MIAMI, Fla. — After an absence of about 20 months, Brightline service resumed between Miami and West Palm Beach, Fla., on Monday, with the passenger operator offering discount fares, gearing up its door-to-door service plan [see “‘Brightline+’ app to enable door-to-door trip ticketing,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 27, 2021].
Opening-day service was marred by a collision with a vehicle carrying a 71-year-old woman and her 1-year-old grandchild; the woman suffered broken bones but her injuries were not life-threatening; the child was unharmed. Brightline President Patrick Goddard was among the 53 people on board the train involved, heading to Fort Lauderdale for a press conference. The Miami Herald reports Goddard told the press conference that the accident was “a tragic reminder of what can happen in spite of grade crossings operating as they should, and our team operating as it should. This was an accident that was completely avoidable.” He said the passenger service has spent millions of dollars to improve crossing gates, signage, and safety messaging.
I rode it for the first time today, from Miami to Fort Lauderdale and back. I didn’t have time to go all of the way to WPB. The ride was actually free for using the app for the first time.
As soon as she heals, time for a vision and driver license
retest!
The driver “made a right turn and began heading southbound on the tracks,” according to the newspaper report. Gates were working properly, it says.