Writer: Gabriela Enamorado
3 min read September 2023 — South and Central Florida reached a new milestone in regional connectivity with the opening of the Brightline Orlando Station last week. The highly anticipated train service from Miami to Orlando connects the two major cities in three and a half hours, 30 minutes faster than an average car ride.
The first train, Bright Pink, arrived in Orlando at 11:05 a.m. on Sept. 22. The train was greeted by more than 500 elected officials, business leaders and community partners from across Florida. This highly anticipated infrastructure project that began in 2019 is expected to reinvent train travel in the country and improve transit options in Florida.
“We’re proud to see the advancement of our community with the start of Brightline train service, making this important connection between our city and Miami, two of Florida’s busiest city centers, a reality,” Buddy Dyer, mayor of the City of Orlando, told Invest:. “This is a transformational step forward in the future of transportation in our community and just the beginning as we continue to work to expand and advance our mobility options and network. This new service provides a critical piece of that network, connecting our Orlando International Airport and multimodal hub, providing access to jobs and opportunity, supporting future growth and improving the lives of our residents, workers and travelers.”
The 37,350-square-foot station is located at the Orlando International Airport and connects directly to the airport’s Garage C. The station also provides direct access to the airport’s Terminals A and B through the Terminal Link. There are several transportation and mobility options offered at the airport to get rides to their destinations after getting off the Brightline, including shuttles, ride-hailing services and car rental options.
Brightline Orlando is expected to have an immense impact on Florida’s economy. According to Brightline, the trains are expected to generate $6.4 billion to Florida’s economy and will create over 10,000 jobs during construction of the tails and 2,000 permanent jobs.
The extension is just the first step in transforming Florida’s travel and workforce industries in a sustainable way. According to Brightline, the trains help reduce highway congestion and carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 72,000 metric tons per year.
“We have plans to explore an expansion from Orlando to Tampa,” Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline Trains, told Invest: earlier this year. “This route connects two highly populated areas and addresses the congestion on the existing highway. We believe this expansion would be a logical step forward.”
Brightline is not limiting themselves to Florida either and the Orlando extension is only the first stepping stone to transform high-speed rail systems in the U.S. Brightline is going to the West Coast.
“We are thrilled to share that we have an exciting project in progress called Brightline West,” Goddard said. “This high-speed endeavor aims to connect Los Angeles and Las Vegas, offering a fast and efficient transportation option between the two cities. We are actively working on finalizing permits and securing financing for this project, with the goal of commencing construction next year.”
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