By Mary Hladky
Brightline will resume passenger service between Miami and West Palm Beach on Nov. 8.
The rail company halted its trains in March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic but has been working on opening stations in Boca Raton and Aventura in 2022. Brightline has not yet announced when construction of the Boca station will begin, but it is expected to be soon.
“There is a lot of enthusiasm for Brightline’s return and we are excited to welcome back past riders and all our new riders on Nov. 8,” Brightline President Patrick Goddard said in a statement. “Our relaunch opens a new chapter for Brightline that includes an enhanced guest experience, from the moment they book travel plans on our app, to the moment they reach their final destination.”
Passengers can buy tickets through Brightline’s website and its mobile app. Train schedules and ticket prices are unchanged.
But Brightline has a special promotion for November that includes a first ride free for passengers using its app. During the promotion period, discounted ticket prices will start at $10 and increase to $27 for a premium ticket.
Under federal regulations, passengers and employees are required to wear masks in the stations and on board the trains. All Brightline employees are expected to be fully vaccinated.
Tri-Rail returned to a full train schedule on Oct. 25. The schedule was reduced at the start of the pandemic, but the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority has gradually increased service since then. It now will operate 50 trains on weekdays and 30 trains on weekend days.
“Tri-Rail has had one of the best recoveries among commuter railroads in the country,” Steven Abrams, SFRTA’s executive director, said in a statement. “So it should come as no surprise that we are now ready to come back in full swing.”
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