MATT REED: We Rode the Brightline Train. Now We Definitely Want a Brevard Station!

MATT REED: Taking the train will make more sense once Brightline opens a station in Brevard County.

The dumbest part of my group’s otherwise-amazing trip on a Brightline train from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale came minutes after we rounded the “Cocoa bend” and sped south.

“Two hours later, we’re right back where we started,” my friend Mark Cherry, a Cocoa Village resident, joked as we sped by the intersection of U.S. 1 and S.R. 520.

Taking the train will make more sense, we agreed, once Brightline opens a station in Brevard County.

But fun, not efficiency, was the point of this journey, and we soaked-up Florida’s newest travel experience just as Brightline was marking its one-year anniversary.

We kicked back in the wide, stitched-leather seats, partook in the onboard food-and-beverage service, and plugged phones and an iPad into the numerous tabletop outlets for devices.

Moments earlier, we had quietly sailed by cars driving 80 mph on the Beachline Expressway, a sign were going someplace fast.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

■ The train: It was super clean and modern, with wide aisles, easy-to-find seats, spacious tables between each face-to-face row of seats, and more overhead luggage space than anyone could claim. The Brightline train was more comfortable than the pricey Eurostar train I had recently ridden from London to Paris.

■ The service: Cart service down the aisle started early and continued regularly, with sandwiches, snacks and beverages such as beer and wine costing about the same as on U.S. airlines. Our attendant was an outgoing University of Central Florida student earning money for college.

■ The Wi-Fi: Our Saturday trip started about the same time the Florida State Seminoles took the football field – a potential “scheduling conflict” for my male travel companions. But the complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi service remained strong entire route, so we didn’t miss a down on Mark’s iPad.

Meanwhile, we all watched with curiosity as the train glided past Rockledge, Melbourne and then Sebastian, blaring its horn at crossings.

Within 90 minutes, we’d arrive in downtown Fort Lauderdale, an easy walk to restaurants, our hotel, and the venue where we took in a concert before returning the next morning.

BIGGEST SURPRISES

■ The stations: We were taken aback by the bright, airy lobbies and stylish waiting areas, shops and cafes in Orlando and Fort Lauderdale. Although nearly as busy as typical airport waiting areas when we traveled, the vibe was more relaxed and hassle-free.

■ Ease of boarding: There are no TSA lines to pass through at Brightline stations. Carry-on items do need to pass through a metal detector, which takes a minute or two, max. But you’re free to bring snacks and beverages in your carry-on bags (though you can’t drink your own alcoholic beverages on board).
With pre-purchased tickets on our phones, we saw no reason to arrive at the station more than 20-30 minutes before departure.

■ The quiet: The modern train and newly installed tracks made for a remarkably quiet ride. The car was so well insulated, we could barely hear train’s horn blow as it approached crossings. I’m told a baby cried during our return trip, at the other end of our car. I didn’t notice.

THE COST

Brightline’s prices vary by day, time, how far you book in advance, and which way you’re traveling. They also reach out frequently by email with discounts if you create an account on their website. So, it’s easy to avoid paying full price – as we did.

The six of us paid $118 each, round trip, a big discount from the base rate of $129 each way for our ride that departed at 12:50 p.m. on a Saturday Had we booked seven days in advance instead of five, we could have snagged tickets for $75 each.

Our carry-on bags and personal items were free – and found ample overhead storage space onboard. A checked suitcase costs $25.
If they could do it over again, my friends said they might pay $20-$40 more each way to upgrade to “premium” tickets that include access to swanky lounges at stations, food-and-drink service on the train, and checked bag (though we didn’t have any).

But our experience with the mid-rate or SMART tickets was special enough that we’re already brainstorming our next Brightline trip together.

Similar Stories