Brightline operates the only privately-funded intercity passenger service in the United States. Services currently run between Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach in southern Florida, with construction underway of an extension north to Orlando, which is expected to open in 2022 and eventually Tampa.
An additional station in Aventura (between Miami and Fort Lauderdale) has also been approved and Virgin Trains USA is working with Boca Raton, which sits between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, to add a station in the city in 2020.
Last year, the “cruise capital of the world,” as PortMiami is known, served more than 5.5 million cruise passengers. PortMiami is currently home to 22 cruise lines, with Virgin Voyages due to begin offering services in 2020.
“This private-public partnership (PPP) is a great opportunity to expand PortMiami’s connectivity to visitors travelling from central Florida and for Miami-Dade County residents to get to the Orlando area in a quick, enjoyable way,” said Miami-Dade County mayor, Mr Carlos A Gimenez.
“This is a first-of-its-kind train-to-port station that will connect the cruise capital of the world with a car-free option for millions of cruisers looking to start their vacation a little earlier,” says Virgin Trains USA president, Mr Patrick Goddard. “This is a tremendous partnership and infrastructure investment between PortMiami, Miami Dade County and Brightline that will increase mobility, take cars off the road and provide our state’s visitors an easier way to get around.”
