Day 1: Brightline passenger service South Florida to Orlando passes through Treasure Coast

Brightline's South Florida high-speed train service traveling to and from the new Brightline Orlando Train Station started Friday, Sept. 22.

Brightline customers can buy a ticket from Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach to Orlando, and from Orlando to any of those five stops in South Florida. The new train station in Orlando is adjacent to Terminal C at the Orlando International Airport.

The maximum speed for a Brightline train through the Treasure Coast will be 110 mph. That's not sustained speed — that's the maximum speed it can go. Going through downtowns, those speeds will be somewhere in the 70- to 80-mph range, Brightline officials have said. To give some perspective, a freight train's maximum speed is 60 mph. Brightline may reach 125 mph from Cocoa to Orlando in wide open areas.

Welcome to Day 1 of high-speed train travel through the Treasure Coast, as TCPalm journalists record the experience along the tracks.

See images of first Brightline trains through Treasure Coast

The first Brightline trains with passengers travel through the Treasure Coast.

7:30 p.m.: See 'ya tomorrow Brightline!

5:30 p.m.: Fencing helps shield people from tracks in Vero Beach

People could be seen gathered behind The Source, a homelessness resource center just east of the railroad as a Brightline train passes north over 12th Street south of Vero Beach.

Fencing was installed along the nonprofit’s western border with the railroad about five years ago to prevent people walking in from the tracks, said Jade Alexander of The Source.

3:50 p.m.: Law enforcement weighs in on Brightline's first day

Sheriff's officials and police on the Treasure Coast noted few, if any, issues.

Martin County Sheriff’s Lt. Todd Schimelfanick said he and another deputy were at the roundabout in downtown Jensen Beach near a train crossing, while other deputies were at a number of other locations.

“We have not incurred any type of accidents,” he said. “It's been incident free.”

The closures for Brightline crossings, Schimelfanick said, are considerably shorter than those for longer freight trains.

“Once the sensors are triggered by Brightline, whether it be north or southbound, the arms are activated," he said. "From the moment that the arm is activated, and the train passes and the arms are extended back up, it's 45 seconds.”

He said the trains were not really impacting traffic at all.

“We’ve witnessed little to no impact in our county," St. Lucie Sheriff Ken Mascara said. Police representatives in Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce agreed.

In Indian River County, sheriff’s Sgt. Kevin Jaworski said there were no issues to report regarding Brightline.

3:02 p.m.: Through Fort Pierce at 38 mph

2:55 p.m.: Se 'ya later alligator!

2:37 p.m.: 'There's so much traffic through here ...' in Hobe Sound

The trains worry David Morgan, the owner of A1 Auto Care on Southeast Dixie Highway and Southeast Gleason Street in Hobe Sound, who stood outside of the shop to watch as the first passengers made their way through the Treasure Coast.

Morgan was standing in a similar spot about three decades earlier, he said, when a train collision led to a derailment. He and a customer were left running. “There’s so much traffic through here, especially at certain times of the day, you know somebody is going to get hit. It’s just a matter of when, and I just worry about that,” Morgan said.

He said he does not see the increased crossings, which could potentially bring the crossing arms in front of his store down 36 times per day, in addition to when they go down for freight trains, impacting his business much.

2:15 p.m.: Brightline could increase area's 'hustle and bustle'

Gavin Clyde, 21, is a store clerk on the package side of the St. Lucie Inn at State Road A1A and Old Dixie Highway north of Fort Pierce near the tracks. He said he occasionally catches a glimpse of the train.

“It’s not as large as the normal train that goes by and it’s definitely quieter,“ he said.

Clyde said trains pass frequently, and customers are pretty used to it.

“They don’t really complain too much, at least to me,” he said.

Clyde said he did not think the full Brightline schedule of 32 trips daily would impact things too much.

“It might increase the hustle and bustle of our area a little bit, but other than that, I don’t necessarily see how it would change anything,” he said.

2 p.m.: Reviews mixed for some in Vero Beach

Downtown Vero Beach businesses, shops and cafes sit just over a 150 or so yards west of the tracks.

At least three people sat Outside Rio Coco Café drinking iced coffee and having brunch, including local business owners Kenneth and Deborah Daige.

“I hope that when Brightline goes full-time that they follow safety protocols that are in place and make sure that their signals are working properly,” said Kenneth Daige, business owner and former City Council candidate.

Daige said he was chairman of the High-Speed Rail Commission in 2013 when the passenger train was up for debate in Indian River County.

“The tracks here are right through our downtown, so we want to make sure … that they stay safe,” he said..

Sebastian resident, Alex Pagliuca, 46, sat at a café table with his laptop and drink. He said, as a writer, the train did not have much of a direct impact on him or his occupation.

“I think it’s good,” said Pagliuca. “I’m not opposed at all to the idea of more high-speed rail.”

The staff of a downtown pizza parlor made pizzas and folded delivery boxes as they prepared for lunch. Italian Kitchen Manager Jessica Langbehn said, so far, they had been able to deliver food without noticeable delay from increased railroad crossings.

She said she liked the idea of the train, especially if somehow a stop were to come to anywhere near downtown Vero Beach, which, she said could bring in customers. Her concern, however, was the possibility of up to 32 crossings a day driving people away from downtown.

1:46 p.m.: Some Sebastian residents have safety concerns

"You get used to it," said Tony Wood, who lives next to the tracks on the west side and south of the Sebastian River Bridge. "Honestly the freight trains are louder."

"My main concern is there aren't any 'no trespassing' signs or fencing here," Wood said. "I see people on the bridge all the time. Something's going to happen."

"I don't mind," said Mike Capps, who lives on the east side of the tracks. "They're fast and they take no longer than a red light."

1:32 p.m.: Brightline 'flies' through northern St. Lucie County

1:15 p.m.: People optimistic, but cautious about Brightline

People owning businesses or working at the Sailfish Circle near Stuart’s city hall were largely optimistic about the new Brightline. They want a station or stop as it would be good for their business. But many others were also cautious and apprehensive. They do not want it to get crowded, congested and expensive here like in many cities down South.

Woody Yoosaeng, owner of Thai Pepper Restaurant, expressed concern about how the train passing by could impact his business by the tracks in downtown Fort Pierce. “People want to come in the restaurant that are stuck over there. that's a problem.”

1:06 p.m.: He feels the need for speed in Stuart

Matthew Casaliggi, 18, of Port St. Lucie, had his camera ready to film Brightline trains crossing the St. Lucie River Friday. He had two cameras ready under the Roosevelt Bridge: one mounted for video and another to take photos.

"I really got interested in Brightline because high-speed rail, you don't really see that too much in North America," Casaliggi said. "And I've always wanted to see the Brightline go up where I am closer and not just West Palm to Miami."

He said Friday was the fastest he's seen them go. Casaliggi said he's originally from New York City, and though an abundance of passenger trains pass through there every day, he said it's much more exciting to witness the speed of the Brightline.

12:27 p.m. Not too speedy

The third Brightline train coasted through the Jensen Beach railroad bend at 44 mph.

12:26 p.m. Brightline 'round the bend in Hobe Sound

The first northbound Brightline train to carry passengers through the Treasure Coast rounds a corner in Hobe Sound.

12:15 p.m.: Mural art as the train goes by

Christopher Gunkel, 69, was painting a mural on a building in downtown Fort Pierce just east of the railroad tracks Friday. He is a Brightline fan. “We need more transit. We need relief from traffic. The interstates are plugged. I don't like driving on them.” He said he’d love to ride Brightline. “I don’t mind seeing the train, I don’t mind hearing it. It’s not a problem to me.”

12:05 p.m.: Riding Brightline to Orlando airport

What did one railroad industry executive think of his first trip from Miami to Orlando?

"The main terminal in Miami makes an exceptional impression of the train service," Jon Chalon texted his high school friend, TCPalm columnist Laurence Reisman, about noon. "The station is clean, modern and offers many locations for food and drink. Pre-screening security is easy and an important feature for the service.

"The trains are modern, clean and comfortable," texted Chalon, publisher of several railroad magazines and websites for Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corp. He said the service and comfort are comparable to trains in Europe.

The speed is not, slower, he said.

"The fastest part of the route is when the train curves west from Cocoa Beach to Orlando airport. Peak speed was 125 mph when we blew past the cars on the highway.

"Arrival station is just a nice as Miami. There is a seamless connection to the main terminal area via airport train. I was easily able to make my 12:09 p.m. flight with a train that got into Orlando at 11:08."

12 p.m.:  Residents in Stuart react to Brightline debut on Treasure Coast

“We are less than a mile away in Hobe Sound. It’s going to be loud. I know people have sold their houses right next door,” said Chrissy Cera, a Hobe Sound resident visiting downtown Stuart on Friday with her husband, Lou Cera as Brightline began passenger service from Miami to Orlando.

Jamal Graves, the head chef of Signature Sweets, in downtown Stuart, said he’s excited for Brightline starting passenger service from Orlando to Miami.

“Honestly it’s a great move on everybody’s part. Hopefully they make a stop here in Stuart, there would be a lot more business for every store downtown,” said Graves. “It’s been a good economic move in general."

11:50 a.m.: Brightline CEO discusses Treasure Coast opposition

Aboard one of the first trains Friday, Brightline CEO Mike Reininger spoke about the Treasure Coast's decade-long fight against the passenger rail service.

"We have come a long way in terms of developing a very positive relationship with the communities," he said. "I think the community has become much more aware of the benefits of having the train stop in their community.

"We are going to get to work really hard now to make the next stop happen here in the Treasure Coast someplace. Stay tuned for that. Lots is going to happen in the near future.”

11:02 a.m.: Brightline zips through Fort Pierce

There was little fanfare Friday morning as a northbound Brightline passed through downtown Fort Pierce. A sign warned that trains may exceed 80 mph, though this one appeared to be traveling much slower.

10:32 a.m.: Vero Beach pickleball players see Brightline pass near Pocahontas Park

Bob Dini, 73, of Vero Beach, is a pickleball court attendant and has been courtside just 20-30 yards from the railroad tracks throughout Brightline’s gradual build-up to its first day carrying passengers Friday. Over 20 people were on the Pocahontas Park pickleball courts swatting the hollow plastic balls in teams that morning as the first trains passed north and south.

A five-year resident, Dini said he had “no objections,” so far, to the trains outside of a few slow passings he encountered as the company worked out the passenger rail system.

He said he’s holding out his final judgment until trains begin to move through Vero Beach up to 32 times a day, but he said he would mostly like to see a station built somewhere in the area for passenger access.

10:12 a.m.:  Northbound train clears Port St. Lucie

The 8:38 train to Miami bulleted through Port St. Lucie in a flash of canary yellow and a handful of horn blasts nearly swallowed by the swish of its wheels along the tracks.

This crossing at Southeast Walton Road, abutting the hushed Savannas Preserve State Park and within view of the Indian River Lagoon, is a rough halfway point between Brightline’s Orlando and Miami stations.

“It didn’t seem like 110 mph,” shouted a driver, who had been stopped at the railroad crossing, before continuing west on Walton.

10:10 a.m.: Brightline passes through downtown Vero Beach

A second, slower moving northbound Brightline train passed around 10 minutes later in about the same amount of time and seemed to cause little disruption to traffic on downtown thoroughfares Friday morning.

10:06 a.m.: Just watching the Brightline train go by in Fort Pierce

Fank Spencer, 74, of Fort Pierce, was in downtown Fort Pierce Friday morning to get a glimpse of the Brightline trains passing through. “It was cool,” Spencer said, noting he has ridden the high-speed bullet train in Japan. “It’s still in the infancy stage compared to the bullet nose.”

He arrived about 8:30 a.m. and saw a Brightline southbound train. He estimated it was traveling 50 to 60 mph, and heard the horn from a good distance. “I know the difference between them and the regular freight trains because they got a different sound.”

9:54 a.m. Hello Vero Beach!

9:39 a.m.: Second southbound Brightline train through Sebastian

Brightline passes through County Road 512 in 45 seconds! A few cars patiently wait.

9:20 a.m.: Safety pamphlets distributed in downtown Stuart by Federal Railroad Administration staff

Approach intersections with care and prepare to stop are top-of-the-list tips. Federal workers are urging people to be very careful. A pedestrian was hit and killed earlier this morning by a train in Palm Beach County.

9:18 a.m.: View of Treasure Coast from Brightline train

TCPalm's news partners at the Palm Beach Post shot this video of the Treasure Coast aboard a Brightline train to Orlando.

9 a.m.: Radar speed check traveling Treasure Coast

TCPalm's Katie Delk travels the Treasure Coast checking train speeds.

8:50: Stuart residents encourage Brightline stop

8:22 a.m.: First Brightline passes into Stuart's Confusion Corner

TCPalm invested in a radar gun to check train speeds throughout the Treasure Coast. Follow along to see what they are. The passenger train went through the intersection at 32 mph, and cars waited at the crossroad for about 1 minute.

8:21 a.m.: City of Stuart welcomes Brightline

City of Stuart employees gather opposite city hall near the rail tracks around 8 a.m. Friday Sept. 22, 2023 donning yellow sunglasses, garlands, and black and yellow balloons, waiting to cheer the Brightline train go by.

8:10 a.m.: Quiet after the first Brightline train hits Treasure Coast

It's raining lightly as a steady flow of traffic passes without any backups. Next train from Orlando in about an hour!

7:47 a.m.: First Brightline passenger train passes through Sebastian!

The Brightline train sped through County Road 510 and U.S. 1 crossing, as cars lined up as it passed. It took less than 30 seconds for the four passenger cars to pass through the crossing, as cars lined the west side of the tracks.

7 a.m.: Getting ready for Brightline passenger trains

With faster trains than the Treasure Coast is used to pushing through the area starting Friday, keeping people alert about the new Brightline passenger high-speed service has been top-of-mind.

This safety message first was spotted in downtown Fort Pierce on Wednesday, not far from the train tracks.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Live updates: Brightline's Day 1 traveling through the Treasure Coast