December 21, 2023
BRIGHTLINE CELEBRATES THE BRIGHTEST MOMENTS OF 2023
MIAMI (Dec. 21, 2023) – In a year marked by remarkable achievements, Brightline, the nation's only provider of modern, eco-friendly intercity passenger rail, proudly celebrates its top moments of 2023. This year, Brightline journeyed through groundbreaking goals, notably inaugurating service between Orlando and Miami and claiming the title of fastest train in the Southeast.
Here’s a look back at some of the Brightest moments of 2023.
Brightline reaches more than 5 million passengers: Hold on to your seats, because over 5 million passengers have hopped on board a Brightline train. In four years of service, we've operated 46,614 trains, covering a distance of 3.4 million miles. That’s the equivalent of 139 trips around the Earth. While we are proud to have whisked you away from traffic jams, there is more to celebrate. To date, you have helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 79 thousand tonnes by booking a train. That's an environmental impact equivalent to planting over 3.6 million trees.
But our guests don’t merely travel, they immerse themselves in our hospitality-driven experience. Amidst our collection of elevated amenities, there’s been one notable favorite among travelers: the curated food and beverage from our signature Mary Mary bar. With exceptional taste, our guests' top picks this year were coffees, empanadas and specialty crafted cocktails with 53,243 coffees, 14,463 empanadas and 238,083 cocktails savored in-station and on board.
Brightline has welcomed passengers from 139 countries and six continents: Not only are we connecting guests from around the world to two of the top destinations in the US, Miami and Orlando, we are connecting them to the states most sought-after destinations. With stops in Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm beach, getting to the theme parks, planning a cruise or a last-minute day-trip has never been easier.
Brightline launches service between Miami and Orlando: On September 22, Brightine rolled out the yellow carpet to welcome its first batch of travelers hopping aboard the inaugural Miami to Orlando train while celebrating the first guests to enter its station in Orlando. The celebration put an exclamation point on the boldest private infrastructure project in the nation, marking the biggest development in American train travel in over 100 years. Leading the first trains to ever depart between the destinations were two of Brightline’s female conductors, Cheriann King and Megan Olshefski, and Brightline’s first female transportation manager, Cayla Keegan.
Brightline hosts US Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg: Amidst some of Brightline's most star-studded guests—Sylvester Stallone, NSYNC heartthrobs, and The Real Housewives—it was the arrival of the USDOT Secretary that truly stole the spotlight. Secretary Pete Buttigieg's visit to South Florida was more than an ordinary pit stop. The secretary gave a shout-out to several major investments in the region and dove into the action, getting an up-close briefing on Brightline’s top-notch Notch 8 conductor training program.
Thank you for being a part of our journey — we’re just getting started.
Brightline’s work towards building a Brighter future has just begun. In 2024, Brightline remains dedicated to forging meaningful connections while venturing into exciting new territory. The next year marks not only the unveiling of a location for the Treasure Coast Station but also the commencement of its construction—an expansion that will broaden connectivity and offer fresh destinations for travelers, like you, to explore.
Furthermore, Brightline’s ambition to revolutionize high-speed rail in the United States unfolds with Brightline West. Set to break ground early in 2024, Brightline West will be the first true high-speed rail network in the nation. With fully electric trains zipping along at speeds of up to 200 mph, it will seamlessly connect millions of travelers annually between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. A testament to this vision is the recent, momentous announcement made by President Biden of a $3 billion grant to be allocated toward the project.
ABOUT BRIGHTLINE
Brightline is the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail in America. The company currently serves Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Orlando. Brightline was recognized by Fast Company as one of the Most Innovative Companies in Travel and included in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2023 Hot List for the best new ways to travel. The company offers a guest-first experience designed to reinvent train travel and take cars off the road. Brightline plans to bring its award-winning service to additional city pairs and congested corridors across the country that are too close to fly and too long to drive, with immediate plans to connect Las Vegas to Southern California. For more information, visit www.gobrightline.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
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Media Contacts
Vanessa Alfonso, Director of Media Relations, Brightline
vanessa.alfonso@gobrightline.com
305.744.2293
Katie Mitzner, Director of Public affairs, Brightline
katie.mitzner@gobrightline.com