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All Aboard: Brightline's Train Launches, Connects Fort Lauderdale To West Palm

WLRN Public Media | By Caitlin Switalski
Published January 12, 2018 at 3:55 PM EST

After months of delay, the private company Brightline finally launched its train service from Fort Lauderdale to West Palm Beach Friday with a preview voyage for county officials and politicians.

No one yells, ‘All Aboard!’ when you step onto one of Brightline’s trains, but the high-speed rail service does come through on its promise to get travelers from West Palm to Fort Lauderdale, or viceversa, in about 35 minutes.

The trip took just 34 minutes to get between stations, while the train traveled at 79 miles per hour.

“To all South Florida residents and visitors who are tired of sitting in traffic, I invite you to take a ride,” said Patrick Goddard, The company’s chief operating officer, and newly-promoted president, at the opening ceremony. 

One of the company’s chief investors, Wes Edens from Fortress Investment Group, announced at the opening that Brightline expects to complete construction on its Miami station and begin service between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, in six to eight weeks.

On the inside of Brightline's trains, there's full food and beverage service. Coffee and sodas will cost you $2 dollars a pop.
Credit Caitie Switalski / WLRN
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WLRN
On the inside of Brightline's trains, there's full food and beverage service. Coffee and sodas will cost you $2 dollars a pop.

Fort Lauderdale’s Mayor Jack Seiler was also on the train at the opening. He thanked Brightline for choosing his city to be a hub on the train’s route.

“I want to thank you for investing in Fort Lauderdale,” Seiler said. “It means a lot to us that you put your money here, you put your trust here and your confidence here.”

On board, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson said she thinks Brightline's model could be a traffic solution in other congested parts of the country.

“If this goes well, I think we can replicate this in all of our urban cities,” Wilson said.

She wasn’t alone. Two congressmen from Pennsylvania and Virginia also came to see if the train was an idea they could take back to their own states.

Brightline has not released monthly pass prices for its trains yet, nor has the company said when the introductory fare will end.

For now, a one way trip will cost you ten dollars.

The inside of a Brightline train. All of the cars were made in the U.S., in conjunction with Siemens.
Caitie Switalski / WLRN
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WLRN
The inside of a Brightline train. All of the cars were made in the U.S., in conjunction with Siemens.

Copyright 2018 WLRN 91.3 FM
State News
Caitlin Switalski
Caitie Switalski is a rising senior at the University of Florida. She's worked for WFSU-FM in Tallahassee as an intern and reporter. When she's in Gainesville for school, Caitie is an anchor and producer for local Morning Edition content at WUFT-FM, as well as a digital editor for the station's website. Her favorite stories are politically driven, about how politicians, laws and policies effect local communities. Once she graduates with a dual degree in Journalism and English,Caitiehopes to make a career continuing to report and produce for NPR stations in the sunshine state. When she's not following what's happening with changing laws, you can catchCaitielounging in local coffee shops, at the beach, or watching Love Actually for the hundredth time.
See stories by Caitlin Switalski