Brightline launch delayed

High-speed train gets fall start date

Brightline high-speed passenger service in South Florida is running behind schedule, with a new grand opening date expected sometime in the fall.

Brightline officials on Wednesday gave no reason why the Fort Lauderdale-toWest Palm Beach introductory service would no longer begin in late July as they had stated in May.

They also declined to say how much tickets would cost, other than the rollout would have “friendly fares.” The prices will be revealed shortly before service begins, said CEO David Howard.

“We’ll announce it when we launch but it will be comparaThe ble to driving,” he said. “During our pre-season introductory [service] it will be less expensive than driving.”

In early May, Howard said the introductory service from Fort Lauderdale-to-Miami would begin in August with full service between Miami and West Palm Beach in September. No new dates for the expanded service were offered on Wednesday.

The more than $3 billion, privately funded Brightline service is designed to eventually run between Miami and Orlando at top speeds of 125 mph. Phase I of the project will run up to 32 daily trains between West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami at a maximum speed of 79 mph.

Phase II between West Palm Beach and Orlando had an estimated start date of late 2019 for construction, but that has encountered several roadblocks.