Brightline launches intercity rail service to Orlando International Airport on September 22

Sep 13, 2023 in "Brightline"

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Brightline Orlando Station

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Posted: Wednesday September 13, 2023 12:15pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Brightline announced today that service to Orlando International Airport will begin on September 22, 2023, connecting Orlando and South Florida (Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach) with inaugural rides available for booking at gobrightline.com or by downloading the Brightline app on iOS and Android.

"Opening Orlando fulfills our ultimate business model. We have seen incredible enthusiasm from the business and tourism industries eager to travel between Central and South Florida," shared Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline. "As we start service to Orlando for peak holiday seasons, I encourage everyone to check calendars, make plans, visit our website or app and reserve a seat now."

Brightline Orlando Station

For a limited time, Brightline is offering one-way SMART fares starting at $79 for adults and $39 for kids. Groups of 4+ will automatically save an additional 25 percent on SMART fares. SMART service offers a comfortable business-class option onboard in hand-stitched leather seats, complimentary Starlink WiFi, multiple power and USB outlets and an array of food and beverages available for purchase.

One-way PREMIUM fares start at $149, a first class experience with added amenities including a dedicated PREMIUM lounge, priority boarding, checked luggage, and complimentary snacks and beverages throughout the journey.

Brightline Florida Route Map

Costing $5 billion to build, travel time along the 235 miles of track between Miami and Orlando takes around 3 hours, and travels at speeds up to 125mph. Brightline has 16 total train sets running system wide daily, serving 6 stations.

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Andrew256 days ago

Businesses need to grow in order to satisfy investors/creditors, they certainly would like to expand into Tampa if they believe it makes sense financially.

TrainsOfDisney6 days ago

I don’t know if I’d call 2 million riders a year a “niche” product. And that’s of course growing. Why do you think it’s not? Businesses expand all the time. Adding Tampa and then Jacksonville has always been part of the business plan.

JMcMahonEsq6 days ago

The flat earther line wasn't meant as a shot at people who want the train line or not. It was more just as a exaggerated statement that there are niche markets that can served for almost anything, but that just because there are "some" people that would use/want something, doesn't mean its a big enough market to invest in servicing. If it came across that i was relating pro tampa/MCO train route people to flat eathers that wasn't the intention. While I haven't seen the studies that were done, I just don't know how much the demand/use for the Miami/Orlando leg can be used/translates to demand for a east/west spur between Tampa and Orlando. Its not a knock against Brightline the company, it seems like they are doing well both in marketing and implementation for the Miami/Orlando route. But that almost goes to my point, is the the expansion worth the risk, and is the ROI high enough to justify the risk, when the current route is finically doing well, assuming it is.

Twirlnhurl7 days ago

Does Disney get grant money for Disney Transport? I don't think they do. (Not saying they never would, I just don't think that it is a part of their current business model.) Lynx gets grant money to operate, including operating bus likes that serve WDW from outside, but that serves a tiny fraction of the population that is served by Disney Transport.

TrainsOfDisney7 days ago

Right…. Infrastructure. Like… public transit!

Twirlnhurl7 days ago

I don't think Disney has received many grants for their theme park stuff. I'm sure that they've had some research grants at Living with the Land and stuff like that, but that is very limited. Maybe they got some grant money for low cost housing and for clean energy busses? The primary government benefit that Disney gets at WDW is access to municipal bonds for infrastructure through RCID/CFTOD. The only way delivery services could reduce the number of cars on the road is if they are able to trip chain (deliver to multiple houses on a single trip) enough to offset the induced demand for the product. So if 5% of the grocery deliveries only exist because of the presence of the delivery service, and 6% of grocery deliveries are delivered by drivers who deliver to two houses instead of one house, you would reduce the number of cars on the road by 1%. More factors go into it, though. And I think the literature mostly shows very modest reductions in traffic system wide, but it is contingent on a bunch of variables.

Rich Brownn7 days ago

Believe it or not, not all Florida tourists have kids. Nor is everyone traveling to Tampa a tourist.

Disstevefan17 days ago

I argue there are more cars on the road. In the old days, before these services, we planned when we ran errands. and the delivery folks were not on the roads. I KNOW I use these services to get stuff delivered WAY MORE times than I would have gotten in my car to do the same task.

GhostHost10007 days ago

don't worry...no doubt they'd charge for it. I'm surprised we don't have to drop a quarter in a bucket at the front of the bus when we get on yet

Disstevefan17 days ago

That will cost only 1 zillion dollars.

Lilofan7 days ago

Less cars on the road since some including my own family don't even bother getting in their car to run most errands and or going to other stores. Let someone else do it for us and come to poppa .

King Racoon 777 days ago

I'm sure the footers are in place already. Also Zootropolis confirmed for galaxy's edge.

GhostHost10007 days ago

Let's start a rumor Disney is expanding the monorail to MCO

HauntedPirate7 days ago

Right, because every person on a train or bus is at least half a car off the road (thinking of carpools, etc.). I think we're on the same page here. :)