The greatest achievement in domestic train travel is happening without much fanfare in south Florida. It’s high-speed travel continents like Europe and Asia have excelled at for years. If you haven’t met, say hello to the Brightline, the best way to get around by rail in the U.S.
With stops along the Atlantic Coast in cities like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Boca Raton, and winding central towards Orlando, the Brightline covers a lot of ground and quickly at that. Rumors suggest the train will head towards the Gulf soon, stopping in and around Tampa Bay (and it will soon have a west coast presence in time for the Olympics, traveling from Las Vegas to Los Angeles).
Last month, I rode the train several times while bopping around Florida. I can say definitely that the experience was thoroughly enjoyable. It’s the kind of train travel I associate with Japan or Italy, not the Sunshine State.
The train
The trains are immaculately clean, with comfortable seats and booths setup with all the electrical inputs you could need. The west coast route is slated to have all electric trains. At the moment, the Florida trains are hybrids. The service is noteworthy, with staff seeming genuinely happy about their roles. The on-board food and drink service is deceptively good and the views throughout—whether in coach (dubbed “smart”) or premium class—are quite good. Unless you’re on a really crowded train, something I did not experience, I can’t imagine the splurge for premium to be entirely worth it.
The ride is all kinds of smooth, even at top speeds of around 125 mph. There interior is modern and the trains I experienced were quite punctual. I heard rumblings of seats on reclining enough but I found them to be so roomy that a recline wasn’t even necessary. While riding, you can choose from a host of drinks and snacks, along with entertainment accessories like a deck of cards and sleeping masks. I had a canned Mojito for $10 and noticed the all-day breakfast menu fit with $5 items across the board. Scan the QR code and your grub is delivered to your seat. Additionally, there’s plenty of room for standard luggage to carry on and the bathrooms are futuristically fun. I wasn’t sold on Brightline calling them “state-of-the-art” until I saw it for myself. Accessible, roomy, and hands-free across the board.
The stops
Maybe it’s just the new-ness of the stations but they were squeaky clean (perhaps to a fault, I almost felt like I should take my shoes off). The locations tend to be convenient, per the Orlando stop right beside the airport and stops like West Palm, set right downtown. Getting up and over the tracks with luggage is a breeze with speedy escalators and there’s an airy-ness to it all that’s decidedly above ground. I love me a good subway ride but the natural light and expansive views of the stops do wonders for your mental outlook.
The transition from rail to land is seamless and the stations are well-kempt to say the least. Security is there, but it feels minimal because it was such an efficient process on my travel legs. Outside of a misfiring metal detector for a brief spell initially, there were zero complaints and next to zero lines.
Another advantage once you get away from central Florida and along the coast is the views. Try to get a seat on the east side and you’ll be in luck. The commute from West Palm Beach to Miami isn’t always pleasant as it’s so often stifled with traffic. Sitting on a plush seat in a Brightline staring at passing palm trees and various ocean inlets is much, much more pleasant.
The details
Touchless turnstiles. A noticeable aesthetic that connects all the stations. Bustling bars with decent and not wildly expensive drinks. Grab-and-go stations with healthy food you actually want to eat. Solid parking. A worthwhile app. It all adds up with Brightline. After the first ride, I could not wait to do it all over again. I felt the same way even riding a midnight train home from an Inter Miami soccer game. It’s efficient, hospitable, and wildly easy to use. Bonus points for being pet-friendly, by the way.
There’s a Mary Mary bar at four of Brightline’s stops and it’s better than just about anything you’d find at an airport, not to mention a bit cheaper. The cocktails were well made, the beer pours were liberal, and the snacks were serviceable. Best, you can take that Old Fashioned cocktail or pint of IPA with you onto the train, should you desire. Kudos for putting the effort into having a few signature drinks too, like the Mule Skinner, a mix of vodka, lychee puree, and ginger beer.
Cost is perhaps an issue for some but I found the convenience and comfort to outweigh the dent in the paycheck. Shorter rides usually come in at around $30 while longer, like Orlando to Boca Raton, can be closer to $90. I suppose that would add up if I rode often but there are also deals to be had via the app and newsletter and if you’re flexible with your departure times. There’s also a rewards program for frequent riders.
In the end you miss out on the gridlock that so often plagues driving and the pre-flight stress associated with flying. You can just gaze out the window and watch the green flora of south Florida fizz by.
If future American train travel follow’s Brightline’s lead, the future is bright indeed.
