While airline travelers continue to experience long wait times amid the ongoing partial government shutdown, Brightline Florida officials said its experiencing record-high ridership.
Brightline Florida had a record number of guests, more than 40,000, travel between Orlando, Miami and across South Florida between March 13 and 15. CEO Patrick Goddard told USA Today Network he believed “airport congestion” is prompting travelers to seek alternative avenues.
“Spring break visitors, Florida residents, and major events like the World Baseball Classic helped fuel the surge,” Goddard said. “This weekend, we continue to welcome families on spring break from around the country, along with guests attending the Miami Open and heading out on cruises. We also look forward to connecting travelers to the Palm Beach Boat Show and other events next weekend and throughout the rest of the month.”
The partial government shutdown has forced Transportation Security Administration officers to go without pay for weeks. TSA officers missed their first full paycheck March 13 after receiving partial checks on Feb. 28.
Hundreds of workers have quit and many are calling out of work, resulting in long wait times at airports across the state and country.
Another issue is surging gas prices, which are now averaging $4 a gallon in at least five Florida counties.
Brightline deal gets children up to 50% off rides
Brightline has a deal allowing children to travel at up to 50% off, and avoid the hassle of long wait times at airports.
The offer is available on trains between Orlando and five South Florida stations. To get the deal, it must be booked 10 days in advance and with any adult fare. No promo code is needed.
Rides between the South Florida stations offer a 25% savings for children ages 3-12. Those 2 and under ride for free.
What is security like to ride Brightline?
Each passenger has to present a Brightline ticket and pass through a screening area before entering the train platform.
All bags go through an X-ray scanner and passengers walk through metal detectors, similar to airport screenings. Most of the security and safety team is comprised of former law enforcement leaders, according to Brightline Florida officials.
What is the Brightline and how fast does it go?
Brightline has 10 high-speed passenger trains that travel numerous times a day between Orlando and South Florida.
Operation began in September 2023. There are currently six stations, however, there have been discussions to expand the route west to Tampa and add stops in other parts along Florida’s east coast.
The maximum speed for Brightline is 125 mph from Orlando International Airport to Cocoa. Between Cocoa and West Palm Beach it hits speeds up to 110 mph and between West Palm Beach and Miami it goes as fast as 79 mph.
The high speeds help get passengers quicker from point A to point B. A ride from Miami to Orlando is 3 hours and 25 minutes. West Palm Beach to Orlando is 2 hours.
What are the South Florida Brightline stations?
What is the cost for a Brightline ticket?
That depends on the route, day and time.
A business class ticket for an adult starts around $50. A premium adult ticket starts at about $109.
Is there a fee to carry bags on the Brightline?
The is no cost for carry-on bags, but there is a two-bag limit, but they cannot weigh more than 50 pounds.
Larger bags can be checked for a fee, and must be added to the booking in advance.
Michelle Spitzer is a journalist for The USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA. As the network’s Rapid Response reporter, she covers Florida’s breaking news. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brightline sees record high ridership thanks to TSA delays, gas prices
Reporting by Michelle Spitzer, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Florida Today
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