A high-speed train was launched between Miami and Orlando: this is the first private railway line in the United States in 100 years

On September 22, the first serious test of whether private high-speed passenger rail could flourish in the United States began when Florida-based Brightline launched a 125 mph (200 km/h) train between Miami and Orlando. The publication told in more detail Seattle Times.

Photo: IStock

Brightline owner Fortress Investment Group has invested $5 billion in the belief that eventually 8 million people a year will make the 3,5-hour, 235-mile (378-kilometer) trip between the state's biggest tourist destinations, an increase of about 30 minutes less than the average travel time between the two cities.

The company offers tickets for $158 roundtrip in business class and $298 in first class, while families and groups can purchase four roundtrip tickets for $398. The train will make 32 trips daily.

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Brightline, which began operating neon-yellow trains on the 2018-mile (70 km) Miami-West Palm Beach route in 112, became the first privately owned intercity passenger company in the United States in a century. It is building a line connecting Southern California and Las Vegas, which it hopes to open in 2027, with trains traveling at speeds of up to 190 mph (305 kph). The only other high-speed line in the US is Amtrak's Acela line between Boston and Washington, which opened in 2000. Amtrak is owned by the federal government.

“This is a very important point, whether you look at it in the context of the state of Florida or what it could mean for similar products developing in other regions of the United States,” said Brightline CEO Mike Reininger. “The idea that my car is the only way to get where I need to go is being challenged by the new product. A new product that is safer and greener, has a great value proposition and is fun.”

Florida's biodiesel-powered trains will reach speeds of up to 79 mph (127 km/h) in urban areas, 110 mph (177 km/h) in less populated areas and 125 mph (200 km/h) ) in agricultural areas of central Florida. Brightline plans to potentially extend the route to Tampa and Jacksonville.

John Renne, director of the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions at Florida Atlantic University, says the Miami-Orlando corridor is an ideal location for high-speed rail: About 40 million Florida residents and visitors make the trip each year, more than 90% of them by car. .

If Brightline succeeds, it could lead to new high-speed lines between major cities 200 to 300 miles (320 to 480 kilometers) apart from both Brightline and competitors, he said.

“It's very exciting for South Florida to be a test bed for what can be seen as a new paradigm for transportation, especially high-speed rail, in the United States,” Renne noted.

Because Brightline is privately owned and profit-driven, it was more sensitive to completing the project quickly to save money. On the government side, Renne highlighted California's efforts to create a high-speed rail system. The project, approved by voters in 2008, is far from complete, has already cost billions of times more than expected, and the prospects for its completion are unclear because finding a route through the mountains has proven difficult.

However, Brightline's development encountered problems. Due to COVID-19, the Miami-West Palm Beach line was closed for 17 months. A partnership with Richard Branson's Virgin Group in 2018 to rebrand Brightline as Virgin Trains USA quickly fizzled out. In 2020, Brightline ended the partnership and Virgin filed a lawsuit in London. According to the lawsuit, Brightline claims that Virgin "has ceased to be a brand with a strong international reputation due primarily to issues related to the pandemic." The case is pending.

Human safety

In addition, the question arises about the safety of residents living near the tracks.

Brightline trains have the highest fatality rate in the United States: 98 people have died on them since the Miami-West Palm route began operating—about one person for every 32 miles (51,5 km) of travel, according to an Associated Press analysis of federal data started in 2019. The next largest railroad has a fatality every 130 miles (209,2 thousand km).

None of the deaths were found to be Brightline's fault - most of them were related to suicides, drivers driving at crossings or hitting pedestrians. The company has been without a fatality since June, the longest period outside of the pandemic shutdown.

Still, the number of deaths at the company is causing concern among officials working in the expansion area.

Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said a Brightline employee appeared callous during a recent meeting and seemed more concerned with explaining the procedure for getting passengers to their destinations after an accident than with how the company handled fatalities.

“They don't seem to have any empathy for our society. We're just standing in their way,” Flowers said. “It’s a cost of doing business for them to run over a few people.”

Brightline has taken steps it says improve safety, including adding security cameras near tracks, installing more secure crosswalks and pedestrian barriers, and posting signs about a suicide prevention hotline.

“We have invested heavily in infrastructure to ensure a safe corridor,” Reininger explained. “We continue to work literally every day with safety at the forefront of our minds.”

"The Value of Time"

Reininger said the bulk of Miami-Orlando's Brightline ridership will be those who travel the route regularly and those who stay home because they don't like driving. The main passengers will be families heading to Orlando's theme parks, as well as travelers attending clubs, concerts, sporting events and cruises in South Florida.

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The drive between Miami and Orlando takes about four hours each way on Florida's Turnpike, with round-trip fares ranging from $40 to $60. Gasoline costs between $50 and $80, plus vehicle wear and tear.

Reininger explained that his company's goal is to convince travelers that the amenities provided by trains are worth any additional expense.

“This is the value of your time,” Reininger emphasized. “The train gives you the opportunity to use your travel time in a variety of ways that you can't when you're behind the wheel.”

Robert Barr, who lives near Miami and publishes guides to South Florida destinations, has ridden Brightline to West Palm Beach and is looking forward to a trip to Orlando. He said conditions on Brightline trains "compared very well to some of the best trains" he's ridden in Europe, where high-speed rail service between cities is common.

“Comfortable seats and relatively quiet ride. Everything looks very modern,” Barr said.

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