As residents of Orlando, we’ve closely followed developments with the Brightline train from Miami to Orlando. Ever since we took a trip on the Brightline trains in South Florida, we were sold. If the trains to Orlando were anything like the one we took from Fort Lauderdale to West Palm Beach, we were sure we’d take the train to Miami, if it ever happened.
With the unveiling of the Brightline station at Orlando Airport’s new train hub at Terminal C, we were excited to learn that tickets for the Orlando to Miami route, which also stops in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and Adventura will be on sale soon. According to the Orlando Sentinel:
Brightline, the South Florida-based high-speed rail service, said Thursday it intends to start selling tickets for its expanded service to Orlando in May for trips that will start at an unspecified date this summer.
There will be local routes servicing all stations as well as a non-stop Miami-Orlando offering.
When Ben at One Mile at a Time write about the expanded Brightline service, he looked at it from a Miami resident (since he lives there) and said that he didn’t see how the new service made sense.
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Florida is not like Amsterdam or Tokyo, and the reality is that most people want a car to get around, especially if you’re visiting Orlando; so even if Brightline can efficiently get you between two cities, it doesn’t change the need for a car
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While Brightline was initially supposed to have a connection to Walt Disney World, that’s no longer the case, and it poses a major issue; having the station in Orlando be at the airport is only ideal for those who have a flight out of there
As an Orlando resident, I have some insight into these two concerns and why they might not be the problem that he thinks.
There’s no public transportation infrastructure
When it comes to renting a car in Florida, that might be the case in Miami but many Orlando visitors don’t rent a car. That’s because they spend all of their time at Universal Studios or Disney World. Because the train station is at the airport, there are plenty of ways for people to get from there to the resorts.
In addition, many international visitors find the idea of a multi-hour road trip unbelievable. They’d much rather take a train, which is a form of transportation they’re familiar with, than drive from Miami to Orlando.
And if they want to rent a car, every company is located at the airport. It’s much less expensive to rent a car in Orlando than to pay extra for a one-way rental from Miami.
Brightline doesn’t go to Disney World
It’s true that the original plans had Brightline traveling to Walt Disney World. Disney wanted the train to travel from the MCO station to Disney on its way to Tampa. Several things derailed these plans, including the many residents along the path of the planned route.
Instead, an alternate solution has arrived in partnership with SunRail, the Orlando metro rail line. In partnership with Universal Studios and local government, they’ve announced the Sunshine Corridor. This will be an 11-mile connector from the airport to the existing SunRail station on Sand Lake Road and then onward to a station at International Drive/Convention Center/Epic Universe. Eventually, the line would travel to a stop adjacent to Disney World.
Initially, the route would be serviced by SunRail trains but the stations would be built to accommodate both SunRail and Brightline trains.
The new rail line is possible because of the help of Universal, who is tying the rail connector to the opening of its new theme park located nearby.
Universal, which has played a large role in facilitating the change, is donating 13 acres of land for the OCCC station and said it would support up to $125 million in private activity bonds towards the project. Universal and other partners will also contribute to, and collectively guarantee, $13 million in annual ticket sales for the Sunshine Corridor. That’s the estimated operating cost for year-round operation of the corridor.
Once built, SunRail would lease access to the tracks to Brightline as part of its route to Tampa.
While the train would start by traveling to I-Drive, the convention center and Universal, it would eventually serve as a rail connector from Orlando Airport to Disney World. Just not right away.
It’s a great way to get to Miami
Sharon and I are looking forward to taking Brightline to Miami. It will be a great way to visit the area since Brightline offers shuttle service to Miami Beach and Hard Rock Stadium for sporting events. It would also be a great way for us to get to Miami for a cruise instead of driving and paying for parking at the port. We also have friends and family who live in the greater Ft. Lauderdale area, which is already an established stop on Brightline..
While the time of the trip is about the same, there’s something to be said for driving for 6 hours instead of being on a train. One consideration is traffic. Most of the Florida Turnpike is a 2-lane road and a major accident can close the road for hours. Torrential thunderstorms cover the area for many months of the year, making driving treacherous.
I’d be more likely to visit South Florida if I could be productive on a train instead of dealing with the stress of driving.
Orlando residents need a rail connection to MCO
One final advantage for Orlando residents is having a SunRail connection between the airport and the main line that runs from Osceola to Seminole County. This would be great both for travelers and workers who need to commute to the airport every day.
Since parking at SunRail stations is free, it would save a ton in parking fees and you’d be right at the airport.
Final Thoughts
It’s easy for someone who doesn’t live in Orlando not to understand the appeal of a Brightline link from Orlando to Miami. While all of the benefits of the service are evident today, it’s the first part of Central Florida finally getting the transportation options we’ve lacked for decades.
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
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