September 18th, 2024
BRIGHTLINE CELEBRATES ONE YEAR OF ORLANDO SERVICE WITH A LOOK AHEAD TO WHAT’S NEXT
ORLANDO (Sept. 18, 2024) – Brightline celebrates the first anniversary of its Orlando Station in partnership with Orlando Health, establishing a critical link between Central and South Florida. The Orlando Station redefines passenger rail in America, marking a level of service and connectivity that hasn’t existed in Florida in over 100 years. Brightline is committed to revolutionizing intercity travel with a seamless, car-free and carefree journey and will continue to set new standards unmatched by any other passenger rail service in the U.S.
Since opening the Orlando Station in September 2023, Brightline has traveled 5.4 million miles with 2.6 million rides taken, totaling 1.9 million cars off the road. This demand is consistent with the ramp-up seen with similar systems around the globe.
Over the past year, Brightline has been recognized by TIME as one of the 100 Most Influential Companies in the World and named one of the 50 Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company, with a special acknowledgment as the No.1 Company in Social Good. The company also hosted key U.S. leaders, including USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg, underscoring its national significance. Additionally, Brightline received recognition as a Webby Award Honoree in 2024 for its new app and website, designed to offer a seamless booking experience for guests. With features like real-time train status notifications and a user-friendly interface, Brightline’s app has earned over 6,000 five-star ratings, making it a favorite among mobile app users.
“This has been a historic year for Brightline and high-speed rail in America, and the support we have received from the communities in Florida has been incredible,” shares President of Brightline Patrick Goddard. “The connections we’ve built between Central and South Florida are transforming lives—businesses are expanding, families are spending more time together, and tourists are exploring more of what our state has to offer. As we look to the future, Brightline will continue to innovate, connect communities, and offer an experience that is not only convenient but truly transformative. My deepest thanks to all our teammates who make these innovations possible.”
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Brightline Guests
A New Fleet of Coaches: Brightline is on track to expand its fleet of eight trainsets with 30 new coaches over the next year, including 20 SMART and 10 PREMIUM. The first of these coaches will be delivered within a few weeks, traveling over 3,000 miles from Sacramento, CA to Orlando, FL. Expect the first five new coaches in service this fall.
A Brightline Events Guide: Created by Brightline and sourced by the community, this online resource is the soon-to-be hub for top events, attractions, and things to do in Florida’s top destinations—from concerts and festivals to sports, state parks, rooftop bars and brunches. Discover event details, directions, special offers, and the best part: arrive in style with Brightline. Set to launch this year.
Loyalty Program: Get ready to earn rewards with every trip. Brightline’s new loyalty program is launching in the first half of 2025, offering exclusive perks and benefits for travelers.
TikTok Channel Launch: Join Brightline on TikTok for travel tips and behind-the-scenes content. Follow Brightline on TikTok at @brightlinetrains to be part of the journey and see how we're making every trip extraordinary.
ADA Services: Accessibility is fundamental for Brightline. As the preferred transportation provider for Special Olympics athletes in 2024, Brightline continues to explore modern and seamless accessibility travel options for all guests with the first on-demand ADA transportation service for first-and-last-mile. For more information on Brightline’s ADA-accessible travel options, check out the new Accessible Travel page.
Order-to-Seat: Brightline continues to bring innovative amenities to its guests with the launch of order-to-seat onboard its fleet. This new feature will allow guests to order food, beverages, and sundry items directly to their seats via a mobile webpage, seamlessly integrated with Square's Point of Sale (POS) software.
Everglades Foundation Partnership: Sustainability is central to Brightline, with the first green partnership launched to celebrate a joint commitment to restore and protect one of Florida’s most vital natural resources. The Everglades plays a crucial role in supplying clean freshwater for millions of Floridians, including those near four South Florida Brightline stations.
Notch 8 Graduates of 2024 and a New Class for 2025: The Notch 8 program continues to foster the next generation of conductors in transportation. We celebrate the 2024 graduates and look forward to continuing this program and investing in the talent that will drive the future of Brightline.
RAISE Grant Construction to Begin: Ensuring the safety of guests and communities remains a top priority. Looking ahead to the new year, construction will begin on safety improvements funded by the RAISE Grant, further enhancing the safety and efficiency of the service. In collaboration with communities and state and federal governments, additional improvements such as fencing, signage, delineators and exit gates are planned.
Expansion: In Florida, Brighltine is continuing to plan expansion stations in Cocoa and the Treasure Coast.
Building Brightline Orlando
With over 7 million hours of labor, Brightline created more than 10,000 jobs for the construction of 170 miles of new track and the build-out of the Orlando Station with 2,000 post-construction jobs in Florida. The project also includes the development of one of the region’s most advanced full train maintenance facilities, capable of servicing 16 trains daily on 62 acres of land, delivering innovation at a level unseen in America’s transportation sector.
For more information about Brightline and our upcoming initiatives, visit www.gobrightline.com.
QUOTES
“Our partnership with Brightline Orlando continues to show how world-class healthcare works in unison with world-class travel. Together we provide unprecedented and easy access to Orlando Health’s nationally recognized physicians and care teams for our patients across the state. We are looking forward to an exciting future ensuring no one is ever too far from the care they need.”
– Andrew Snyder, Orlando Health Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications
“Brightline’s one-year anniversary at Orlando International Airport marks a significant achievement in delivering seamless connectivity between the attractions and business-friendly hub in Central Florida and the beauty and rich culture of South Florida. Our strong partnership with Brightline helps to provide travelers with modern, efficient transportation options that enhance the state’s multimodal network. We wish them continued success as they grow and connect even more communities.”
– Kevin J. Thibault, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
“Brightline has been a wonderful asset to our community strengthening in-state connectivity benefiting both Florida residents and visitors from around the world. From world-class attractions and sporting events to cultural festivals, outdoor adventures and our vibrant dining scene, Brightline makes it easy for visitors to make new discoveries in Orlando.”
– Casandra Matej, president & CEO of Visit Orlando
“We’d like to congratulate our partner, Brightline, on their first year of service. Thanks to the positive impact they’ve had on the Central Florida area, we’ve extended our partnership for another year, and we look forward to many more successful years ahead. The seamless connection between South and Central Florida has opened up new opportunities for exploration and adventure, making it easier than ever for travelers to experience the best of what Kissimmee has to offer.”
– DT Minich, president and CEO of Experience Kissimmee
“Since the launch of Brightline’s Orlando connection, we have witnessed a positive impact on The Palm Beaches with stations located in two cities in our destination. This vital link between Orlando to West Palm Beach and Boca Raton has enhanced the ease of access for visitors coming from the central portion of Florida, which helps us boost tourism from this important market. This connection underscores our commitment to making The Palm Beaches a premier destination for travelers from all over the world.”
– Milton Segarra, president & CEO of Discover The Palm Beaches
Brightline has been an important addition to Orange County, and I congratulate the company on their one-year anniversary of connecting Central and South Florida. We are an economically stronger and more connected region and state by having this infrastructure asset.
– Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings
“Brightline has been a game changer for the City of Boca Raton and our residents. Our businesses have been able to draw talent and customers from all over South Florida and Central Florida, and our residents are excited to access this major transportation network. We look forward to increased service and connectivity.”
– Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer
“The true impact of linking Miami and Orlando as major international gateway destinations cannot be understated. We applaud Brightline's continued work in providing seamless ways for our guests to enjoy everything from world-class beaches and cultural landmarks to our Michelin-starred restaurants and award-winning hotels."
– David Whitaker, president and CEO of Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
ABOUT BRIGHTLINE
Brightline seamlessly connects travelers to top destinations and major events between Central and South Florida. The company serves Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Orlando, and is continuing to plan expansion stations in Cocoa and the Treasure Coast. Brightline is recognized as one of TIME100’s Most Influential Companies of 2024. It is also recognized by Inc. 5000 Regionals as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the Southeast for 2023 and is one of the World’s 50 Most Innovative by Fast Company in 2024. Brightline offers a guest-first experience designed to reinvent train travel and take cars off the road. The company plans to bring its award-winning service to additional city pairs and congested corridors across the country that are too close to fly and too long to drive, with immediate plans to connect Las Vegas to Southern California. For more information, visit www.gobrightline.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Media Contact
Michael Hicks
mhicks@bltrain.com