Brightline: Everything you need to know if you’re taking the fast train

Lois K. Solomon, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
·5 min read

Many South Floridians will do anything to avoid driving on Interstate 95. Fortunately, we now have a convenient alternative: Brightline.

Brightline trains speed smoothly up and down our coast at rates as high as 79 mph. It’s fun to watch motorists waiting at intersections as you breeze by in Brightline’s ultra-sleek cars, checking your emails, chatting with friends and not having to worry about the gas your car is burning as you idle in traffic.

Yes, it’s expensive. A recent round-trip from Boca Raton to Miami was $68. But you may be saving money on parking and gas. And if you check alternative times of day for your trip, you can find one-way fares for as low as $10, depending on how far you’re going.

Now, you can also take Brightline to Orlando at speeds of 110 mph, offering an alternative to Florida’s Turnpike and its inevitable gridlock. If you’re headed to Disney World or elsewhere in Central Florida, you’ll have to find your way out of Orlando International Airport, where Brightline ends. But with this guide below and a little research on your own, you can make it to your destination car-free. You may become addicted to the fabulous feeling of not having to pay for gas and worry about where to park.

Details below or go to GoBrightline.com for additional information.

Where are the stations?

Stops are in Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Orlando. A ride from Miami to Fort Lauderdale takes 38 minutes; Fort Lauderdale to Orlando is about three hours.

What are the costs?

Prices depend on the length of your trip, time of day and type of seating. A round-trip ticket from Fort Lauderdale to Miami on a recent day cost $48 for basic seating, called “SMART,” and $91 for “PREMIUM” seating, which is a first-class ticket with amenities such as seats in a special station waiting lounge and snacks. Everyone has to pay extra for pets ($10 and up) and parking ($7). You can also book an Uber ride from the station through the Brightline website; these are free for PREMIUM travelers if they are going within 5 miles of a station.

Related Articles

What’s it like on the train?

The stations are contemporary and new and have an airport-feel. Upon entering, passengers flash the code on their smartphones before proceeding through a turnstile. Travelers then put their bags through a security conveyor belt and walk through a metal detector. The stations have places to buy food, and on board, train attendants walk the aisles selling sandwiches, drinks and snacks. The trains have hand-stitched, gray leather seats and complimentary WiFi, as well as multiple power and USB outlets.

Attendants also carry wet wipes and clean tables and seats if they see anything amiss. Bathrooms are spotless and spacious and have touchless flushes.

How to get around when you arrive

If your destination is not within walking distance of the station, there are several options. Besides booking an Uber when you buy your ticket, you can get on one of the free electric golf cart-style vehicles that you will see around stations and nearby downtown areas in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and Miami; book through the Circuit app.

In Aventura, Fort Lauderdale and Miami, you can take a fixed-route shuttle; cost is $10 for the first guest and $5 for the guest’s companions. These shuttles also go to and from Miami International and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International airports.

Other options: Rent an Avis car at any station through the Avis app or avis.com. Or rent a bike; depending on the station, you will work with either BrightBike or CitiBike.

Things to do when you arrive

Miami: You can get almost anywhere in the city by way of the station, which has connections to Metrorail, Metrobus, MetroMover and Miami Trolley. The Kaseya Center, where the Miami Heat play basketball, and Bayside Marketplace are about a 13-minute walk. Downtown is a few steps away, including Miami Dade College and many government office buildings. And make sure to visit Red Rooster Overtown, the Southern comfort food restaurant created by famed chef-owner Marcus Samuelsson. It’s an 8-minute walk from the station.

Aventura: Take a Brightline shuttle to the landmark Aventura Mall, which has Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s and hundreds of other popular stores.

Fort Lauderdale: You can walk to Flagler Village or City Hall, or take a shuttle to Riverwalk and the city’s entertainment district. Recommended restaurants: The House on the River, 301 SW Third Ave.; Bandoleros Taqueria y Mas, 208 SW Second St.; and The Floridian, 1410 E. Las Olas Blvd.

Boca Raton: Mizner Park is across the street, and downtown Boca Raton is also in walking distance. Two excellent nearby restaurants: Corvina Seafood Grill, 110 Plaza Real S., and Tucci’s Fire N Coal Pizza, 50 NE First Ave.

West Palm Beach: A walk to the city’s waterfront takes only about 12 minutes; on the way, you can stroll along bustling Clematis Street, filled with restaurants and locally owned stores. When you get near the water and are ready to eat, check out Avocado Grill, 125 Datura St., or Elisabetta’s, 185 Banyan Blvd.

Orlando: The train arrives at Orlando International Airport; to get to Walt Disney World, take a Mears Connect shuttle ($16 for adults; $13.50 for kids age 3 to 9). There’s also the public Lynx bus system that will take you to Disney parks, SeaWorld, Winter Park, Apopka, Winter Garden and Sanford.

Special events

If you’re headed to a professional sports event, a concert or other large venue, check the Brightline website for Special Event Shuttles, which offer complimentary direct service to many Miami Heat, Miami Marlins, Inter Miami and Miami Dolphins games as well as to events at Hard Rock Stadium. At select stations, find special themed drinks and bar bites such as a Tailgate Twist or a Fin and Tonic en route to Miami Dolphins games or a GOOOL GETTER cocktail for Inter Miami matches.

Have you taken Brightline yet? How was it? Email me at AskLois@sunsentinel.com.