By Yasmene Warren
The long-awaited time has finally come for a high-speed rail to connect Orlando to Miami. The days of sitting backed up on I-95 or Florida’s Turnpike are over thanks to the new Brightline station in Orlando. If you’ve never ridden with Brightline before, we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know about the upcoming railroad system.
What is Brightline?
Brightline is Florida’s intercity railroad system that runs between Miami and West Palm Beach. Currently, it’s the only privately owned and operated intercity passenger railroad in the country.
The new Orlando Brightline station is located in the Orlando International Airport. When arriving at the station, riders will enter and exit near Terminal C, with the station connecting to Parking Garage C. The station also has direct access to terminals A and B at the airport, if needed.
Travelers coming by train from South Florida can then take ride-shares or shuttles to get to Orlando hotels and theme parks at the designated pick up area. To make it easier, Uber has also partnered with Brightline so you can order your train ticket and ride pickup all at once, with premium fares including a free ride within a 5 mile radius of the station!
How Can I Buy a Ticket?
To purchase a ticket, you can go to Brightline’s website at gobrightline.com, as well as the company’s app. Travel from Orlando to Miami starts this fall, with tickets for rides between September and January now available.
A standard one-way ticket will start at $79 for adults and $39 for children aged 2 to 12. This includes your seat, with personal power and charging outlets, and complimentary wifi throughout the trip. There are also counters with food and beverages for purchase, and sitting areas in the station to wait for your train.
Lobby
Premium fares, which are first-class tickets, will start at $149 for one-way rides. These will grant access to an exclusive lounge, priority boarding, checked luggage, and complimentary snacks and drinks onboard the train, as well as a free uber fare mentioned above!
Premium Lounge
What Does Brightline’s Daily Schedule Look Like?
The high-speed rail company plans for 16 round trips daily, with hourly departures between Miami and Orlando starting at 5:00 AM and running until 8:50 PM. If you’re on the first train, you can expect to be in Miami by 8:30 AM during weekdays.
Hourly northbound departures will begin at 6:50 AM. and will run until 9:45 PM, with the first train arriving in Orlando at 10:15 AM.
On weekends, the southbound departures remain the same, but northbound departures will start at 5:45 AM and run until 9:45 PM, with the first northbound train arriving at 9:15 AM.
When traveling from Orlando, the train will stop at all of its South Florida Brightline stations, including West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and Aventura. For those solely in South Florida, there will still be additional trains serving commuters between these cities as well.
Why Brightline?
Most people have experienced the pain that is driving in Florida. So many other states have a thriving metro with ample public transportation, but we’re sorely lacking.
Miami is one of Florida’s most popular cities to visit, yet it’s so far from most people, taking anywhere between four to five hours to travel from Central Florida.
Although travel time isn’t too far off from that of driving your own car, it’s still a more accessible means for the average person. Plus, you’ll save on gas and tolls by riding with Brightline!
Brightline is Florida’s first step toward adopting more high-speed rail systems throughout the state, and with Orlando and Miami being the state’s two most popular cities, having a train to travel between the two is nothing short of beneficial.
According to a statement on May 16th, there’s still no official opening date as Brightline is still completing the required testing, with construction over 90% complete! Max speeds on the Brightline will reach up to 130 mph from Orlando to Cocoa, and 110 mph from Cocoa to West Palm.
All Images by Brightline
“While final preparations are being made for the grand opening, tickets between South Florida and Orlando are on sale now through early 2024. Book now for September 1 and later, and once we announce our opening date additional ticket inventory will be released. Be sure to sign up for our emails to be the first to know when our inaugural rides will go on sale.”
Official Brightline Website
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