When a Brightline train broke through the ribbon at Orlando International Airport’s sparkling new station, leaders cited a new era of transportation.
The Sept. 22, 2023, debut of the expansion for the Miami-based intercity rail system was the culmination of more than a decade of work to connect South Florida and Orlando. Central Florida business owners and political leaders lined the platform as the first train from Miami to Orlando rolled into the station.
Brightline Florida CEO Patrick Goddard said then the expansion would build upon what it was already doing in South Florida, which began in 2018 as a connection between West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
“We are changing the way millions of people have traveled throughout South Florida and now, throughout the state,” Goddard said.
