ORLANDO, Fla — It could cost more than $88 million to expand commuter service SunRail to seven-day-a-week operation, the agency overseeing the commuter rail line was told at a meeting last week.
Chief Operating Officer Charles M. Heffinger Jr. told the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission at a July 24 meeting that regular Saturday and Sunday operation would cost an extra $26.3 million annually, in addition to spending $61.8 million for three additional locomotives and cab cars, WKMG-TV reports. Leasing the equipment would be cheaper but would be a recurring cost, while operating on Saturdays only would save about $3.5 million. There would also be additional staffing requirements.
Heffinger estimated that 4,600 to 9,500 riders would use the service in a weekend, and noted that recent July 4 service for a Club World Cup soccer game and a holiday fireworks show was used by almost 5,000 people.
Commission Chair Amy Lockhart told the TV station that a major reason to consider the additional service is the proposed Sunshine Corridor project, which would connect SunRail to the Orlando airport and the Orange County Convention Center and theme park district. The board approved a study of that project, which could cost up to $4 billion, earlier this year [see “SunRail agency approves …,” Trains News Wire, April 30, 2025].
“Running SunRail nights and weekends will be absolutely essential to run the Sunshine Corridor to the airport and to the attractions,” Lockhart said. “The timing of that is what remains in question, but it certainly is a necessity.”
SunRail currently operates 20 round trips on a Monday-through-Friday schedule.
The board took no action but will address the topic in a future work session.
