While I’m a huge plane enthusiast, I can’t say that trains get me excited in the same way. However, as someone who lives in Florida, I do have an appreciation for Brightline, which is one of the coolest train services in the United States.
Brightline’s much anticipated expansion to Orlando will be happening in the coming months. I first wrote about this a few weeks ago, but tickets have gone on sale as of today, so I wanted to provide an update with everything we know. First a bit of background…
In this post:
What is Brightline?
The US isn’t exactly known for its great rail service, though Brightline is an exception. Brightline operates trains between Miami and West Palm Beach, with stops in Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, and Boca Raton.
Brightline used to be associated with Richard Branson and was going to be rebranded as Virgin Trains, but Brightline and Virgin cut ties in 2020. Brightline has for years been planning an ambitious expansion, which includes connections to Orlando, and eventually even to Tampa. This is pretty major, since it will greatly extend the distance that Brightline operates.
I reviewed the Brightline experience in 2019, and it’s so incredibly good that it’s hard to believe that this is in the US. The stations are gorgeous, the trains are new and well maintained, and the employees are consistently friendly.
For a reasonable premium you can typically book Premium, which is the equivalent of business class, and that gets you access to lounges, snacks and alcoholic drinks onboard, and more.
Brightline expanding to Orlando in summer 2023
Brightline has officially unveiled its new station in Orlando, with service expected to commence as of the summer of 2023.
Specifically, tickets are now on sale for journeys as of September 1, 2023. While Brightline is hoping to launch sooner than that, it seems that the company is being conservative with putting tickets on sale, which I appreciate.
So, what can we expect from this train connection?
- Brightline’s station in Orlando will be at Orlando International Airport (MCO), connected to Terminal C, and roughly 37,350 square feet; unfortunately there won’t be a stop at Walt Disney World, at least for the time being
- There will be 16 daily roundtrip trains between Orlando and Miami that operate hourly, with some services being nonstop, and some stopping at all stations
- Nonstop trains between the two markets will take 2hr59min, while trains stopping at all the stations will take 3hr30min
- One-way fares to & from Orlando will start at $79 for Smart, $149 for Premium, and there will be bundles whereby a family of four can travel together in Smart for $199
- Premium tickets will include complimentary meals, snacks, and beverages, while those things will be available for purchase for other passengers
This sounds exciting, but I’m skeptical
As a Miami resident I absolutely love the concept of Brightline. The passenger experience is fantastic, and it’s a joy to ride with the company. Furthermore, I’m convinced that Florida (and in particular South Florida) has the world’s worst drivers, so I’ll do anything to stay off the road.
If I were to travel to Orlando, I love the concept of taking Brightline, though practically speaking I’m not sure I see where the demand is supposed to come from:
- Florida is not like Amsterdam or Tokyo, and the reality is that most people want a car to get around, especially if you’re visiting Orlando; so even if Brightline can efficiently get you between two cities, it doesn’t change the need for a car
- While Brightline was initially supposed to have a connection to Walt Disney World, that’s no longer the case, and it poses a major issue; having the station in Orlando be at the airport is only ideal for those who have a flight out of there
- While I don’t think the ticket prices are unreasonable given the cost to operate, it still seems pricey for most; at best you’re paying $50 per person one-way (in a bundle of four), but most people are paying way more than that, so I imagine it’ll be rare that there are cost savings to taking the train vs. driving, unless you’re alone
- 16 daily trains is an incredible amount of service; it would appear that the capacity will be 239 people per train, so that’s nearly 4,000 seats in each direction every day, which is a lot
Honestly, I’m impressed that this Orlando service is actually happening, as I had my doubts. I hope the service succeeds, as the state of train travel in the United States is pretty bad for the most part. Therefore I don’t want to be “down” on this idea, but I also think that for an individual train service to succeed, there needs to be a bigger infrastructure investment. A train service is only so valuable when many people feel they need a car on both ends of their journey.
Bottom line
Brightline is launching service to Orlando as of the summer of 2023, with tickets now on sale for journeys as of September 1 (though the service should launch before then). We can expect 16 daily roundtrip journeys between Miami and Orlando, with the Orlando station being at the airport. Pricing will start at $79 one-way, though a family of four will be able to purchase a bundle that lowers the cost to under $50 per person.
This is a really cool new way to get between South Florida and Orlando, assuming you don’t feel like you need a car. I look forward to giving this service a try.
What do you make of Brightline’s Orlando expansion?
Looks like the parent company was bought by Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund. Hopefully they're in it for the long haul and not short ROI.
expect more opposition funded people crossing the tracks coincidentally just on time when a train passes through, no wonder why America cant have nice infra
Can a family of 3 pay $200 and buy family of 4 pkg?
I can't imagine there won't be future fill-in stations along the West Palm - Orlando routing. Indian River County is growing fast and a stop in Ft. Pierce or Vero Beach would be great. I can see Melbourne and Cape Canaveral stops too.
I don't know long term if this will be sustainable. Also, Disney is losing numbers between the outrageous pricing and their decision to become political Disney is losing it's luster. But Orlando has become a huge center of business otherwise. It's just that it's a 200 mile trip from Miami (albeit a not enjoyable one at certain times of the day), not to mention multiple flights.
Personally, I've used Brightline from Miami to West...
I don't know long term if this will be sustainable. Also, Disney is losing numbers between the outrageous pricing and their decision to become political Disney is losing it's luster. But Orlando has become a huge center of business otherwise. It's just that it's a 200 mile trip from Miami (albeit a not enjoyable one at certain times of the day), not to mention multiple flights.
Personally, I've used Brightline from Miami to West Palm, really like the experience, just not sure if it is viable long term. As far as cross country high speed rail that will only have been with open, no bars imminent domain and that realistically will never happen in this country.
In this case, I disagree. There's plenty of demand for HSR between South Florida and Orlando as well as Tampa/St. Pete. The traffic sucks, flying is a PITA, so you can just as easily save an hour or two by hopping Brightline to MCO and renting a car there. It's brilliant really,
And Brightline is quickly becoming popular in that WPB-MIA corridor. I have relatives there and they love Brightline. Oh, and they say (and I quote) that "Tri-Rail sucks".
I am a big avgeek as well and that's a big reason I read your site. But I LOVE trains and I sometimes wonder if I am not more of a railfan. Granted, in the US, there is little outlet for that unless you live in the NE, which I do not. But when I go to Europe, I look forward to my HSR trips than I do the transatlantic flight!
This summer we are...
I am a big avgeek as well and that's a big reason I read your site. But I LOVE trains and I sometimes wonder if I am not more of a railfan. Granted, in the US, there is little outlet for that unless you live in the NE, which I do not. But when I go to Europe, I look forward to my HSR trips than I do the transatlantic flight!
This summer we are booked in Air France's A350 business class R/T from Atlanta. I am certainly excited about that as it has the prospect of being the best business class experience I have had. However, we are also taking the TGV is premium class to Nice and then back from Avignon and I am completely geeked out over that. Nice is probably close to my breakpoint in flying distance, but I not once thought about flying. It was TGV all the way! (I would probably go further on the continent by rail should I need to except that my wife is a "I don't care how, just get me where I am going" type and she would not look favorably to many more hours of travel just so I can ride a train! In fact, I don't think she is all that interested in AF business class except to get on board and get to sleep!)
I don't have much "need" for Brightline from Orlando to Miami. However, the next time I head down the Miami for a football game, I am hopeful to fly to MCO and try Brightline, for nothing else but the experience. I took my first Amtrak overnight trip last year and LOVED it and I want to see where Brightline slots betwen Amtrak and European train experiences.
The US in general is car dependent, so it seems a little unfair to expect a private rail operator to solve this issue on their own when you talk about the fact people need cars at either end - the atrocious public transport the country has that means people need cars is a failure as a country.
I just took this train from a hotel in ft Lauderdale to West Palm Beach to fly out of PBI given a several hundred dollar difference in fares vs Miami or FLL all yesterday & today. Very nice & easy.
I could see it being a great combo for tourists doing a little parks and a little beach. And they should advertise it as such. At WPB a free community shuttle goes all around to hotels, beach, restaurants, etc so no specific need for a car after leaving Orlando.
The drive from Miami to Orlando is not horrible if you take the Turnpike.
And to answer the poster who asked about living in Florida right now, I am personally having a blast doing the things I like and ignoring the politics/media.
Not stopping at Port Canaveral/Cocoa is a huge mistake. They would generate tons of revenue from cruise passengers. Opportunity missed.
On the subject of florida how do you as a florida resident feel about living in the state right now given the radical bigoted actions the states political leaders are taking?
@Nb
It’s absolutely great! I’ve actually moved here due to the Florida and it’s leading politicians being based!
Minimum of ridiculous Covid limitations of freedom, Not giving in to the grooming lobbyists and cultural degenerates.
A truly marvelous place for heritage Americans!
"Grooming lobbyists and cultural degenerates" - far out. What does this even mean?
Cocoa and other coastal towns north of Palm Beach all fought against brightline for years. When they realized they had lost, they then begged for stations. Was too late at that point
Just did an Amtrak survey for sleeper trains.
Which reminds me, if they want trains to be profitable, they need to get Amish people down to Florida.
Doesn't make sense because of the time it takes to drive and the cost to drive. Also, what do people do when they get to their destination? Call an Uber? You mentioned in the article that the premium fare is not much more or a reasonably amount more than the economy fare but it appears almost double. For a three hour ride are you really caring about the snacks, drinks and seat?...
Predictable! I didn’t have any insider info when I commented on the February article “ That would be my guess… LV cafe, Dior or maybe even Cheval Blanc spa… keep it all in the LVMH family. They’re keen to build their ‘experiences’ business.”
My family either drives or flies from Ft Lauderdale to Orlando several times a year to visit the parks. We are looking forward to Brightline as an alternative and will definitely try it out as soon as tickets are available. I hope it will be a viable alternative for future trips.
When will liberals learn that the US is not Europe and (other than the Northeast) train travel is not practical for a country the size of the US?
It is pattetic the way they copy the Europeans.
It's obvious we don't copy the Europeans because, if we did, we'd have a functioning rail system...
If only the US would invest in its infrastructure, the country wouldn't look like the third world entity it is turning itself into. Take a trip abroad and see what there is beyond the US.
Train travel is practical in the US. The US is smaller than Europe and Europe makes it work in a bigger area. The US is a country Europe is a continent it is far bigger. China is a country similar size to US but has a far superior railway.
False. The US has the perfect geography and distribution of population to have two high speed railway corridors along the coasts, one from San Diego to Vancouver and one from Miami to Montreal/Toronto. Heck, unlike too densely settled central-western Europe, it even makes sense to build 600km/h MAGLEV there.
This is privately built without public money. Learn to research before you make automatic assumptions about what has and hasn't happened. Be excited for free enterprise.
People who appreciate train travel are "liberals". When did a mode of transport become a left/right culture war issue? And no one is suggesting a TGV from New York to San Francisco. The US has plenty of population centres close enough to one another to have a decent train network and alternative to the freeway.
The problem is that many people have a form of xenophobia known as "not-invented-here syndrome".
I am a little confused about the mention of the supposedly scrapped Disney World stop. Building out to there was never part of this phase, but of a future expansion. And the stop has in fact not been scrapped. What happened is that Disney cancelled their plan to work with Brightline to build a station directly on Disney property, because under new plans that also see Brightline serving Universal, the line won't go through Disney...
I am a little confused about the mention of the supposedly scrapped Disney World stop. Building out to there was never part of this phase, but of a future expansion. And the stop has in fact not been scrapped. What happened is that Disney cancelled their plan to work with Brightline to build a station directly on Disney property, because under new plans that also see Brightline serving Universal, the line won't go through Disney property. A future stop is still planned at Disney world, just not on their land.
I own properties in Miami, West Palm, Orlando, and Tampa. The ability to visit all of them in a single trip without having to spend hours in a car with the notoriously excellent Florida drivers is really appealing. I've been using the service between Miami and WPB for a while now and it's great, except when the train has a vehicle strike. I've experienced this and it's not a pleasant experience and the time it takes can wreck a busy meeting schedule.
This. Is. Awesome!
This means I can fly into Orlando, hang out at Disney World for a day or 2, train down to Miami, hang out at the beach for a few days, then fly home :). Well, it also helps that my son is a *huge* fan of rail traveling (seriously; light rail intra-city in Silicon Valley got him super excited, and he was swooping the entire time we rode the train from St....
This. Is. Awesome!
This means I can fly into Orlando, hang out at Disney World for a day or 2, train down to Miami, hang out at the beach for a few days, then fly home :). Well, it also helps that my son is a *huge* fan of rail traveling (seriously; light rail intra-city in Silicon Valley got him super excited, and he was swooping the entire time we rode the train from St. Paul to Chicago).
I do wonder if they plan for any round trip discount, since that would be sweet.
Brightline will have negotiated private ticket prices which will be lower and will appeal to the hundreds of thousands of foreign visitors that come to Florida every year.
It is possible that this will dramatically increase the feed to MCO and MIA and FLL airports as air passengers can "feed" into several major airports.
Brightline is also a clear financial success for the private sector while California will spend far more money and come...
Brightline will have negotiated private ticket prices which will be lower and will appeal to the hundreds of thousands of foreign visitors that come to Florida every year.
It is possible that this will dramatically increase the feed to MCO and MIA and FLL airports as air passengers can "feed" into several major airports.
Brightline is also a clear financial success for the private sector while California will spend far more money and come up with a much smaller and less useful network.
I live in Orlando and it's certainly a good addition but $79 each way is just not economical for most leisure travelers that reside in either city. Factor in high price of rental cars ($80+/day) it really doesn't make sense. Free or very cheap direct shuttles to theme parks and shopping areas would help. Otherwise that fare needs to be under $40 each way.
Who will take it at $79? Tourists who are flying...
I live in Orlando and it's certainly a good addition but $79 each way is just not economical for most leisure travelers that reside in either city. Factor in high price of rental cars ($80+/day) it really doesn't make sense. Free or very cheap direct shuttles to theme parks and shopping areas would help. Otherwise that fare needs to be under $40 each way.
Who will take it at $79? Tourists who are flying to one city and out of another, last minute airport customers (e.g. living in Orlando, but flying international out of MIA), business travelers between the 2 cities that used to fly or drive but will now consider train because it's on the company's tab, less hassle, and better travel time reliability.
The drive between Miami and Orlando is miserable. Heavy traffic and to Ben’s point, terrible Florida drivers. I’ll be taking the train over driving every time. Can’t say it’s really a cost or even a time saver, but definitely a stress saver.
Sixt is already at Terminal C adjacent to the station and more companies coming soon. That, combined with rideshare and connections to downtown make this fairly easy. I will say that hourly...
The drive between Miami and Orlando is miserable. Heavy traffic and to Ben’s point, terrible Florida drivers. I’ll be taking the train over driving every time. Can’t say it’s really a cost or even a time saver, but definitely a stress saver.
Sixt is already at Terminal C adjacent to the station and more companies coming soon. That, combined with rideshare and connections to downtown make this fairly easy. I will say that hourly frequency seems way too much, but I imagine that will sort itself out.
I'm glad to see this. One can fly between the airports though... Silver has tickets for under $60 each way frequently and Spirit you can get regularly for a dollars plus tax. The convention center stop will add more utility because as it is, the MCO connection is basically in the middle of nowhere. I've seen on some other blogs people bemoaning the price. I would pay the Premium price in a heartbeat for what...
I'm glad to see this. One can fly between the airports though... Silver has tickets for under $60 each way frequently and Spirit you can get regularly for a dollars plus tax. The convention center stop will add more utility because as it is, the MCO connection is basically in the middle of nowhere. I've seen on some other blogs people bemoaning the price. I would pay the Premium price in a heartbeat for what is offered - and the fact that it is productive time. I figure what my time is worth into my travel arrangements and also put a dollar value on frustration or lack thereof.
"and the reality is that most people want a car to get around, especially if you’re visiting Orlando"
I would guess the vast majority of people who fly into Orlando airport do NOT rent a car, and use shared rides to get to their hotel and between the parks.
This will also make it easier for a family to fly in from Europe is South America, spend a few days at the parks and add...
"and the reality is that most people want a car to get around, especially if you’re visiting Orlando"
I would guess the vast majority of people who fly into Orlando airport do NOT rent a car, and use shared rides to get to their hotel and between the parks.
This will also make it easier for a family to fly in from Europe is South America, spend a few days at the parks and add a Miami component to their trip without the hassle of a car rental or driving on an unfamiliar country
I would question the demand from Miami to Orlando, particularly as the train goes to the airport not any of the theme parts.
The Orlando extension is borderline pointless. It doesn’t save time or money and leaves you stuck at the airport. Wonder if they’ll provide free shuttles like they were doing in South Florida for the first few years
And just a reminder: Brightline is a real estate development play. They already owned the ROW and tons of land adjacent to it. The train itself will continue to hemorrhage money for years, meanwhile they’re making millions on...
The Orlando extension is borderline pointless. It doesn’t save time or money and leaves you stuck at the airport. Wonder if they’ll provide free shuttles like they were doing in South Florida for the first few years
And just a reminder: Brightline is a real estate development play. They already owned the ROW and tons of land adjacent to it. The train itself will continue to hemorrhage money for years, meanwhile they’re making millions on the real estate development around the stations. That’s how they make it work and why their model isn’t so easily replicated
Anyone who doesn't lead with the facts in your second paragraph is completely missing the point.
This is a very odd comment given that south Florida owes its existence to a railway real estate play by Henry Flagler’s Florida East coast Railway which is the progenitor to the company that owns Brightline.
This is how transport works, you build a link between two places and then make money by transporting goods and people between them. To do this you give them reasons to live and work by your hubs, if...
This is a very odd comment given that south Florida owes its existence to a railway real estate play by Henry Flagler’s Florida East coast Railway which is the progenitor to the company that owns Brightline.
This is how transport works, you build a link between two places and then make money by transporting goods and people between them. To do this you give them reasons to live and work by your hubs, if you own the land and build the homes and workplaces, so much the better.
I have exclusively been taking Brightline on my trips to Miami instead of driving since the Boca Raton station opened in December. It's not as cheap as typical commuter rail, but between tolls/gas/Miami parking, losing productivity sitting for hours in traffic, and the general pleasantness of the experience, it's well worth it
I was hoping for a bit shorter trip to Orlando (and I imagine they'll get the speeds up on the West Palm Beach...
I have exclusively been taking Brightline on my trips to Miami instead of driving since the Boca Raton station opened in December. It's not as cheap as typical commuter rail, but between tolls/gas/Miami parking, losing productivity sitting for hours in traffic, and the general pleasantness of the experience, it's well worth it
I was hoping for a bit shorter trip to Orlando (and I imagine they'll get the speeds up on the West Palm Beach - Orlando stretch before too long), but I see my wife and I using this to consider more international travel from MCO. I could definitely see situations where flying to Orlando and hopping a ~2 hour train to Boca that leaves directly from the airport makes more sense than connecting.
I hated trains when all I rode was Amtrak (not Acela and not even in the northeast). The passengers were uncouth and staff pompous.
Then I traveled to Europe and took the Thalys. I traveled to China and took the Gaotie. I became a train buff.
Amtrak is still better than flying because there is no that much security theatre (I do use amtrak for coast-to-coast travel)
Unless you're on the No Fly List, there is absolutely no reason to use Amtrak coast to coast. If TSA bothers you that much that you're willing to spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars and many days vs. hours just to avoid it then you probably should not be allowed on an airplane anyway. It's better for everyone that way.
While the Disney Springs stop was indeed cancelled when Disney pulled out of the project, there IS going to be connections to the convention and Universal areas. Not sure when those will open, but this will not ultimately just be an airport train -- you'll be able to take it all the way into convention and theme park areas, which I think greatly increases the potential utility.
https://www.disneytouristblog.com/brightline-train-to-disney-world-everything-we-know-opening-timeline-stops-more/
While the Disney Springs stop was indeed cancelled when Disney pulled out of the project, there IS going to be connections to the convention and Universal areas. Not sure when those will open, but this will not ultimately just be an airport train -- you'll be able to take it all the way into convention and theme park areas, which I think greatly increases the potential utility.
https://www.disneytouristblog.com/brightline-train-to-disney-world-everything-we-know-opening-timeline-stops-more/
There will be a stop close to Disney Springs but not directly on property (there is a sidewalk to walk onto Disney property.)
This is great news and a blueprint for the rest of the country on how to run proper train service. I took Brightline myself a few weeks ago and it's exceptional. There's nothing bad about this whatsoever. This country needs to embrace proper train service like hmmm idk, the rest of the world.
United States is too spread out, people are too attached to private cars, the airline lobby is dominant, the culture of individualism means we are all too good for one another to be sharing space onboard a train.
"The culture of individualism means we are all too good for one another to be sharing space onboard a train."
Every long distance train I have got to and from New York has been full or close to it.
Brightline is exactly the opposite of a blueprint for the rest of the US. Brightline is a real estate project, not a transportation project. It's owned by a freight rail company who is just trying to make money from the land they own in the downtown areas. They shut down for 2 years during covid. 2 years of no service. Did Amtrak shut down for 2 years? Did the NYC Subway stop running for 2...
Brightline is exactly the opposite of a blueprint for the rest of the US. Brightline is a real estate project, not a transportation project. It's owned by a freight rail company who is just trying to make money from the land they own in the downtown areas. They shut down for 2 years during covid. 2 years of no service. Did Amtrak shut down for 2 years? Did the NYC Subway stop running for 2 years? If you want reliable service it needs to be subsidized by the government, just like roads and airways. California with all its problems is leading the way with their high speed rail project, if only the Feds would chip in, we could get it finished much faster and show the country how it's really done.
Who cares. It works now and it's great. Brightline is also developing the LA to Vegas line as well. Something that's been rumored for over 2 whole decades and never materialized.
Victorville is not LA and the Vegas station will be south of the airport. What am I gonna do? Rent a car to drive to Victorville and then pay $100+ to have a train drop me off in the middle of I-15? How am I gonna get to my wraparound terrace suite at the Cosmo? $50 cab ride? Take the bus?! Sounds like a great plan to make tons of money.
What do you do in Orlando in general, assuming you dont want to do the theme parks? Is there anything else there? as far as train utility, Do you just rent a car when you get to the airport? I'm confused?
The main draw is the theme parks. Although, some other areas of note are a large convention center, several professional sports teams, and UCF (University of Central Florida).
As far as transport once you're there, yes you can rent a car, or use uber/taxi. Most people who visit the theme parks stay for several days and remain on park property, using shuttle service to get to/from their hotel, and do not use a car.
The thing about a station at Walt Disney World is even there you need a vehicle unless you are staying on-property in a Disney resort (and can then use their busses to get around).