MIAMI – The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, which oversees commuter railroad Tri-Rail, has signed an agreement with Florida East Coast Railway and Brightline, that allows SFRTA personnel to begin training and testing on Brightline/FEC’s route into MiamiCentral Station. The agreement is part of ongoing negotiations to operate Tri-Rail trains on the eight-mile portion of FEC track that connects with Tri-Rail’s South Florida Corridor.
Tri-Rail service to MiamiCentral was originally set to begin in 2017, but was delayed by issues involving positive train control [see “PTC stalls Tri-Rail move to MiamiCentral station,” News Wire, June 19, 2022]. During Brightline’s halt to service during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company and host Florida East Coast moved to a different PTC system. Those issues were solved, but then Tri-Rail discovered some if its cars would not fit into the station by a matter of inches [see “Tri-Rail service to Brightline’s Miami station faces clearance issues,” News Wire, Dec. 13, 2021]. Presumably those problems have been solved under the new agreement.
Tri-Rail engineers and conductors will be trained to operate trains on the FEC route. They will begin route familiarization trips and check rides. Once the initial group is qualified they will be authorized to train additional employees. Testing of Automatic Train Control (ATC) and Positive Train Control (PTC) will also begin during this process. The plans for Tri-Rail personnel and equipment to begin training and testing was approved by the Federal Railroad Administration and the three parties.
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