Exploring the history, financing, and continuing safety concerns of Florida’s Brightline high-speed trains and what the future holds for this ambitious project.
Fla. News Network — The sleek yellow trains of Brightline slice through Florida’s landscape at speeds up to 125 mph, representing a transportation revolution in a state long dominated by automobiles. Yet this innovative service, which has carried millions of passengers between Miami and Orlando, faces a troubling paradox: while revolutionizing regional travel, it has become associated with one of the highest rail-related accident rates in the United States.
Brighline, formerly known as Virgin Trains USA, was launched in 2018 with the ambitious goal of connecting major cities along Florida’s east coast with a modern, high-speed rail service. The company, backed by Fortress Investment Group, sought to revitalize passenger rail travel in the state and provide an alternative to congested highways.
Brightline, Florida’s high-speed rail service, has been hailed as a transportation innovation, connecting major cities with unprecedented speed and convenience. However, it has also faced significant safety challenges, earning the state the unfortunate title of the train accident capital of the United States.