Brightline Reveals Orlando Airport Station, Enabling Train Service to South Florida

Brightline continues the legacy of railroad travel that revolutionized Florida tourism during its 1920s heyday by offering modern and eco-friendly train service between Orlando and South Florida – two tourism hotspots with immense tourism potential.

Brightline opened their highly anticipated Brightline Orlando Station at Orlando International Airport (MCO) to an invited group of over 300, including local dignitaries, elected officials, media members and members.

Brightline CEO Mike Reininger at the event stated, “With easy and enjoyable access from major hubs across South Florida, this station will serve as the gateway to some of Florida’s most desired attractions – such as Walt Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld theme parks as well as this fantastic airport.”

“Citizens and visitors of Central Florida: Your backyard may soon expand!”
Brightline will operate 16 daily roundtrips between Miami and Orlando with hourly departures until service launches this summer, when West Palm Beach becomes its initial South Florida stop. Travel time from Orlando will take two hours.

Nonstop Brightline trains between Orlando and Miami will have a run time of three hours; regular service trains will stop at all five South Florida stations including West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and Aventura over an estimated three hour and 30 minute span.

Brightline ticket sales will launch in May with one-way fares starting at $79 each way for its SMART service and $149 for PREMIUM service; family four packs can purchase discounted fare bundles starting under $199 each way on Brightline’s SMART fare bundles. PREMIUM services provide complimentary meals, snacks and beverages such as cocktails, beer and wine in an exclusive lounge; free checked luggage; priority boarding priority as well as access to their own coach service.

Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline said this service “is an exciting development for the state”. Relax while we take over driving as you stream movies while streaming your own experience in our comfortable leather seats and enjoy smooth transportation services across our nation’s states! ” “Brightline offers stress-free rides across their routes while relieving congestion from traffic jams while we let us do all of the driving!”
Brightline Florida is making history in multiple ways. Orlando International airport is now the sole national airport to boast an intercity high-speed passenger rail station; and Brightline recently reached speeds of 130 mph to become Southeast’s fastest train service provider.

Goddard noted that each year approximately 35 million travelers travel between South Florida and Central Florida–98 percent by driving or bus. Additionally, approximately 50 million fly between Orlando and Miami airports while Central and South Florida cruise ports-Port Canaveral, Port Everglades and PortMiami–serve 16 million passengers combined; Florida attracts 130 million annual visitors making Brightline’s impact “transformative.”

Goddard asserted: “We believe this initiative to be very transformative for tourism in Florida and a tremendous asset to state government in terms of getting more visitors here, moving around it more freely, and staying within Central Florida to visit Palm Beach or Fort Lauderdale or Miami a more attractive option than before – making travel convenient, safe, eco-friendly, and an overall wonderful experience!”

Brightline stations, designed as “relics from an elegant age of travel,” begin the experience, according to George Edwards, Brightline’s vice president for guest experience.

Orlando Station boasts sleek sophistication with luxurious lounges for PREMIUM and SMART services; self-service ticket kiosks; touchless turnstiles; 486 power outlets to facilitate device charging; complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi service; BrightKids play area and the Mary Mary Bar (named for two wives of Henry Flagler who founded Florida East Coast Railway) all providing convenience of travel for passengers.

As another nod to rail travel’s golden age, an eye-catching split-flap display above the bar provides updated train schedules, boarding times and more – with its unmistakable tile sound evoking memories of Europe’s grand rail stations.

Brightline stations stand out by having an intoxicating blend of citrus and vanilla scent that wafts throughout. If it strikes a chord with you, pick up an iconic candle from MRKT PLACE–its in-station convenience store offering last-minute gifts, sundries and refreshments before taking an escalator to one of two 1,000-foot train platforms to ride Brightline!

Brightline Orlando Station can be found inside Orlando International Airport near Terminal C which opened for service last September with JetBlue flights as well as international ones. It will connect directly to Parking Garage C which has 350 reserved for Brightline guests; passengers can easily travel between Terminals A and B using automated people mover; departure times of Brightline trains will also be displayed throughout the airport.

Brightline Orlando Airport Station opens up many new markets for Brightline Train Service since launching in South Florida last year–from international travelers to domestic customers and wholesalers alike. Brightline considers their station more of an international launch rather than local one; we are now entering into contracts with wholesalers before setting our system live on GDS (Global Distribution Systems) over the coming weeks so travel agents will be able to book through them and earn commission from travel agency sales; commissionable rates should be in place prior to service beginning here, stated Goddard.

Travel agents can now register as Bright Advisors with Brightline via GoBrightline.com to gain access to discounted fares across South Florida service. According to Gabriel Martinez, vice president of distribution of Brightline, Orlando station unveiling caused an unprecedented surge in registrations.

“Everyone appreciates the significance of travel trade,” noted Martinez. “We are working on developing tools we will offer travel advisors.”

Brightline’s service between South Florida and Orlando gives travel advisors new avenues of selling Florida, according to Martinez: “Travel advisors now have new tools at their disposal that enable them to increase sales by making it more convenient than ever for their clients to travel there. This new opportunity creates multiple selling channels.”

As Brightline expanded across South Florida, Brightline+ became even easier for passengers to reach its stations with premium fares including complimentary Uber rides within five miles of each Brightline station. Riders could add the ride as part of their itinerary within Brightline app where pickup times would automatically coincide with train’s schedule.

Brightline+ provides fixed route shuttle services between Miami International Airport (MIA), as well as three locations on Miami Beach; and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL). One-way rides cost $10 per person while Brightline Aventura Mall Shuttle transports passengers directly to Aventura Mall Bus Stop at no additional charge; additionally neighborhood electric vehicles operate free around West Palm Beach, Boca Raton Fort Lauderdale Miami stations plus special event and sporting event free shuttle service including Miami Marlins games, Miami HEAT games and Inter Miami CF games among many more!

Brightline’s ease of use, on-time performance, comfortable leather seats with power and USB outlets and snack and beverage service have won it many devoted followers in South Florida. One passenger on a recent Miami-bound train raved about Brightline’s convenience, amenities and partnership with Uber before proclaiming they wouldn’t drive to Orlando again: stating their decision as they said goodbye: stating, ‘I’ll never drive again!”


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