Traveling by Train in SoFla – Brightline v. TriRail
SelFor years, travelers looking to get between Miami and West Palm Beach without a car had one option – the TriRail, operated by the South Florida Regional Transit Authority. But now, travelers have a newer and faster option – All Aboard Florida’s Brightline service.
These trains run between the same places and even between on the same tracks in some places, but the services are completely different.
So, what are the differences between Brightline and the TriRail?
Travel time between Miami and West Palm Beach on the TriRail is approximately two hours.
When Brightline begins service between West Palm Beach and Miami, the trip is expected to take about an hour.
The TriRail charges based on the number of zones traveled on their system, and regular fares range from $2.50 to $6.90 depending on distance. Half-price discounts are available for select riders, as are weekly and monthly passes. Riders can also get a transfer discount onto other systems in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Brightline has only released costs for rides between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, which costs $10 for a basic “Smart” ticket and $15 for an upgraded “Select” fare each way. Monthly discounts are available in addition to military and child discounts.
Some TriRail trains have power and wifi, but seating is not assigned and there is no food or beverage available on board.
Brightline trains have in-seat power and wifi, along with food and drink available for purchase. Seating is assigned and there are two different classes of service – “Smart” and “Select.”
Although both train systems will travel between Miami and West Palm Beach, they stop at different stations.
The TriRail stops at 18 stations and service runs between Miami International Airport and Mangonia Park. Eventually, some trains will start at Brightline’s Downtown Miami Station.
Brightline currently runs between downtown Fort Lauderdale and downtown West Palm Beach. It will soon begin service to downtown Miami, although a service start date has not been announced. Service will expand to Orlando by 2019 if things stay on schedule.
The TriRail is funded with public money and is operated by the South Florida Regional Transit Authority.
Brightline is operated by privately-held All Aboard Florida and is the first private railroad to begin operation in the U.S. in more than one hundred years.