ORLANDO, Fla. — Brightline has received the last of the 10 trainsets for its Florida operation, and the last of the five ordered for its upcoming expansion of service to Orlando.
The “Bright Orange 2” train arrived at the company’s Vehicle Maintenance Facility in Orlando on Sunday, Feb. 19, after a 10-day trip from the Siemens Mobility factory in Sacramento, Calif. In addition to the standard two-locomotive, four-coach trainset, this order also included a third locomotive to serve as a spare to replace units undergoing repair and maintenance.
Construction on the Orlando expansion is now 90% complete, with more than 800 workers currently involved in completing the project. The company says it is targeting competion in the second quarter of this year.
Raw video footage of the train’s arrival, provided by Brightline, is below.
Interesting that the number of the unit is not visible from the side. Unlike the old warrior from CSX.
I sure hope BL works! That is – makes a profit. Because if so, it will be a first for this planet in the 21st century.
We are seeing the evolution of the future of modern passenger rail travel in America. Brightline is the trailblazer in modern, efficient passenger rail travel with modern equipment and great service. This should also spur other cities in America that have little to no direct rail links to their airports to consider building and investing in such lines to spur growth and improve transit operations. The new Brightline railcars, line and service make other transit operations in the country dated and slow and even Amtrak looks old, tired and shabby compared to Brightline. The Brightline franchise for now is a small statewise operation but if it proves sucessful which no doubt will this can and will grow into a company and system that will eventually expand across the nation. This can and will be the train and railroad that will reinvent and safe passenger rail travel in America.
Joseph C. Markfelder
Well said, Mr. Markfelder. Brightline is building out west and should look at starting in the Midwest.
As I’ve said before, the present all-things-to-all-areas, great big national central-controlled Amtrak is not working out. Amtrak’s role should be changed to that of a coordinator of equipment supply/maintenance, reservation system and food service contractor/coordinator. Let innovative folks like Brightline do the hands-on train operating. Besides, it just might make working with the freight lines easier.
Just a reminder that Brightline’s well being is heavily based on its ability to develop TOD around its new stations.
Brightline will be working heavily with their sister real estate entity Flagler Development to generate income for the service.
The Brighline model will work in the LA-LV markets becuase there is already a large impetus legally to get more TOD built in the SoCal markets.
For that model to be exported to other markets, the states/cities being served have to agree to certain TOD zoning and development models in and around their stations. This is one reason Brightline has no plans to serve Jacksonville, FL. They didn’t have the TOD zoning and transit planning in place to support the type of development Brightline needs.
So before one starts dreaming of service in your area, best to look how your city/state responds to high density residental and business in and around a future station.
Interesting that a brand-new state-of-the-art train consist was delivered by a 40+-year-old GP40-2. A grand classic in the true sense of the word.
For those who ask, these sets are brought in over the CSX Stanton Sub, hence the CSX engine at the front. The sub is shared with CSX and Orlando Utilities.
Looking at that shop and the whole operation, what a first class operation they are.