Brightline begins service between Miami, Orlando after series of delays
The first big test of whether privately owned high-speed passenger train service can prosper in the United States launched Friday morning when Brightline began running trains between Miami and Orlando, reaching speeds of 125 mph.
Universal moves to build rail stop in Orlando’s tourism hub
Universal Orlando Resort on Thursday filed paperwork and pledged 13 acres for a commuter rail station that could link the seventh busiest airport in the U.S. with the heart of the tourism district in one of the top travel destinations in the world.
All aboard! Brightline to host events and holiday happenings for Miami Art Week
With the 20th year of Art Basel Miami underway, Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail in America has announced that they will celebrate the spirited time of the year with an endless array of events and surprises for its riders coming and going.
Driver of Jeep identified following deadly crash involving Brightline train in Hollywood
A second collision this week involving a Brightline train has turned deadly after authorities confirmed that the driver of a Jeep Wrangler who was struck by a train in Hollywood on Tuesday has died from his injuries.
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Miami to Disney? Brightline announces station that would connect South Florida to Mickey Mouse
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – South Floridians may eventually have a quicker way to get to Walt Disney World. Brightline and Disney announced Monday an agreement for the higher-speed passenger train to build a station at Disney Springs, the shopping and entertainment complex at the Central Florida resort. A timeline for the station at Disney Springs was not immediately announced. “Brightline will offer a car-free connection to the millions of visitors from around the state and the world who plan to make Walt Disney World Resort part of their vacation plans,” Brightline’s president Patrick Goddard said in a statement. ALSO SEE: After setbacks, Brightline’s Aventura Mall station full steam ahead
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Car clipped by Brightline train after driver stops on tracks in Pompano Beach
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – The front of a car was clipped by a Brightline train Wednesday morning after the driver stopped on the tracks in Pompano Beach, authorities said. Sky 10 over car that was struck by Brightline train in Pompano Beach. (WPLG)Authorities said signs were posted in the area, warning drivers not to stop on the railroad tracks, but the woman did. She then panicked and got out of the car as the train neared, along with the passenger. No injuries were reported, but the woman was cited by the Broward Sheriff’s Office for stopping her car on the tracks.
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1 killed in collision involving vehicle, Brightline train in Pompano Beach
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – One person was killed Tuesday morning in a crash involving a vehicle and a Brightline train in Pompano Beach. According to a Brightline spokesman, witnesses said the vehicle went around the crossing gates that were already lowered and was struck by the oncoming train. Pompano Beach Fire Rescue spokeswoman Sandra King said the vehicle caught fire after the crash. Pompano Beach Fire Rescue was able to extinguish that fire,” King said. Firefighters help a passenger off a Brightline train after it crashed into a vehicle stopped on the railroad tracks.
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Woman taken to hospital after pickup truck struck by Brightline train
DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – A woman was taken to a hospital Tuesday afternoon after her pickup truck was struck by a Brightline train in Deerfield Beach, authorities said. According to Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Michael B. Kane, the incident occurred just after 4:40 p.m. in the area of Southwest Fourth Street and South Dixie Highway. Kane said units arrived at the scene to find a Ford F-150 with front-end damage. He said the woman sustained back injuries and was taken to Broward Health North. No other injuries were reported.
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Brightline adding late-night Saturday train, hourly departures in 2020
The high-speed rail system, which is being rebranded as Virgin Trains USA, is adding a new northbound train from Miami at 5:15 p.m. beginning Jan. 1. Northbound trains from Miami will now depart on the 50th minute of the hour. There will be hourly departures from West Palm Beach and Miami, except between noon and 1 p.m. There will also be hourly weekday departures from Fort Lauderdale except between 12:20 p.m. and 2:15 p.m.Southbound trains from West Palm Beach will now leave on the 10th and 40th minute of the hour. Weekend trains will now depart hourly beginning at 7 a.m.Brightline is also adding a late-night train on Saturdays from West Palm Beach and Miami.
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Boca Raton approves construction of Brightline station
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Virgin Trains USA is pulling into Boca Raton. The City Council late Tuesday unanimously approved a proposal to allow for construction of a Brightline train station downtown. Brightline, which is being rebranded as Virgin Trains USA, wants to begin construction early next year. Miami-Dade County commissioners in October approved a plan for the construction of a Brightline station in Aventura. Brightline will pay to replace any library parking spaces lost in construction and make 64 spaces available to library patrons.
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New higher-speed Florida train has highest US death rate
The first death involving a Brightline train, which officially launched in January 2018, happened in July 2017 during test runs. That’s the worst per-mile death rate of the nation’s 821 railroads. A full-speed Brightline train takes a quarter-mile to stop. The railroad shares tracks with Florida East Coast, a freight line that had one death for every 160,000 miles (258,000 kilometers) during the past two years, compared to Brightline’s one death per 29,000 miles (47,000 kilometers). The Tri-Rail commuter service that runs nearby had one death about every 110,000 miles (177,000 kilometers).

Officers warning drivers of danger following fatal Brightline crash
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. - An Aventura police traffic officer handed out safety flyers Monday at the scene of Friday's fatal crash. A female driver died on impact when her car, sitting on the train tracks, was hit by a Brightline train. The intersection at Ives Dairy Road and West Dixie Highway is an extremely busy artery to the area, and drivers stop on the train tracks often, despite the warning signs. Local police try to keep up a presence in the area but drivers will often stop on the tracks when no officers are around. But when there is imminent danger on the tracks, train engineers can sound an alarm.

1 dead after Brightline train slams into SUV in Aventura
AVENTURA, Fla. - A driver is dead after a Brightline train collided with an SUV in Aventura on Friday. The crash occurred at Dixie Highway and Ives Dairy Road, just across from the Aventura Mall. Police said the female driver of the Mercedes-Benz SUV died in the crash. It's not known exactly where the collision took place and how far the vehicle was pushed down the railroad tracks. A portion of Dixie Highway in the Aventura area was closed as authorities investigated the fatal crash.

Pedestrian struck, killed by Brightline train in Deerfield Beach
A body is covered by a yellow tarp after a fatal crash involving a Brightline train in Deerfield Beach. DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. - A pedestrian was struck and killed by a Brightline train Wednesday morning in Deerfield Beach. Broward Sheriff's Office deputies were called to the fatal crash near Dixie Highway and Southwest 15th Street about 7 a.m.Rescuers arrived and pronounced the man dead at the scene. A view from Sky 10 showed the body covered by a yellow tarp in a turn lane next to the railroad tracks on Dixie Highway. The Brightline train was stopped on the tracks.

Brightline gets new $76 million station in Aventura
Miami-Dade County Commissioners approved the building of a second Brightline railway station on Friday. The vote passed by a narrow margin after several failed attempts. After deliberations and... Copyright 2019 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

Pedestrian fatally struck by Brightline train in Hollywood
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. - A pedestrian was fatally struck by a Brightline train Tuesday afternoon in Hollywood. The incident was reported in the area of North Dixie Highway and Taft Street. Sky 10 was above the scene at 4 p.m. as the train was stopped on the tracks. Multiple police vehicles were parked at the scene. Copyright 2019 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

Maserati driver killed in Oakland Park train crash identified
A Maserati was wedged beneath the Brightline train after it struck the car in Oakland Park. OAKLAND PARK, Fla. - Deputies have identified the driver who was killed when his Maserati was struck by a Brightline train and burst into flames Thursday in Oakland Park. She said the car cleared the path of the southbound freight train but was struck by the northbound Brightline train. A view from Sky 10 showed the charred, mangled Maserati wedged beneath the locomotive. The train conductor, who tried to extinguish the fire, was taken to a hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

Driver dead after Brightline train crashes into Maserati in Oakland Park
OAKLAND PARK, Fla. - One person is dead after a Brightline train crashed into a Maserati on the railroad tracks Thursday morning in Oakland Park, causing a fire. A view from Sky 10 showed the train stopped on the tracks. David Rafter, a spokesman for the city of Oakland Park, said the Maserati went around the arms of the railroad crossing and was struck by the oncoming train. Local 10 News reporter Ian Margol said the driver was trying to beat a freight train traveling south and didn't see the Brightline train traveling north. The driver of the Maserati was pronounced dead at the scene.
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Driver dead after Brightline train crashes into Maserati in Oakland Park
OAKLAND PARK, Fla. – One person is dead after a Brightline train crashed into a Maserati on the railroad tracks Thursday morning in Oakland Park, causing a fire. A view from Sky 10 showed the train stopped on the tracks. David Rafter, a spokesman for the city of Oakland Park, said the Maserati went around the arms of the railroad crossing and was struck by the oncoming train. Local 10 News reporter Ian Margol said the driver was trying to beat a freight train traveling south and didn't see the Brightline train traveling north. The driver of the Maserati was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dorian halts Tri-Rail, Brightline, Amtrak
MIAMI - Hurricane Dorian has stopped three train lines in their tracks. Tri-Rail, Brightline and Amtrak announced canceled or amended schedules in Florida in preparation from the effects of Hurricane Dorian. Tri-Rail is suspending service after the last train Sunday, Sept. 1. Brightline is suspending all services for Monday, Sept. 2 and Tuesday, Sept. 3. Amtrak has canceled its service in Florida due to impending weather.

Driver dies after impact with high-speed train in Pompano Beach
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. - A driver died after a high-speed train crashed into the black car Sunday in Pompano Beach. The Virgin Trains USA train, formerly known as Brightline train, collided with the car about 11:30 a.m.Officers found the driver dead inside the car near the intersection of Northeast 33rd Street and North Dixie Highway. Broward Sheriff's Office deputies did not release the identity of the victim. Earlier this week, Robert Ballard, 56, of Pompano Beach, was killed when the high-speed train struck him Tuesday morning at the same intersection, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office. Copyright 2019 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

Bicyclist struck, killed by Brightline train in Pompano Beach identified
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. - Investigators have released the name of the bicyclist who was struck and killed by a Brightline train in Pompano Beach. Broward Sheriff's Office traffic homicide detectives said Robert Ballard, 56, of Pompano Beach, was killed when he was struck by the northbound train Tuesday morning at North Dixie Highway and Northeast 33rd Street. Witnesses told deputies they saw the man ride around the lowered safety arms and attempt to cross the railroad tracks when he was struck by the high-speed passenger rail train, which is being rebranded as Virgin Trains USA. Ballard was pronounced dead at the scene. Copyright 2019 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

Bicyclist fatally struck Brightline train in Pompano Beach
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. - A bicyclist was fatally struck Tuesday morning by a Brightline train in Pompano Beach, authorities said. According to Broward Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Veda Coleman-Wright, the incident occurred just before 7:30 a.m. in the 3300 block of North Dixie Highway. Witnesses told deputies they saw a man riding a bicycle across the Florida East Coast railroad tracks and trying to beat the train when he was struck. Authorities said the cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. Copyright 2019 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

Woman dies after being struck by train
DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. - A woman was killed Saturday after being struck by a train, according to the Broward Sheriffs Office. The woman was struck by a Brightline train just before 8:30 p.m. at 984 NE 46th St. in Deerfield Beach, according to deputies. Copyright 2019 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

Pedestrian fatally struck by Brightline train in Hollywood
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. - A pedestrian was fatally struck by a Brightline train Monday in Hollywood, authorities confirmed. In the midst of the police scene, loved ones were seen crying as they watched police covered up what appeared to be a body. The Brightline train that was carrying passengers was heading south when the fatal accident occurred. The train stayed parked on the tracks a little south of the accident for about an hour before continuing on. A Hollywood police spokeswoman said the victim has not yet been identified.