Brightline has just informed investors that it is close to beginning operating trains to Orlando.
Commencement of operations to Orlando is now planned for the second quarter of 2023, the company told bondholders yesterday.
The Orlando station is expected to be completed in March, with 100% system completion in Q2 2023, the company added.
More than 90% of work on the Orlando extension is now complete, according to Brightline.
Brightline now has all of the trainsets needed for Orlando service, with the final one shipped from a Siemens factory in California this week and currently enroute to Florida.
Ridership on the existing Brightline service between Miami and West Palm Beach continues to boom – up 143% in January alone, compared to the same period in 2022.
Two new stations, Boca Raton and Aventura (both opened in December), contributed 42,391 rides to the Brightline system in January.
In addition, the Miami-Dade commuter rail system continues to advance, with design and engineering firm HNTB on schedule to complete design and cost estimates for the service in March 2023.
Plans for commuter rail service in Broward and Palm Beach are also advancing.
Brightline Trains at the new Orlando International Airport Station:
(photo: brightline)