I see that! People are not paying attention! Stay away from the tracks! Stay off the tracks!! You could be killed! Don’t playing around the tracks! Obviously, they’re breaking the law! They are not listening!

Unbelievable...a Brightline train hit a car carrier yesterday in the middle of that epic storm, destroying several cars:
https://www.local10.com/news/local/2...rain%20arrived.

It's almost like they need grade seperations or something.

Also you've got to love how the headlines read something like 'Brightline train slams into car carrier full of vehicles, causing big mess in Hollywood' instead of 'Car carrier causes Brightline collision, leading to big mess in Hollywood.'

I work in Hollywood and pick up my architectural plans across from this :(

Unfortunately there is no way to grade separate the tracks in many areas without tunneling or elevating the tracks as the tracks run through South Florida's most dense areas. There's also no way the State of Florida will pay for it (Mikey Mouse governor) and it's not a top priority enough to receive enough to receive federal funding.

I really wish Rick Scott didn't kill the original highspeed train plans that won the majority vote years ago.

Yes I'm painfully aware that grade seperations along the FEC are virtually impossible. You can't dig down because of the water table and limited access style overpasses over the tracks at every perpendicular artery would essentially create a berm wall along the entire coast. Not to mention the billions such an undertaking woukd cost. It was more of a rhetorical comment.

You can dig down, however, it's super expensive. The City of Fort Lauderdale is proposing a tunnel as we speak for the FEC tracks through downtown Fort Lauderdale in order to add commuter rail trains to the tracks that the Brightline runs on to replace this bridge ( https://goo.gl/maps/hReGEswMNuMqDHFS7 ) . There is also an existing tunnel for US-1 that goes under the New River ( https://goo.gl/maps/Rwe8ehYuaVX3jjz19 ) and a tunnel under Biscayne Bay in Miami ( https://goo.gl/maps/VoYPdDqoXQZWFGvP9 ).

So what you're telling us is Elon Musk's hyperloop for Fort Lauderdale probably won't work...?

It's the least of his problems...LOL

If he wanted to be helpful and make even more money with his "low cost" tunnels, then he should be pitching rail tunnels as he could be banking from the government with this project, North East Corridor tunnels, Bay tunnels, 2nd Avenue subway etc. At least have normal car traffic in those tunnels. Seems like he has an ulterior motive.

His proposals for a beach/downtown loop did nothing for citizens and was gimmick publicity stunt that us taxpayers are wasting money on:
https://www.local10.com/news/local/2...own-the-tubes/

Please please please let's not start talking about that dude...

The way he makes them low-cost is by purposely ignoring fire codes (NFPA 130, etc) and other regulations that are expensive to comply with. So far, in certain cities, they've just let him off the hook because of his star power.

I'm not saying his tunnels are unsafe, necessarily. Other countries have different approaches to safety that still work well. Arguably our codes for tunnels are very excessive and should be reined in, but then everyone could build cheaper tunnels, not just El*n.

One step closer!!!

Miami-to-Orlando: Brightline set to unveil Orlando station this week

https://www.local10.com/news/local/2...IFyP8MCaiCFxC8

Does anyone know what is the total qty of existing grade crossings between Miami and West Palm Beach?

I can't find anything on the net, but, I'm going assume 100+ through the metro. I live next to one of them and get to witness the foolery often :yes: Most of the accidents happen on the non-major crossings (smaller street crossings).

I'm not sure if it's that high but just about every single major thoroughfare in the metro has a Railroad grade crossing. The FEC tracks are literally a spine down the entire coast.

There's 15 alone between Broward Blvd and Commercial Blvd (3 are major streets), the area I live in.

Do accidents on non-major crossings are due to lack of gates and flashing lights? The videos shown earlier regarding trams shouldn’t really be comparable to an interurban railroad inside a metro area since I would expect gates should be a minimum requirement. I have a lot of experience driving in rural Texas where only passive warnings are implemented (ie. no gates) and it can be somehow deceiving specially during the nights and/or distractive driving. Appreciate the insight since I am not familiar with the details.

Brightline is a private company that is leasing the tracks from another private company (the South Florida portion). All crossings have signage, bells, and gates, however, South Florida has massive car traffic issues, an interesting population mix, and lack of infrastructure funding. Pedestrians can also just walk around the gates.

Brightline to start selling tickets to Orlando next month! Also, the Orlando Station was unveiled:
https://www.thenextmiami.com/brightl...arting-in-may/

Brightline has unveiled its Orlando station and announced pricing and schedules.

A one-way ticket between Miami and Orlando will start at $79, while premium seats will cost $149 and up.

There will also be bundles available for families of four, starting at under $199.

Ticket sales will launch in May, with service to begin in Summer 2023.

There will be express trains running non-stop between the two biggest stations, as well as regular trains that stop at all Brightline stations.

The express trains will take 2 hours and 59 minutes between Miami and Orlando.

Regular trains, which will stop at all Brightline stations including West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and Aventura will have a run time of three hours and 30 minutes.

Trains between Miami and Orlando will depart hourly from early morning until late at night. There will also be dedicated commuter trains still running between Miami and West Palm Beach.

Brightline’s 37,350 square foot Orlando station is now complete, and was shown to reporters this morning.

https://i.imgur.com/hEsosUj.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/dH84bl8.jpg

Thanks UrbanImpact for the updates and responses.

Today it's a big day! Finally! It's here!! Orlando Brightline station is opening!

https://www.local10.com/news/local/2...Cd_qAtFHyXl6BE

Here's a video from Orlando Brightline station.

• Video Link

Enjoy!

Demand For Brightline So High That It Just Earned A South Segment Profit: ‘Never Really Intended’
April 27, 2023

Brightline’s trains are in such high demand that the company’s South Segment was profitable on an operating basis for the first time ever last month, according to the company’s chairman.

“We never really intended to make money on that segment on a standalone basis,” Brightline chairman Wes Edens told CNBC.

“A year ago we did about 70,000 rides in March, this year we did about 170,000,” Edens said.

The South Segment includes train service operating between Downtown Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach.

https://www.thenextmiami.com/demand-...ally-intended/

*** It seems the addition of the new stations at Aventura (in northern Miami-Dade county) & Boca Raton has boosted ridership tremendously over the past year!

^ Station looks not bad.

I love following the news on Brightline. Mostly because I really hope this can spur other efforts in other parts of the country to replicate the success being shown here.

That Orlando station is beautiful. Congrats on a great new line and station that will serve Floridians.

Tampa is next! You’re next!

They will be approved in a few months or so.

Let’s do it!!

Much depends on the funding for the Sunshine corridor that will likely extend from OIA to Sand Lake, I-drive / convention center, and Disney-adjacent area. That is a collaboration with federal and state making it a bit more challenging as Brightline would not own that track section and would share with Sunrail.

https://www.bizjournals.com/southflo...__x2zA3TEOEPvA

These are the cities pushing for the next Brightline train station


https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/...t1wE4owLOq2thw

What's next for potential Brightline train station in Brevard County?

The Orlando to Miami route is now on sale on Brightline's website! The route begins service September 1st. Roundtrip = $158 for the full route. Premium seats = $298 roundtrip for the full route.

Looking forward to the forthcoming announcement of expansion to Tampa and station locations.

I feel like that price will scare off a lot of people.

Hopefully they use the Tampa Union Station which is right next to Downtown.

That price is what happens when it's not public transit. :takemymoney:

My take is, if we're being honest, with a destination in the sprawl hellhole that is Orlando and Central Florida I'm not sure it would even matter if Brightline was true HSR when it comes to market capture. For what I will guess is 4 out of 5 or even 9 out of 10 travelers, especially those travelling as a family with children, when the combination of the likely necessary car rental is also paired with relatively expensive train tickets is weighed, will say "Nah we'll just drive."

Thus is the obvious consequence of building such decentralized car oriented madness.

Orlando may be a sprawling messy mess, but, so far Brightline has been successful down here to the point of adding trains. Many people who hate driving are excited to take the train up north to Orlando for the day.

I myself, as roller coaster buff, am excited to Uber to Universal (who is building a 3rd park at the moment called Epic Universe)_or Sea World from the airport station until the other stations are built.

I don't know-- I think passengers will still ride this. I looked on Expedia for rental car prices for October 10 (I assume that demand for travel during the summer to Florida is greatly reduced and not representative of what average prices are). A car is about $115 to rent from Miami to Orlando. Insurance is another $10 and gas to drive the approximately 230 miles is about $40.

One-way tickets on Brightline from Miami - Orlando are $79 each. For one passenger, Brightline is cheaper than renting a car. For two passengers, the price is almost identical. When you consider the enhanced comfort and ease of a train vs. renting a car and sitting on I-95 for 3 1/2 hours, Brightline still seems like competitive service.

I would think there are quite a few visitors (especially from abroad) who might spend part of their trip in South Florida and part of it in the Orlando-area. Brightline would be ideal for these tourists.

Brightline has cheaper tickets for children and will begin offering family rates. For a family of 4 going to Orlando from Miami will be $395 Round Trip

That’s cheaper than flying round trip and will offer parents ease of attention and interaction with their children, unlike flying or driving as people can get up and walk around.

https://www.wptv.com/lifestyle/trave...-472-roundtrip

Cheaper than flying but no one flies from Miami to Orlando. The problem is still the price. $400 for a train is still more than I would pay rather than driving (3 hour drive). Cutting the price to closer to $200 might make it a little more appealing. Especially since they did away (for now) with a station at Disney. Also Disney for example did away with the free shuttle they used to run to the Airport (where the Brightline station is). So you will need to pay another ~$100 each way to get to Disney from the Brightline station so it is really $600 round trip. There are plans to eventually build a station in a central area near Disney and Universal as part of the expansion to Tampa but that is years away. At that point the trip would be more viable.

I would expect many of the 110 acres surrounding the planned Brightline station in Las Vegas will eventually get developed into housing and hotels.

The Biggest South Florida Housing Boom Is Near the Rail Stations


By Deborah Acosta
Wall Street Journal
May 24, 2023

"South Florida housing values are still rising even as home prices in much of the country are starting to come down. Values for homes located near the region's expanding rapid transit rail system are appreciating even faster.

Brightline, the privately owned and operated rail service, opened stations in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach about five years ago. More recently, it opened two more in Aventura and Boca Raton. Last week, Brightline started selling tickets for a new stop in Orlando, slated to opentoward the end of the summer.

While mass transit systems throughout the U.S. are suffering from decreased business as more people work from home, Brightline reported a 68% increase in ridership in March compared with the same month last year..."

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-big...tions-d6101467

Northeast Corridor Commuter Rail Completes Development Phase
May 23, 2023

Miami-Dade County has completed the Project Development phase of the New Starts program for its Northeast Corridor commuter rail service between downtown Miami and Aventura, Brightline told investors yesterday.

The Project Development phase was completed in April, the investor report said.

The County submitted its request to the Federal Transit Administration for entry into the Engineering
phase. Completion of the Engineering phase is expected to result in a federal grant agreement that in combination with the County and previously obtained State funding commitments will provide the final component of required funding for the project, Brightline said.
Brightline is expecting to receive $50 million in upfront payment and annual access payments Starting at $12 million for 30 years.

The project will include up to five new stations between the Miami Central and Aventura stations.

Implementation of the new commuter service will require additional track and rail infrastructure, as well as the construction of new commuter-only stations not served by Brightline. The commuter service may be separately branded and operated.

Broward and Palm Beach are also considering an extension of the commuter rail system along the same tracks to as far north as Jupiter.

https://www.thenextmiami.com/miami-d...lopment-phase/

Aventura Train Station :

https://s7d9.scene7.com/is/image/gob...-alpha&wid=576

Actually, only for Tri-Rail, not on Brightline. They will share as Brightline tracks. It will be on same tracks.

The train station pictured is at Orlando International airport.