High-speed trains could be whisking passengers between Miami and West Palm Beach within the next few months, as part of a planned new railroad service which could be expanded to Orlando by 2020.
The SunSentinel reports that the Brightline train service is scheduled to commence by the end of 2017, but significant work remains before that can happen, including construction of a Miami station, road-crossing work, testing, and establishing fares and schedules.
Stations in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach have been completed, however, and there has been speculation that the cost of a trip from Miami to West Palm Beach could be set as low as $12 one-way, according to travel expert Arthur Froemmer.
“Pricing, schedules and our mobile app and new website will be released closer to launch,” said Brightline CEO David Howard. “We look forward to launching introductory service by the end of the year.”
Trains are currently being tested on the tracks and in the new stations. The $3-billion project is privately financed and was originally supposed to launch in September 2017, but was delayed by a variety of factors, including the effects of Hurricane Irma.
