Mayors from multiple cities in Central and South Florida gathered this week to celebrate the completion of construction of their new, high-speed railway that will transport passengers from Orlando to Miami in three hours.
On Wednesday, Brightline officials and mayors from multiple cities gathered to celebrate the completion of the company’s new railway. The completion paves the way for the launch of the daily, high-speed train service from Orlando to Miami later this summer.
“Completing this project is the culmination of more than a decade of dedication, determination and hard work. Our team has shown its relentless ability to navigate and overcome challenges to bring us where we are today,” said Brightline CEO Mike Reininger of the accomplishment.
Brightline is now the first private entity to create an intercity rail system since Henry Flagler built the railroad more than a century ago, according to company officials.
The company broke ground on its Orlando expansion in June 2019, one year after the company began operating routes between Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. In 2022, additional stations were opened in downtown Boca Raton and Aventura.
The project was a mammoth undertaking by the company. During the course of construction, 56 bridges and 3 underpasses were built, and over two million spikes and bolts were used. Over 150 crossings were updated and improved, and over 2.3 million tons of granite and limestone was transported by 20,000 railcars. Over 225 million pounds of 100% recycled American steel were used to construct the 170-mile stretch of railway.
Though construction started years ago on the project, the company has celebrated multiple milestones in the past several months, as construction drew to a close.
In May, Brightline began accepting reservations for its new Orlando station, which it unveiled during a ceremony in April. In March, the company unveiled its 138,000 square foot maintenance facility that will service trains at the Orlando International Airport.
The new service offers reservations beginning as early as 5 a.m. from Orlando to Miami, with tickets starting at $79 per passenger, each way. Tickets for children start at $39 per passenger, each way, and groups of four or more passengers will save an additional 25% on fares. Passengers will have access to a variety of amenities, including free Wi-Fi powered by Starlink.
The company says it is continuing to conduct high speed train tests throughout the corridor between West Palm Beach and Orlando. It plans to test up to 110 mph through Brevard County by next month.
For more details regarding the construction of the railway, visit the Brightline website.