This page is your one-stop resource for all you need to know about the Miami Brightline Train Service (South Florida connection). We'll be tracking all the progress, changes and developments for you, keeping you in the know of all the important details on the high-speed rail network that will make travel between Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and ultimately Orlando, faster, easier, greener, and more comfortable than driving.

What is the Brightline Train?

With the vision to redefine the future of train travel in the country, the privately funded Brightline railway project was launched in 2018. Building off of well known train systems in other major U.S. cities like Boston, New York and Chicago, as well as Europe, Brightline is a high-speed passenger rail system designed to allow fast and comfortable travel between some of the most visited city pairs in Florida without having to drive, taking millions of cars off the road and offer a more eco-friendly way of travel in the process.

Latest Brightline Train Updates

Last updated November 16, 2020

• November 2020: Miami Dade Approves North Corridor Brightline Deal
  
  Miami Dade Commissioners unanimously approved plans for a 30-year, $72 million-plus deal with Brightline to provide commuter rail service at least between Miami and Aventura. The vote allows Miami Dade and Brightline to further finalizes the deal, under which, six possible station locations include stops at:
  • FIU at 151st Street (FIU)
  • North Miami at 123rd Street
  • El Portal
  • Little Haiti
  • The Design District
  • Wynwood
    
    
  That would bring the total station count to eight, including downtown Miami and Aventura. Trains will run every hour and more often at peak times. Miami Dade and Brightline expect to decide in the coming months who will provide the rail service. Read more here.

• October 2020: Renderings of Proposed Wynwood Station released
  
  Renderings of the proposed Wynwood train station, backed by the Related Group, were released. If approved, it has yet to be determined if this station will service Tri-Rail or Brightline. Wynwood and the Design District are vying for Brightline and/or Tri-Rail stations. Read more here.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• October 2020: Brightline stations may reduced to 3, excluding Wynwood and FIU

  While the Brightline train system is suspended due to the pandemic, Brightline and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Giménez are finalizing negotiations on Miami stations, and the two sides plan to propose a formal agreement for the commission to consider by Oct. 20. Read more here.

  The current plan does not include Wynwood or a stop at Florida International University, which is leaving many neighborhood residents and groups, including the Wynwood Business Improvement District (BID), shaking their heads. Particularly, the neighborhoods of Edgewater, Midtown and Wynwood feel a stop is necessary.

• September 2020: Brightline closer to tax-funded deal with county on commuter tracks, plus a competition for new stations

  Miami-Dade's transit arm could end up sanctioning tax dollars for Brightline's commuter tracks, dashing the hopes of Tri-Rail expanding into an eastern route. The five-station route would cost the public $350 million to build and as much as $80 million a year to operate.

  Even though three priority locations have been identified for the tracks - North Miami (near Northeast 151st Street), El Portal (near Northwest 79th Street), and the Design District (near Northeast 39th Street) - the county will still be inviting proposals from developers and others. Many are already rallying for a key Wynwood location, part of Brightline's initial proposal in June. Read all about the competition here, plus the fight about the number of stops here.

• September 2020: Boca Raton Receives $16.4M Grant for Brightline Station

  The US DOT has given the City of Boca Raton a $16,350,000 grant to build the approved Brightline Train Station on the east side of Boca Raton's Downtown Library. Expected to open in mid-2022, the station will span 1.8 acres and house a 455-garage parking lot. More details here.

• September 2020: Construction Starts on Aventura Station

  With construction starting on the Aventura station, the Brightline roll-in is just an agreement away. Breaking ground in September, the Aventura station will be an important one, since currently the area is not serviced by any public transit rail line. Here are the details.

• August 2020: From 'Brightline' to 'Virgin Trains' and Back to 'Brightline'

  Brightline ended all branding efforts with 'Virgin Trains USA'. The high-speed luxury train service will once again be known as 'Brightline' as it has ended its affiliation with the British conglomerate. Several financial setbacks for the Virgin Group during the course of the pandemic, plus a shutdown of operations for the Brightline, seem to be the two major reasons for the severing of ties after only two short years (since 2018). Read more here.

• July 2020: New Miami Brightline Station Updates

  Rolling out more details on the five additional stops proposed for Miami, the new platforms will be placed along Florida East Coast Industries' line between downtown and an upcoming Aventura station. However, the Brightline might not stop at any of them and the Tri-rail would make an entry into Downtown. Read more details here.

• June 2020: Brightline Miami Could Get 5 New Stops

  This month, County Commissioners will vote on whether to sign the agreement with Virgin Trains to finance the construction of five new stations in Miami. Virgin will pay $75 million, in addition to the county's $350 million, for the five stations between Miami and Aventura - Wynwood/Midtown, Design District, Upper East Side, North Miami, and Florida International University/Biscayne Bay campus. Read further details here.

• April 2020: Brightline Orlando Station on Track

  Despite the pandemic suspended train use, construction on the Brightline track system to Orlando, which began in 2019, is making progress. Specific South Florida - Orlando Track Stats include: 30% of the 168-mile railroad is complete, while final completion is on track and scheduled for December 2022. Read more here.

Brightline Train Details

Q: How Fast is the Brightline Train?

With an average speed of 79-125 MPH, it transports people boarding in Miami to Fort Lauderdale in 30 minutes, West Palm Beach in about 60 minutes, and Orlando in 3 hours. 

Q: How Green is the Brightline Train?

Using only clean biodiesel fuel, the Brightline trains produce lower emissions, staying 100% carbon neutral. Their EV-friendly stations are all powered by FPL SolarNow Solar Trees that further generate emission-free energy.

Q: What are the Comforts of Riding the Brightline Train?

Designed by the Rockwell Group, the Brightline coaches are designed for comfort with open and flexible seating. Each seat features its own multiple power and USB outlets, large multi-task trays to accommodate laptops and eats, plus free Wi-Fi onboard.

You have two ways to ride - SMART (business-class) or SELECT (first-class) - and can find a comparison of classes here. Pets are welcome on the Brightline, too!

Q: What kind of Touchless facilities are available at the Brightline Train Stations?

All Brightline stations come equipped with hand sanitizer stations, temperature check facilities, contactless payments and ticketing, making them a hygienic and pandemic-appropriate way to travel.

Where are the Current Brightline Miami Stations?

As of now, the Brightline connects Miami to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Unlike most other train systems that leave you in far-flung pockets of a city, the Brightline has been designed to deliver you right in the city core, no matter which city you're traveling to, with easy access to plenty of local public transit options. 

MiamiCentral

Station: 600 NW 1st Ave., Miami, FL 33136
Parking Garage: 161 NW 6th Street, Miami, FL 33136 (entrance is on NW 1st Ct.)

The MiamiCentral station spans 6 city blocks in the heart of Downtown. The 11-acre complex offers plenty of shopping and dining options along with the city's first food hall. It is just minutes from Museum Park, AmericanAirlines Arena, PortMiami, and the central business district of Brickell. For more information on the public transit, taxi/rideshare, bike and car rental options available that can take you around the city and its beaches from the station, go here.

• Fort Lauderdale
  Station: 101 NW 2nd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
  Parking Garage: 300 NW 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
  For more details, go here.
  
  
• West Palm Beach
  Station: 501 Evernia Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
  Parking Garage: 511 Evernia Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
  For more details, go here.

Future Brightline Routes and Extensions

Brightline's Orlando station is expected to open in 2022, connecting South Florida to Central Florida. Besides South Florida, the Brightline West service is expected to operate on the West Coast between Las Vegas and Victor Valley in Southern California.

Other Brightline Miami Train and Public Transportation News

• March 2020: Miami Transportation Projects Updates

  Read about the latest Miami public transit news, including new buses, other means of getting around town, projects at the Miami International Airport, and more.
  
  

Looking to live close to the MiamiCentral Brightline Station or any other well-connected part of Miami? Call or email us and we can provide you with the latest information on Miami condos and rentals that are close to public transportation.