Brightline to be Re-Branded as "Virgin Trains USA"

I'm glad I rode it when I did. 

Brightline, the privately-operated rail passenger company which operates between West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami, announced Friday that it has become a partner with Virgin Group. 

London, England-based Virgin Group is owner of Virgin Atlantic Airways. The most visible change will be re-branding of Brightline passenger trainsets and stations to "Virgin Trains USA." Virgin becomes a minority owner so Brightline management will continue to run the operation. 

Virgin Atlantic Airways serves Miami. Brightline intends to extend its service to Orlando International Airport by early 2021, and Tampa at a later date. Virgin Atlantic Airways also serves Orlando, so passenger train service to South Florida and the Tampa Bay area will offer excellent connections to those areas. 

Brightline recently announced plans to develop passenger train service between Las Vegas and Southern California. The Virgin connection works well here as well because its airline serves both Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

I wish them success, but I'll miss Brightline. Here are videos I shot while in south Florida April 26-27 this year.




- David P. Jordan

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