Brightline trains a luxury experience
There was a hint of disappointment recently on a Brightline train, the privately owned passenger service that started this year between Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, with plans to eventually run to Orlando.
Free champagne had been offered on the boarding platform for passengers with top-tier tickets. But once underway at 79 mph during rush hour, the train attendant’s cart had no French bubbly — only the Italian version, prosecco, which appeared satisfactory for an initially peeved passenger.
South Florida’s Brightline is
not like taking the bus — either in fares or comfort. It is a mode of travel that, chances are, not many Floridians have experienced.
The train whispers as passengers relax in leather reclining seats. Its doors swish on command from an LED-enhanced button. Attendants are chattyfriendly as they dispense beverages and snacks.
If an airplane trip is about contorting people and luggage into a tubular trap, Brightline gives room to stand, stretch and stroll. There’s a cushioned bench at the end of each coach labeled: “A good place to chat.”
Even the bathrooms are hard to ignore, gigantically more accommodating than that of an airplane.
Then there are the Brightline stations that are the stylish living rooms you don’t have, and, as the company’s reps never miss an opportunity to emphasize, are bright in personality.
“Pretty freaking awesome,” said J.C. Sonkin, riding for the first time, traveling from West Palm to Lauderdale for a boat show.
Brightline tickets aren’t inexpensive, with the least costly fare about three times as much per mile as that of SunRail, the commuter train in Central Florida.
A SunRail ride from the northernmost station in Volusia County’s at DeBary to the southernmost station in Osceola County near Poinciana costs $5.
That 49-mile trip spanning 16 stations takes 90 minutes. Riders pay about 10 cents per mile.
The base fare for a oneway Brightline ticket from West Palm Beach to Miami is $17 to $20. Spanning three stations, the 67-mile trip takes 74 minutes.
At the base fare of $20, Brightline riders pay about 30 cents per mile. At that rate, a ticket from Miami to Orlando would cost as much $70.
Brightline representatives will not talk about potential Orlando fares.
“We know we have to be comparable and competitive to the alternatives,” said Brightline spokesperson Ali Soule.
A high-end Select ticket from Miami to West Palm Beach costs as much $40, or nearly 60 cents per mile. At that fare rate, a Select ticket from Miami to Orlando would cost $140.
But the prosecco is unlimited.
So when does Brightline begin to rocket into Orange County toward Orlando International Airport on tracks capable of 125 mph — which today would rank as the nation’s second-fastest train?
Brightline representatives are still saying rail construction will start this year, with service to the airport in 2021. They declined this week to provide further detail.
Nearly $1.7 billion has been invested in Brightline rail service and for real-estate development at its South Florida stations.
The all-in cost, according to the company, including track to Orlando and the station at Orlando’s airport will be $4 billion.
Earlier this month, Brightline filed an application with the Florida Department of Transportation to extend service from Orlando to Tampa, using rightof-way along Interstate 4 and other state roads.
That application, the only one filed with the state, is to be released publically by the state at the end of the month.
For now, Brightline caters to South Floridians taking in a Miami Heat game, concert or dinner. It delivered supporters of Andrew Gillum to a Miami rally.
It is popular for those who attend boat shows, which are really big in South Florida. It is packed on weekends with people out to play.
On weekdays, it is clearly a commuter train for those who can afford it.
“I normally would not take public transportation,” said Noah Sheer of Miami.
Brightline’s Miami station is at a crossroads of public transportation.
The station is a short walk from a stop for MiamiDade Transit’s Metromover.
That’s an automated train with 21 stations along 4.4 miles of track in the core of Miami that runs for free from 5 a.m. to midnight daily on this stated schedule: “Trains arrive frequently.”
Brightline’s Miami station is next door to Metrorail, an elevated, 25-mile, 23-station, dual-track system, spanning Miami International Airport and suburbs.
In turn, Metrorail connects to Tri-Rail, a northsouth commuter train running 70 miles through Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Jaswant Lalwani recently took the train for a business meeting from Fort Lauderdale to Miami and back.
“I think it’s one of the best services in the U.S.,” Lalwani said.
His one quibble was that Brightline does not have sufficient signage, guiding riders to the other rail services.
“They should make that more seamless,” he said. “Brightline is scoring 99 right now. They could make it 100.”
Soule said New York architect and designer David Rockwell, who has also done work for JetBlue, had a leading role in developing the look and feel of the train.
Soule said she has heard some Brightline passengers mention being reminded of JetBlue styling.
“Everything you see on Brightline is designed specifically for Brightline,” Soule said. “You won’t see it on any other train.”
Another component of Brightline is its real estate development in South Florida.
At the Miami station, Brightline is building towers for apartments and commercial space.
It is doing in a sparsely developed area of Miami. Adjacent properties include surface parking lots and a field where the former Miami Heat arena was demolished.
Brightline has no such real-estate visions for Orlando, a city that represents a different value for Brightline.
“Orlando is obviously the biggest tourism market in the country,” Soule said. “Here you anchored by the gateway to Latin America. So we believe these two cities are a very complimentary pair.”