Brightline ready to test trains in Central Florida
Brightline ready to test trains in Central Florida
Brightline is nearly ready to put trains on tracks in Central Florida. The high-speed rail agency will begin testing its commuter trains in Brevard County. It's part of the multi-million dollar expansion of the rail line from West Palm Beach to Orlando, slated to open later this year.
VIERA, Fla. - Brightline is nearly ready to put trains on tracks in Central Florida.
The high-speed rail agency will begin testing its commuter trains in Brevard County next week. It's part of the multi-million dollar expansion of the rail line from West Palm Beach to Orlando, slated to begin service in early 2023.
Officials say construction on Brightline’s forthcoming 170-mile service extension from West Palm Beach to the Orlando International Airport is on track for completion in late 2022. The rail extension to Orlando is about 70% complete.
"Our crews will actually be trained on the territory," says Brightline spokesperson Katie Mitzner. "As you can imagine, driving a train, you have to be intimately familiar with the territory – the curves, the signals, what's coming up."
Essentially, these crews are going to be conducting a "dry run" of the routes.
Because it is expected to create thousands of jobs, Brightline could generate more than $6.4 billion in economic impact in the state of Florida.
Watch FOX 35 News for the latest launch updates.