necessary infrastructure improvements.
Station
Tracks and platforms have been complete for almost two years but the station interior build-out was only recently completed. Trains News Wire visited the 80,000 square-foot facility while it was under construction in February. Like the company’s MiamiCentral, it features an open seating area in front of a large “Mary Mary Bar” (named after Florida East Coast impresario Henry M. Flagler’s two wives). Large windows in the boarding area behind the bar offer views of the boarding platforms below.
Above the bar are video screens and a message board that produces flapping sounds when arrival and departure information is changed, thus notifying waiting passengers that their train may be boarding. Instead of stored train names and destinations common to analog versions pioneered by Italian manufacturer Solari, however, this digital version – custom-produced by the Oat Foundry of Philadelphia – can display any message.
As is the case with all Brightline stations, there is a separate lounge for Premium class passengers, but this station also features a conference room overlooking Orlando International’s Terminal Link automated people mover. There is also a “MRKT PLACE” retail shopping area for gifts and refreshments.
Schedule
Brightline will be offering 16 daily departures approximately every hour in a still-to-be-determined mix of non-stop and “regular” trains (stopping at West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and Aventura) from 5 a.m. to 8:50 p.m. southbound and 6:50 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. northbound. On weekends, the first northbound train leaves at 5:45 a.m.
Additional Miami-West Palm Beach trains will continue to serve morning rush and late-night customers, with the first West Palm Beach train leaving at 5 a.m. and last Miami departure at 12:45 a.m.
Non-stops are carded at 2 hours 59 minutes, and the all-stops have a running time of 3 hours, 30 minutes.
Fares
Though intermediate station pricing has not been revealed, one-way fares to and from Orlando will start at $79 in Smart class and $149 in Premium, with 2-1 seating, where meals, drinks, snacks, and checked baggage service is included. The company says it will offer a Smart fare bundle for families of four “for less than $199 one way.”
At launch, trains will continue to operate with three Smart coaches and one Premium coach, so presumably fares will fluctuate by departure as demand for a particular train increases or decreases. Siemens recently announced that Brightline’s inventory and reservation software will be upgraded to S3 Passenger, a ticketing system offered by Siemens subsidiary Sqills, that “will allow Brightline to optimally manage and maximize seat utilization for higher capacity and yields.”
The carrier has ordered another 10 coaches from Siemens, which are expected to be delivered in 2024.
Officials from Brightline, including president Patrick Goddard and CEO Mike Reininger, as well as representatives from Orlando, Orange, County, and the Greater Orlando Airport Authority attended Thursday’s ceremony.
It will be interesting to watch Brightline’s focus and battles on any future forward attempts to “cherry pick” lanes where patron density is the key to financial, non-governmental support success in the rail passenger market.
The “cherry pick” appears to be moving forward as Miami looks at buying the CSX tracks in the south metro. Brightline wants in because it is ripe for development around future stations. See the latest NewsWire article on it.
Brightline is the perfect example and blueprint of what passenger rail travel can become and hopefully will emerge when careful planning, design, construction and cooperation comes together to create a Class 1 railroad. At the moment, Brightline might be a small regional carrier but watch it grow and expand all across Florida and eventually be driving force behind a revival of passenger rail travel across the country. If and when Brightline West starts service in a few years and be just as sucessful as the Florida operation, it will be the start of a new rail revolution. Once Brightline begins operations between Orlando and Miami and eventually Tampa down the rails Amtrak will have some very serious competition in their back yard. Brightline The bright and shining light and future to passenger rail travel in America
Joseph C. Markfelder
I saw a Solari Board at TTN today. I didn’t know that they had one there.
Hoping they can eventually extend south a little bit too, at least as far as Florida City, even if it involves relaying track.
Matthew, see recent NewWire article on the possible purchase of the CSX tracks south of Miami. Brightline wants to be involved as well, your wish may come true!
As I scan the world, national, and local news each morning, my increasingly dark mood is reversed by these Brightline stories, which bring a smile to my face. All good, down to the nods to the past with “Mary Mary” and the digital Solari board.
With apologies to the Beatles, the “Long and Winding Road” is almost ready to lead to the door of progress. Many sharks were deftly embraced and avoided in the making of this remarkable journey.
Quite an impressive station. Wishing Brightline the best. I think they will do well, especially when they get through to Orlando.
Go Brightline!
Worth the trip to see (and hear) the Solari Board. Miss those.