Soon it will be easier for tourists to visit Disney World and the beach on the same trip.
Florida is a big place with a lot to do, from Disney World in Orlando to the beautiful beaches in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. But if you’re a tourist who wants to try and get it all done in a week, or you’ve got a grandparent chilling at the tip of a country you’d most like to see, quit four hours driving. (Or more, if you hit traffic, you will.)
But since 2018, Floridians, as well as people visiting the Sunshine State, have been dreaming of a faster way to get from central Florida to the southern part of it. Now, those dreams are closer to reality.
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The private intercity rail line opened in 2018, and is owned and operated by real estate company Florida East Coast Industries. Brightline started with a train that got you between Miami and West Palm Beach in about an hour, with a stop at Ft. Lauderdale all the way. The company added stops in Boca Raton and Aventura last year.
Florida residents have been asking for this train spot
But the big stop Floridians have been hoping for is Orlando. And after years of construction and delays, Brightline has announced that it will open a terminal in Orlando International Airport’s swanky new Terminal C. The exact date the station will open is still unknown, but Brightline co-founder and CEO Wes Edens has promised it will be no later than Christmas 2023, pending the required probationary period from the US Federal Railroad Administration. So this Christmas you can do the beach and Disney World (dis) – Get a free reportthrough once.
Of course, Floridians have been waiting a while to get the ability to travel between Orlando and Miami, quickly and smoothly with a glass of train wine in hand. But there were plenty of delays, mostly due to the complexities of the 129-mile section of track between West Palm Beach and Cocoa. So it’s understandable if anyone is still a little suspicious that Orlando has stopped happening.
But take heart, like Brightline Offered an update over the weekendwrites in a statement that the company is “breaking records as we make our way toward Orlando. During testing on the new 35-mile corridor between Orlando International Airport and Cocoa, Florida. The Bright Line reached speeds of 130 mph. This broke the previous record of 110 miles.” per hour and positioning the Bright Line as the fastest train in Florida and the southeastern United States.”
The company has also emphasized safety, noting that it works with community partners, government agencies, and the media to raise awareness of rail safety, and provided a safety PSA that read, in part, “At crossings where testing takes place, all proven safety improvements have been made. These improvements are different for each crossing.” “, but may include new crossing gates, signaling systems, pedestrian gates, sidewalk markings, and road features. Where trains will operate at 110 mph, all crossings have quadruple or intermediate gates to prevent motorists from driving around lower crossing gates.”