Trains are so back! Florida’s Brightline, the first privately owned high-speed passenger train service in the United States, will launch today, with trains running between Miami and Orlando at speeds of up to 125 mph. It’s not London to Paris but hey, it’s still pretty neat!
The trip will take 3.5-hours, which is about 30 minutes less than the average drive time. One-way tickets will start at $79 for adults and $39 for children in standard class. Business class tickets will cost $149 and up, and first-class tickets will cost $298 and up. Families and groups can purchase four round-trip tickets for $398. Thirty-two trains will run daily.
To compare with flying, it’d take you a little over an hour fly time. But there’s security, boarding, etc. You might save an 30 minutes to an hour? With the cost being about $50 more.
The Florida trains, which run on biodiesel, will travel up to 79 mph in urban areas, 110 mph in less-populated regions, and 125 mph through central Florida’s farmland. Brightline plans possible extensions to Tampa and Jacksonville in the future.
However, Brightline’s backers believe that the service has a number of advantages over other modes of transportation. High-speed rail is more environmentally friendly than driving or flying, and it can offer a more comfortable and relaxing travel experience. Additionally, Brightline is targeting the lucrative leisure travel market, which is expected to grow in the years to come.
The launch of Brightline will be closely watched by transportation experts and policymakers across the country. If the service is successful, it could pave the way for the expansion of high-speed rail in the United States.
Thanks for reading,
Chris
