High-speed train Miami-Orlando will enter service on September 1

This Wednesday, the Brightline company officially concluded the works on the high-speed rail line between Miami and Orlando (Florida), which will enter service on September 1 with a total of 16 daily trips.

“It's official, construction in Orlando has finally been completed, paving the way for the launch of service between central and south Florida this summer,” rail company Brightline said Wednesday in a message from Twitter.

The project of unite Miami with the city of theme parks, in which about 2 have been invested.

Starting in September there will be 16 daily trips with hourly departures, with prices starting at $79 for adults and $39 for children.

It's official. Construction to Orlando is finally complete – paving the way for the launch of service between Central and South Florida this summer 🚆🎉 pic.twitter.com/96F38KStpZ

— Brightline (@GoBrightline) June 21, 2023

Mike Reininger, CEO of Brightline, noted that "completing this project is the culmination of more than a decade of dedication, determination and hard work."

“We have built something remarkable,” he said.

The 235-mile (378 km) rail hub will connect downtown Miami to Orlando International Airport, with stops in Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and Palm Beach.

The only stretch left to complete was the Palm stretch Beach-Orlando, of 168 miles (270 km), whose works began in 2019, a year after the trains between Miami and Palm Beach entered service, stopping in Fort Lauderdale.

In 2022, the They opened intermediate stations in downtown Boca Raton and in Aventura.

“Connecting Florida's top tourist destinations is beneficial to our economy, residents and visitors,” said Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, a candidate in the 2024 Republican primary that will lead to the candidate for the White House.

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean J. Trantalis stressed that high-speed rail creates “true synergies between our tourism sectors and business economies”.

“It is an honor to witness the completion of construction on this project,” said Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline.

Brightline, once a Virgin partner, bills itself as “America's only provider of modern, green, high-speed rail services”.

In August 2022, he received a federal grant from $25 million to increase security and reduce the rate of fatal accidents that occur on its network.

Brightline wants to bring its service to cities that are “too close to fly and too far to drive”, and it has “ immediate plans” to connect Las Vegas (Nevada) with southern California, according to a company statement.