The debut of the 235-mile, 3.5-hour ride completes a $6 billion private investment in Florida. It brings the new train service to a large swath of the state, promising modern amenities and faster trip times than those available through Amtrak, the nation’s passenger railroad.
The train ride time is competitive with driving in a traffic-choked area of Florida, where what is typically a 3.5-hour drive can turn into a five-hour nightmare. Brightline trains travel up to 79 mph in urban areas, then increase speeds to 110 mph in less populated areas from West Palm Beach to Cocoa, peaking at 125 mph on a newly built track through central Florida’s farmland between Cocoa and Orlando.