Brightline to Begin Testing High-Speed Rail Trains Up to 110-MPH Starting Next Week in Brevard County

By  //  March 26, 2023

Testing will take place between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily

Brightline will begin testing trains at high speeds, up to 110 miles-per-hour, in Brevard County as soon as Tuesday, March 28, and continuing through April.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA– Brightline will begin testing trains at high speeds, up to 110 miles-per-hour, in Brevard County as soon as Tuesday, March 28, and continuing through April.

This latest phase of Brightline testing will take place along a 13-mile section of track, involving multiple railroad crossings (listed below) in Brevard County through Rockledge and Melbourne.

Testing will take place between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily.

Flaggers will be present at railroad crossings when there is ACTIVE testing taking place in the area. Brightline is working with law enforcement agencies that will be present throughout the corridor.

Brightline began testing through Brevard County in November of 2022, reaching maximum speeds of 79 mph. Brightline’s high-speed testing up to 110 mph, in preparation for opening to Orlando in 2023, is ongoing in phases along the 129-mile rail corridor between West Palm Beach and Cocoa.

Residents should be alert and follow the law around active railroad tracks and railroad crossings.

Testing is expected to bring additional wait times at railroad crossings.

Brevard County RR Crossing Locations – Testing up to 110 mph

◾ Rockledge
◾ Rinker Way – Cemex/General Portland (private crossing)
◾ Gus Hipp Rd.
◾ Barnes Blvd. (SR 502)
◾ Carver St.
◾ Ansin Rd.
◾ Viera Blvd.
◾ Melbourne
◾ Suntree Blvd.
◾ Post Rd.
◾ Parkway Ave.
◾ Lake Washington Rd.

Important Safety Reminders:
• Residents should be alert and follow the law around active railroad tracks and railroad crossings.
• Drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists should be aware that rail traffic will run on BOTH tracks in BOTH directions.
• Stay off the tracks and never go around crossing gates.
• Only cross the railroad at a designated crossing.
• Never stop on the tracks.
• Failure to follow the law could result in fines, points on your license or loss of life.

SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS

TRAFFIC ADVISORY FROM BRIGHTLINE:
Brightline has made crucial safety improvements at all 156 railroad crossings along the 129-mile corridor. All safety improvements have been installed at crossings in the testing areas. Those improvements vary per crossing, but may include new crossing gates, signal systems, pedestrian gates, pavement markings and roadway profiles. Where trains will operate at 110 mph, crossings have quad gates or medians to prevent motorists from driving around lowered crossing gates.
Brightline is working closely with community partners, government agencies and news media to spread the word and highlight rail safety via multiple channels including on social media and with public service announcements.