A 27-mile taste of Brightline--Fort Lauderdale International Airport to Downtown Miami

Background

I proudly consider myself a transit geek! My keen interest in rail transit started during my early teenage years. As I grew into my late teens and early adulthood, I

3. relished in a variety of systems, from Amtrak to the subway networks of Boston, New York, and Washington, DC, as well as the newly established Miami Metrorail system.

Therefore, I had been following with great anticipation the opening of the Brightline high-speed rail line, and I finally had the opportunity to ride this past fall.

Brightline Defined

Brightline is a high-speed passenger rail service running from Orlando International Airport to downtown Miami, covering the 235 distance in under four hours, with stops in the major South Florida Florida's east coast cities, including West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale.

The Journey Begins

My Brightline mini expedition began at Fort Lauderdale International Airport.

I exited the baggage claim area at Terminal 1 and waited for the Brightline shuttle van to take me to the station, which I booked through the Brightline website :

I waited for about 20 minutes and boarded the shuttle for the 15-minute ride to the station. It was well worth the $10 fee for the 4.5-mile jaunt.

Fort Lauderdale Brightline Station

The station features a mid-century modern design, characterized by white V-shaped concrete columns that elevate the concourse above the train tracks. Natural light fills the concourse, with floor-to-ceiling windows brightening the departure lounge.

Premium Lounge

I booked a Premium ticket, so I accessed the first class lounge upon arrival. It was very comfortable, with unlimited coffee and pastries. It is not the Amex lounge, but worth the extra surcharge!

photo citation: Ourlittlelifestyle.com

For a deeper dive on Brightline Station Architecture, check out

A Historical Tidbit:

Brightline operates on tracks originally constructed by the Florida East Coast Railway (FECR), initiated by railroad magnate Henry M. Flagler to develop Florida's east coast. The railway he established stretches 350 miles from Jacksonville to Miami. Flagler is credited with transforming Miami from a quiet village into a tourist destination by extending the railway southward from Palm Beach.

Over time, the company evolved into Florida East Coast Industries (FECI), a larger business that included the railroad and other ventures. While FECR is now a separate company, FECI still uses its tracks for passenger service with Brightline.

Paying homage to its heritage, Brightline has named its train station bars Mary, Mary in honor of Henry Flagler's first wife, Mary. Notably, the Brightline Miami Central Station is located two blocks north of Miami's FEC station, which was constructed in 1912 and demolished in 1963.

photo citation: MiamiHistory.com

Boarding

Boarding is effortless. The train's arrival is announced over the public address system about 10 minutes before departure, and patrons are guided down the escalator towards the platform. The train arrives, and poof... You enter the train.

The train is quite comfortable. I would say as sleek as a European high-speed train. Sitting in first class, I was served complimentary snacks and coffee after leaving Fort Lauderdale and again after departing the last intermediate stop, Aventura.

photo citation : Clint Henderson/The Points Guy thepointsguy.com

The passing landscape features a mix of suburban pastel residential areas transitioning into railroad industrial zones, which gradually merge into newly constructed residential high-rises as one nears Miami. The tracks ascend to an elevation of 50 feet. As the train gets closer to downtown Miami, you catch sight of Miami's striking high-rises and the turquoise waters of Biscayne Bay in the distance.

Brightline enters downtown Miami on an elevated viaduct 40 minutes and 27 miles after leaving FLL.

Miami Central Station

The Brightline trains arrive on the upper levels of MiamiCentral, which is part of an ambitious 9-acre mixed-use development of transportation, retail, and residential development

The station is also served by Tri-Rail, South Florida's commuter rail network

The station is elevated 50 ft above street level and follows a similar design pattern to the other South Florida Brightline stations--V-shaped exterior columns, large windows, and a spacious concourse.

Exiting the Station

As part of Premium class, I received a $10 voucher for my Uber. I scheduled my Uber as the train arrived in Miami. I walked out the front door and found my Uber. 10 minutes later, I was at my hotel.

Brightline is wonderful, futuristic, comfortable, and a great hope for privately owned high-speed rail in our nation's auto-centric environment! I look forward to riding the full Orlando to Miami route shortly! I am also looking forward to the opening of Brightline West, with high-speed rail service from the Los Angeles area to Las Vegas, with the opening scheduled for a very optimistic (in my opinion) Fall 2028.

If you have ridden on Brightline, tell us about your experiences in the comments section.