All aboard! Brightline to resume rail service Nov. 8, with offer to make first ride free
Brightline announced it will re-launch its train service between West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami on Nov. 8.
The first local train will leave West Palm Beach at 5:10 a.m. that Monday for the 67-mile trip south, and tickets are available on Brightline's website and on the company's smartphone app. Passengers will get their first ride free when they create an account and book it through the Brightline App, a Wednesday news release said.
Brightline suspended its service in March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
What to know: Brightline train is back in November: Five important facts to know when service resumes
Ride-sharing, shuttle services expected to start in December
A check of prices online shows introductory fares for a train between West Palm Beach and Miami – a trip estimated to take one hour – range from $15 (business-class fare) and $37 (premium fare) through the end of 2021.
When passengers arrive in Miami, they'll be greeted by a new, 26,000 square-foot food court with international offerings, the release said.
“We are excited to welcome back past riders and all our new riders on Nov. 8,” Brightline President Patrick Goddard said in the release. “Every stage of the Brightline journey has been built through the lens of today’s modern traveler and creates a travel experience unlike any other.”
Brightline's return: Brightline to resume train service, add ride sharing to South Florida depots.
Previously: Brightline high-tech trains for Orlando service roll off production line in California
The company has announced it will run a free shuttle and ride-sharing service to help passengers get to and from train stations and promote a "car-free life in South Florida." That service is expected to launch in December, the news release said. It will only be free for a limited time.
Recent construction at railroad crossings in northern Palm Beach County have affected traffic as Brightline prepares to expand and connect Miami and Orlando by the end of 2022. Brightline began running test trains along routes on Oct. 14.
This month, the company announced its plans to extend service to Tampa by 2028.
What to know when Brightline returns about schedules, masks
When Brightline service restarts, the service's times and routes will not change.
Brightline will run the same schedule it had before it suspended service, and fares will be similar to what passengers were used to, Goddard has said.
Passengers and onboard staff members will be required to wear face masks both on trains and in stations.
The company's employees will be required to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, but passengers will not be required to show proof of vaccination.
Brightline's safety measure include pre-packaged foods, touchless bathrooms, cashless payment and electronic tickets.
Trains will include reserved seating, and the private four-person table configurations within coaches will have plexiglass dividers, according to the news release.
kkokal@pbpost.com
@katikokal
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Brightline train from West Palm Beach to Miami restarts rides in November
