In the Twenties, rail journey reworked Florida right into a booming tourism vacation spot. A century later, Brightline is continuous that legacy by launching a contemporary, eco-friendly practice service between two tourism hotspots—Orlando and South Florida.
Brightline unveiled its extremely anticipated Brightline Orlando Station at Orlando International Airport (MCO) on April 20 to a bunch of 300-plus invited visitors, together with native dignitaries, elected officers and members of the media
“With easy and enjoyable access from the biggest hubs in South Florida, this station will serve as the gateway to the most popular destinations in our state, providing seamless connections to world-renowned theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld, and, of course, into this tremendous airport,” declared Brightline CEO Mike Reininger on the occasion.
“To the residents and visitors of Central Florida, your backyard is about to get a little bit bigger.”
Once service begins this summer season—the precise date hasn’t been introduced—Brightline will function 16 each day roundtrips with hourly departures between Miami and Orlando. Travel time from Orlando to the primary cease in South Florida, West Palm Beach, can be two hours.
Nonstop Brightline trains between Orlando and Miami can have a run time of three hours. Regular service trains between Orlando and Miami will cease in any respect 5 South Florida stations—together with West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and Aventura—with a run time of three hours and half-hour.
Ticket gross sales launch in May, with one-way fares beginning at $79 for Brightline’s SMART service and $149 for PREMIUM service. SMART fare bundles for households of 4 can be obtainable for lower than $199 every means. Brightline’s PREMIUM service contains complimentary meals, snacks and drinks, together with cocktails, beer and wine; a devoted first-class lounge; free checked baggage; precedence boarding; and a devoted coach.
“This is a game-changer for the state,” mentioned Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline. “Say goodbye to stress-filled car rides while we invite you to stretch out on our comfortable leather seats. Say goodbye to congestion and traffic, and stream a movie as you glide effortlessly through the state while you let us do the driving.”
In truth, Brightline is making historical past in Florida in additional methods than one. Orlando International is now the one airport within the nation with an intercity high-speed passenger rail station. And Brightline lately reached speeds of 130 mph, turning into the quickest practice within the Southeast.
Each 12 months, famous Goddard, about 35 million individuals journey between South Florida and Central Florida—and 98 p.c of them drive or take a bus. Some 50 million individuals fly out and in of Orlando and Miami airports, whereas the Central Florida and South Florida cruise ports—Port Canaveral, Port Everglades and PortMiami—serve 16 million passengers. Considering Florida attracts 130 million guests a 12 months, Brightline’s impression on Florida tourism can be “transformative,” he added.
“We think that this is a very powerful thing for the tourism industry and a great asset to the state as it relates to getting people to visit the state and getting them to move around the state,” mentioned Goddard. “Whereas before it was not a very appealing option if you’re staying in Central Florida to visit Palm Beach or Fort Lauderdale or Miami, now we think it will be. We are going to make it easy, convenient, safe, eco-friendly and just a wonderful experience.”
That expertise begins within the Brightline stations, that are designed as a “callback to the glamorous age of travel,” mentioned George Edwards, Brightline’s vp of visitor expertise.
The smooth, refined Orlando station contains a lounge for every class of service, PREMIUM and SMART; self-service ticket kiosks; touchless turnstiles; 486 energy retailers for simple gadget charging; complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi; the BrightChildren play space; and Brightline’s signature Mary Mary Bar, named for 2 of the three wives of Florida tourism pioneer Henry Flagler, who based the Florida East Coast Railway.
In one other nod to the golden age of rail journey, a split-flap show above the bar offers up to date practice schedules, boarding occasions and extra—with the unmistakable sound of flapping tiles bringing to thoughts the grand rail stations of Europe.
What these stations most definitely don’t have, nonetheless, is a signature scent mixing notes of citrus and vanilla. Brightline’s wafts by means of the stations—and should you prefer it, you should buy a Brightline candle at MRKT PLACE, the in-station comfort retailer promoting last-minute presents, sundries and refreshments. The station is designed to maintain passengers inside, sheltered from the Florida warmth till the practice is able to board. Passengers then take an escalator right down to the 2 1,000-foot practice platforms.
The Brightline Orlando Station is contained in the airport, adjoining to Terminal C, which opened in September and providers JetBlue and worldwide flights. It connects on to the airport’s Parking Garage C, which can have 350 parking areas devoted to Brightline visitors. Passengers can simply journey to Terminals A and B through the automated individuals mover, and Brightline departure occasions can be displayed all through the airport.
Goddard mentioned the comfort of Brightline’s Orlando airport station “opens up a whole bunch of new markets” for the practice service, which launched in South Florida in 2018—together with worldwide vacationers. “We consider the launch of this station more of a global launch than a local launch,” he mentioned. “We’re in the process now of entering into contracts with wholesalers, and we’re getting ready to put our system on the GDS over the next couple of months so that travel agents will be able to book and be commissioned because we know that’s where a lot of that business is coming from.” Commissionable charges can be in place by the point the Orlando service begins, added Goddard.
Currently, journey brokers can register to turn out to be Bright Advisors at GoBrightline.com, which supplies them entry to discounted charges on Brightline’s service in South Florida. Gabriel Martinez, Brightline’s vp of distribution, mentioned the Orlando station unveiling prompted a rush of registrations.
“Everybody understands the importance of the travel trade,” mentioned Martinez. “We are evolving the tools that we will offer travel advisors.”
Brightline’s service between South Florida and Orlando offers journey advisors with new methods of promoting Florida, added Martinez: “There are new opportunities to sell more and to sell longer because it will be more convenient than it’s ever been.”
As it expanded in South Florida, Brightline has made it simpler for passengers to get to and from its stations with the Brightline+ service. PREMIUM fares embody a complimentary Uber journey wherever inside a five-mile radius of a Brightline station. Passengers may also add an Uber journey to their journey throughout the Brightline app, with pickup occasions robotically aligning with the practice’s schedule.
Brightline+ affords fixed-route shuttles between the Miami station and Miami International Airport (MIA) in addition to three locations in Miami Beach; and the Fort Lauderdale station and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL). One-way rides value $10 per particular person. The complimentary Brightline Aventura Mall shuttle takes passengers to the Aventura Mall Bus Stop. Neighborhood electrical autos function without cost across the West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and Miami stations. Plus, Brightline affords free shuttles to particular occasions and sporting occasions, together with video games for the Miami Marlins, Miami HEAT and Inter Miami CF.
Brightline’s ease of use, on-time efficiency, snug leather-based seats with energy and USB retailers, and snack and beverage service have earned it devoted followers alongside its South Florida route. After listening to concerning the soon-to-open Orlando service, a passenger on a latest Miami-bound practice—who raved about Brightline’s comfort, facilities and partnership with Uber—declared, “I’m never driving to Orlando again!”
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Source: www.travelpulse.com”