BRIGHTLINE

South Florida law enforcement agencies, partnering with Brightline, will be stepping up their efforts to prevent drivers from recklessly trying to beat the high-speed trains — the latest effort to try to curb the mounting number of railroad accidents and deaths.

A pedestrian was fatally struck by a train Monday afternoon in Hollywood, authorities confirmed.

Rescue crews airlifted a teenager to Jackson Memorial Hospital after a Brightline train hit her in North Miami Friday morning.

The rail crossing at Broward Boulevard in downtown Fort Lauderdale will close between Aug. 27-31 as the Florida East Coast Railway repairs rails and road surfaces. The shutdown means motorists will need to take nearby streets to drive across the tracks.

A Brightline train slammed into an empty SUV parked in the middle of a railroad crossing in North Miami Thursday, according to police.

Brightline joined South Florida leaders in Fort Lauderdale as the high-speed railway announced it was awarded a $25 million safety grant.

A major segment of Brightline's rail corridor is receiving up to $25 million in federal money to buttress safety measures between Miami-Dade and Brevard counties. The U.S. Department of Transportation is funneling the money through the Florida Department of Transportation for the Florida East Coast Corridor Trespassing and Intrusion Mitigation Project. The campaign is designed upgrade crossing and pedestrian safety.

Two people died in train accidents on Tuesday, bringing to four the number of people who have died in the past week in train-related fatalities in Palm Beach County.

Brightline is working to prepare the rail line for a new station in Aventura. Train signals in Dania Beach and Hollywood are being improved over the new few days.

Electric scooters are becoming a more popular tool for South Florida commuters. Scooters connect riders between home, work, school and public transit such as buses or Brightline and Tri-Rail train stations.

Broward County could lose its federally mandated "quiet zone" along the Florida East Coast Railway line as industry and government officials seek ways to reduce deaths among trespassers on railroad property and motorists who try to beat trains across the tracks.

The Orlando region is collaborating to land federal funding for a Brightline and SunRail corridor to theme parks. Will Disney contribute?

Arrival of Tri-Rail in downtown Miami stalled, leader spreads blame by at MiamiTodayNews.com.

Plans to open a Brightline station at Disney Springs have been canceled, according to reports.

Walt Disney World said it was stepping back from a previous agreement toward establishing a Brightline station at its Disney Springs commercial district.

Broward County Sheriff's Office issued more than 500 traffic citations through Operation Crossing Guard. The operation ended on Friday and enforced traffic safety along railroad crossings in response to increasing motorist and pedestrian accidents with Brightline trains.

Just days after the Broward Sheriff’s Office and Brightline announced ramped-up enforcement efforts to curb drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians from violating traffic laws at railroad crossings, one person in car has died after a crash involving a Brightline train.

Broward County deputies said one person is dead after a Brightline train struck their car in Oakland Park Tuesday afternoon.

The Brightline rail system and Broward Sheriff's Office are teaming up on a crossing safety program designed to cut down on deaths and injuries where roadways and railroad tracks intersect in Broward County.

Authorities have provided new information regarding a pedestrian who was struck and killed by a Brightline train earlier this week.

A $15.8 million federal grant will be matched with an equal amount by Brightline to evolve a concrete plan for Orlando-to-Tampa rail.

Tri-Rail arrival in downtown Miami misses another schedule by at MiamiTodayNews.com.

Where’s an effective engineer to put Tri-Rail on schedule? by at MiamiTodayNews.com.

At $3 to $5, Patrick Goddard said Brightline fares will be a lot cheaper than a gallon of gas from Friday to Sunday.

Tri-Rail says trains will be in downtown Miami by November by at MiamiTodayNews.com.

A scooter rider died when she went around lowered crossing gates and struck a passing Brightline train in Pompano Beach.

A woman on a scooter has died after she was involved in a collision with a Brightline train over the weekend in Pompano Beach, authorities confirmed on Monday.

SunRail may run between Orlando's airport and International Drive as Brightline and Universal are working on a "Sunshine Corridor" plan.

The drivers in this week's two deadly Brightline train crashes have been identified, according to officials. One was a 27-year-old man and the other was a 52-year-old man.

Local 10 News' Roy Ramos spoke with Ben Porritt, Brightline's Senior Vice President, about why the fatal crashes continue to occur.

A South Florida man who was freed from prison last month after serving 31 years on a wrongful murder conviction wanted to ride a high-speed train. Brightline granted his wish by giving him a free ride from Miami to Fort Lauderdale and back.

A man who tried to beat a Brightline train across the tracks Tuesday in Hollywood died from his injuries. The accident was the second fatal crash in two days caused by someone trying to beat a Brightline train across the tracks.

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.

A white Jeep Wrangler was involved in a crash with a Brightline train Tuesday afternoon at a railroad crossing in Hollywood.

Brightline is teaming with the Florida Department of Transportation to apply for federal help that would provide $45 million in joint funding for a rail crossing safety project along the Florida East Coast Railway line. The project is designed to cut down on the proliferation of train-vehicle collisions between Miami-Dade and Brevard counties. If approved, work could start by as early as August.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office is investigating a crash Monday morning involving a train.

A Brightline train collided with a vehicle on the tracks in Oakland Park on Wednesday morning.

A federal judge in Tampa has ruled against the CDC's public transport mask mandate. Face coverings are now optional but recommended on planes, trains and buses.

A teenager is in serious condition after being struck by a Brightline train in Miami, authorities said.

One person was killed Wednesday morning after being struck by a Brightline train in Aventura.

Brightline train collides with car on the tracks in Aventura

A Brightline collides with a truck hauling a Tesla at Wilton Drive and North Dixie Highway and passengers are stuck waiting for hours.

A pedestrian was struck and killed by a Brightline train on Saturday along the Florida East Coast Railway tracks in Lantana.

Video from inside a Brightline train captures the moments a truck tries to go around the gates.

Authorities say a Brightline train struck and killed a pedestrian, raising the death toll since the higher-speed train line resumed operations in South Florida. News outlets say police in Hollywood, Florida, are investigating the death. The collision late Saturday happened a short distance from a homeless shelter in Hollywood where there are no intersections for pedestrians for a half-mile, but there are small no trespassing signs by the tracks.

An effort to nab motorists breaking the law by skirting around lowered or lowering railroad crossing gates has led to seven arrests and 226 traffic citations issued in just two weeks.

New Tri-Rail snafu: locomotives may not fit platform by at MiamiTodayNews.com.

Brightline’s high-speed route continues to be deadly. The privately-owned railroad company released a video hours after a camera on a high-speed train recorded a crash today.

Police are investigating how that person ended up on the tracks.

A woman was able to save herself and her baby from getting struck by a Brightline train Tuesday morning in Delray Beach after her car got stuck on the tracks, authorities said.

A woman and baby got out of their car unharmed Tuesday morning just before the vehicle was hit by a Brightline train, according to Delray Beach Fire Rescue.

A high-speed Brightline train struck and killed a person on Thursday in Hollywood.

Readers share their views on higher-speed rail limits; highway traffic enforcement; rising inflation; and deconstructing DeSantis' message

Brightline, South Florida’s high-speed railroad, said Friday its ridership numbers during the pandemic are starting to rise, even with a fare increase.

The $70 million Tri-Rail station at Brightline’s Miami terminal was designed so badly that the trains don’t fit. The key agency players are Executive Director, Steven Abrams, Deputy Executive Director, Diane Hernandez Del Calvo and General Counsel, Teresa Moore. Just before Christmas, the agency’s executive team provided more detail to the SFRTA Board revealing the problem is probably worse than previously explained and that the executive team had known since at least 2018. There is a lot of mud in the water, and I hope the situation gets resolved quickly, but what is clear is that the entire current SFRTA Executive Team needs to be replaced. • Hernandez Del Calvo failed to manage the agency’s capital development project (the station), failed to manage the public’s funds responsibly and, failed to notify the Board of the failures.

For years, the marine industry in Fort Lauderdale has complained about the railroad drawbridge over the New River that, when down, prevents larger boats from passing.

A Brightline train struck an SUV Thursday morning that had stopped on the train tracks in Miami, authorities said.

FYI Miami: January 13, 2022 by at MiamiTodayNews.com.

A Brightline higher-speed train fatally struck a pedestrian who walked into its path Tuesday, the fifth death involving the railroad since it recently resumed operations after being shut down because of the pandemic.

A blue car was left mangled on the other side of the street after it was struck by a Brightline train Thursday morning.

Vital Tri-Rail snafus due a fast airing by at MiamiTodayNews.com.

Brightline is launching new technology to help keep drivers safe when crossing the tracks, as authorities step up patrols.

Blindfolded Tri-Rail leaders can’t see where they’re going by at MiamiTodayNews.com.

For the second time in three days, a person in Broward County was hit and killed by a Brightline train.

A woman in her early 70s was rushed to a hospital, where she died after being struck by a Brightline train Monday morning in Fort Lauderdale.

A pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene after being struck by a Brightline train Tuesday morning in North Miami Beach, authorities confirmed.

Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail in America, recently unveiled its new fully integrated, door-to-door booking service Brightline+ which will include a Brightline-branded mobility fleet. The fully electric mobility fleet is Brightline’s investment to provide travelers in South Florida a door-to-door solution to travel by train, powered by Brightline’s new app and supported by the fleet. All Brightline+ vehicles will be operated by private chauffeurs vetted and trained by Brightline and its mobility partner, Via, the global leader in TransitTech. Over the coming months Brightline will integrate CitiBikes, scooters and other modes of travel into the Brightline+ service. The Brightline+ fleet also will be fully electric by 2022.

The company has resumed its full schedule, quickly transporting passengers between West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

A woman and her 1-year-old grandchild were inside a vehicle that was struck by a Brightline train Monday morning in Pompano Beach — the first day the higher-speed trains resumed passenger service.

When Brightline fires up its dormant rail system on Nov. 8, passengers will have the option of booking local rides with electric vehicles to the downtown stations in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Miami. It’s a long-awaited “last mile” network devised by the railroad to move passengers between homes and offices and the trains. But will passengers buy into a system designed to steer them away from their beloved cars?

After months of waiting, Brightline has officially announced it will relaunch its service beginning on Nov. 8 between its Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach stations.

Brightline testing Miami to West Palm Beach to be ready to roll by at MiamiTodayNews.com.

After being halted for over a year, Brightline will resume service in South Florida later this year, and this time, with multiple enhancements including new safety measures.

The collision happened near Northeast 6th Avenue and 92nd Street, where a bicycle was left behind at the scene in bad shape.

Tri-Rail milestone: 100 millionth rider by at MiamiTodayNews.com.

AdvertisementBrightline is actively constructing a new rail line to bring passengers from their Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach stops to Orlando. Their team is hard at work to continue their exciting expansion plans, with service connecting South Florida to Central Florida expected to open in 2022. Brightline recently announced another three additional stops along their South Florida Express line including stations in Aventura, Boca Raton and PortMiami. Brightline’s new South Terminal at the Orlando International Airport (MCO) is a part of the company’s Phase 2 expansion into Central Florida including a Tampa extension. The massive infrastructure project is making progress and encompasses four zones including the area of the Orlando International Airport and the Brightline Vehicle Maintenance Facility.

The Brightline from Miami to Orlando is almost here. The modern, eco-friendly high-speed rail has officially passed the halfway mark for construction on its extension to Orlando.

Miami-Dade seeks federal funding for Northeast commuter rail line by at MiamiTodayNews.com.

Brightline and Tri-Rail may both roll in downtown Miami this yearWritten by Jesse Scheckner on February 16, 2021AdvertisementBrightline is targeting late 2021 to resume passenger trips at MiamiCentral station in downtown Miami, which by then could also host Tri-Rail. That includes adjusting its positive train control (PTC) system to welcome intercounty commuter line Tri-Rail onto its tracks. “We’ve taken advantage of this time to implement PTC technology and software, which requires a [Federal Railroad Administration] review,” Brightline spokesman Ben Porritt said. The PTC system aims to automatically stop trains to avoid derailments, collisions and work zone accidents. It takes six months to test and calibrate the PTC system.

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

Brightline pact has a Wynwood station on trackWritten by Jesse Scheckner on November 17, 2020AdvertisementA binding deal between Miami-Dade and Brightline for a Miami-to-Aventura commuter rail line isn’t signed, but details of the project – including plans for a station in Wynwood – are coming into focus. But a stop in Wynwood is a no-brainer for what’s commonly called the Northeast Corridor of the county Smart Plan, said Albert Garcia, chairman of the Wynwood Business Improvement District (BID). Parameters commissioners set for a future agreement include a one-time $50 million payment to Brightline and $12 million in annual payments for the first 30 years of a potential 90-year contract. Miami-Dade last year agreed to pay $76.7 million for a station near Aventura Mall. Construction on the 17,500-square-foot station began Sept. 3 and is expected to finish by fall 2021.

Like all businesses, we are operating in a period of uncertainty which may last several months," Goddard said. "Although a difficult decision, we have decided to temporarily suspend Brightline service in the best interest of the entire South Florida community as we all seek to flatten the curve.

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.

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.

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.

The higher-speed passenger service Brightline which has been re-branded Virgin Trains USA along with the Broward Sheriffs Office, operators of the 211 Helpline, Operation Lifesaver and other groups are working to address the problems of suicide and impatient drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists that lead to deaths and injuries on the tracks.

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.

Since 2017, more than 40 people have been killed in Brightline accidents, a rate of more than one a month, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. Brightline has conducted an Operation Lifesaver Florida program to keep people off its tracks and out of harms way.

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.

The Dolphins now have clinched a double-digit loss season, which will be their 10th in the 28 years when the team has not been coached by Don Shula. How many times did Shulas Dolphins teams lose at least 10 games in his 26 years in Miami (or in his 33 years total in the NFL)? Further, Shula only lost more than eight games that same one time in his career. Miami has lost at least nine games for 14 of its other 28 seasons. In Shulas time, a 9-7 season was considered a failure.

A Marine veteran and a newly released convict unite in their love for a mixed-breed dog named Lucy in this launch of a new series. Former Marine Jess Winslow returned to her home of Deception Cove, Washington, with a severe case of PTSD and massive debt because of her late husband. Lucy also was a salvation for Mason Burke, who trained the dog when he was imprisoned, and he will do anything to help Lucy. Deception Cove is more than a story about the power and love of a devoted canine though it does feature that. Its an insightful view of the recovery of former soldiers, prisoners re-entering society and how ones tough exterior can obscure fragile emotions.

Tri-Rail into downtown Miami awaits Brightlines actionWritten by Catherine Lackner on December 3, 2019AdvertisementThousands of would-be downtown commuters wait anxiously to learn when Tri-Rail trains will roll into Miami Central station, and they arent alone. The system Tri-Rail uses isnt consistent with the one Florida East Coast Railway uses, but there are ways to make them interoperable. Once Brightlines PTC is certified, We will apply to be a tenant on their tracks, said Steven L. Abrams, authority executive director, in June. The 450-person trains will provide a one-seat ride to and from downtown Miami and the West Palm Beach area, with stops all up and down the coast. About 2,000 riders from Fort-Lauderdale and West Palm Beach would be flocking to downtown Miami on day one alone, of whom 1,000 riders are expected to be first-time passengers, those models predicted.

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).

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.

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.

A Brightline train collided with an SUV in Aventura on Friday, causing traffic delays during rush hour. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526.

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.

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.

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.

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.