Miami-Orlando Brightline route is now on a roll. What to know about taking the train

Taking a train ride from Miami to Orlando is no longer just talk. Brightline’s new higher-speed rail connection is starting after more than four years in the making.

On Friday, Sept. 22, the inaugural trip was scheduled to leave the downtown Miami station at 6:41 a.m. for a 3-1/2 journey to the recently finished station at Orlando International Airport. It got underway about 45 minutes after the scheduled time, after ceremonies at the Miami station for the first trip to Central Florida.

Orlando is Brightline’s sixth stop, and the first outside of South Florida. Trains already run between Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach.

Work on the Orlando route got started in June 2019, with station construction starting in January 2022. Leading up to the Orlando route debut, Brightline made history as the fastest train in the Southeast earlier this year, reaching speeds of 130 mph in a test run.

“This is a pretty important moment, whether you’re thinking about it in the context of the state of Florida or what it might mean for these kinds of products as they develop elsewhere in the United States,” Brightline CEO Mike Reininger said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. “The idea that my car is the only way for me to get where I need to go is being challenged by a new product. A new product that’s safer, that’s greener, that is a great value proposition,” and “it’s fun.”

TAKE A LOOK: Brightline unveils new Orlando station. Here’s when you can grab tickets

Here’s what to know about Brightline’s newest route:

Where can I buy tickets?

▪ Tickets can be purchased through Brightline’s website (gobrightline.com) and the company’s app. Tickets are available for train rides to Orlando between September and March.

▪ One-way standard tickets, or SMART fares, to Orlando start at $79 for adults and are $39 for kids ages 2 to 12. Round-trip tickets will are available.

▪ Groups of four or more people traveling together can get savings of up to 25% on their fares, according to Brightline.

▪ One-way first-class tickets, called premium fares, start at $149. These tickets come with use of a lounge, priority boarding, and complimentary snacks and beverages.

How long is the Miami to Orlando Brightline trip?

▪ The 235-mile trip from Miami to Orlando takes about 3 1/2 hours, with the train reaching speeds of up to 125 mph.

▪ Brightline earlier this year said it eventually planns to have 16 daily round trips with hourly departures between Miami and Orlando.

▪ The Orlando service also will stop at existing stations in Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach, according to the private train company. Brightline says dedicated trains will continue to serve commuters and tourists in South Florida from Miami to West Palm Beach and back again. The only other passenger train service that connects South Florida to other parts of the state is the federally run Amtrak.

How do Brightline passengers get to theme parks?

▪ Brightline offers “first-last mile” connections at Orlando International Airport to help passengers get to Central Florida’s main attractions, about 30 minutes from the station.

▪ Mears Transportation has partnered with Brightline to offer “shared connect shuttles” and “luxury private rides” to certain locations, which can be booked on Brightline’s mobile app and website. The shared connect shuttles run 24/7 and will take passengers to Walt Disney World Resort and 25 other resorts. Fares are $16 one-way for adults and $13 for children. Those 3 and under ride free.

▪ Luxury private rides function like a ride-share. Starting price is $63, and these riders can be taken to wherever passengers want to go.

▪ Brightline passengers are at the airport when they get off the train, which means Orlando International’s sizable ride-share area is available. Access to Uber and Lyft hubs are nearby.

▪ Car rental companies, including Hertz and Enterprise, have hubs at the airport.

▪ Certain hotels in the Orlando area also offer shuttle services from the airport and can be used by booked Brightline passengers.

What’s at the Orlando Brightline station?

▪ Brightline passengers arriving at the Orlando train station will be next to Orlando International Airport’s Terminal C. It connects to one of the airport’s parking garages with spaces reserved for Brightline travelers. Passengers also can reach airport Terminals A and B in under five minutes.

▪ The Orlando station offers self-service kiosks, luggage checks, turnstiles and ticket purchasing.

▪ Food and drink options at the Orlando train station include a sit-down bar called Mary Mary Bar serving cocktails and light food. A store called MRKT PLACE sells gifts and refreshments.

▪ A children’s play area is inside a lounge for travelers that has charging stations, TVs and Wi-Fi.

Comparing transportation options to Orlando

▪ The price of an airline ticket from Miami to Orlando can be unpredictable — all depending on the airline, dates and seating, which can all drop or increase the price of a ticket. Airline tickets usually run between just under $100 all the way to near $300 between Florida’s largest airports (Miami International to Orlando International).

▪ Driving from Miami to Orlando could take 3/12 to 4 hours hours and cost about $30 to $40 for gas.

What to know about Brightline

▪ Brightline, a private company, began South Florida service in 2018 with stations in downtown Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Stations in Aventura and Boca Raton opened in December 2022. The train stopped running for a year and a half during the height of the pandemic before resuming service and adding stations.

▪ The trains travel on tracks east of the separate Tri-Rail tracks, which run along the I-95 corridor between Miami airport and West Palm Beach.

▪ The trains go faster than Tri-Rail and freight trains, reaching speeds of more than 100 mph. That has led to safety issues at rail crossings, and dozens of crashes, many involving drivers that try to beat the train signals and don’t make it across in time as the faster yellow trains approach.