By love-89.com At just 27 years old, Simon Akinwolere is a cruise manager who recently faced the challenge of traveling from Orlando to Miami for work. When considering his options, he weighed the pros and cons: a four-hour car ride spanning 235 miles—during which he couldn’t work and had to constantly monitor traffic and fuel—or flying, which seemed time-efficient but involved navigating busy airports, security lines, and baggage claims.
Ultimately, he opted for a third option: Brightline, the privately operated high-speed rail that began full operations in September 2023. The journey takes just three and a half hours, during which Simon can participate in remote meetings and enjoy complimentary buffet-style meals along with unlimited beer and wine. Since then, Brightline has become his preferred mode of travel between Orlando and Miami.
Though a one-way ticket costs $149, Simon remarked, “I’m from the UK, so taking the train feels incredibly natural to me.” Once in Miami, he can easily catch a flight to Cozumel, Mexico.
Simon Akinwolere represents a growing community of rail enthusiasts needed by President Biden as he pushes for an overhaul of the American rail system. Known for his love of trains, Biden frequently took Amtrak between Washington, D.C., and his home state of Delaware during his tenure as a senator. Revitalizing America’s rail culture is one of his key initiatives.
The Brightline service operates at speeds up to 125 miles per hour, and its parent company is pursuing a more ambitious project called Brightline West, which aims to connect Las Vegas, Nevada, to Rancho Cucamonga, California. With a projected cost of $12 billion and a distance of 218 miles, the service is planned to reach speeds of 200 miles per hour, potentially marking the first true high-speed rail in the U.S.
Additionally, if Brightline West meets its timeline, it could be operational in time for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The federal government has already allocated $3 billion in funding and issued $3.5 billion in tax-exempt bonds, all to encourage private companies to help realize America’s high-speed rail dreams, taking over where public rail efforts have faltered.
While the California High-Speed Rail project, which runs from San Francisco to Los Angeles, is only partially constructed, Brightline’s founder and chairman, Wes Edens, believes in “igniting the high-speed rail dream” and is confident that proving its viability will encourage others to follow suit.
Experts studying Brightline West claim it stands a better chance of success than California’s high-speed rail, thanks to its completed labor contracts, acquired land rights, and environmental assessments. If fundraising goes well, construction on Brightline West could begin soon, although not all experts share the same optimism.
Robert Poole, the transportation policy director at the libertarian-leaning Reason Foundation, stated, “I hope everything goes smoothly for Brightline West and that plans unfold as intended, but I remain cautiously optimistic overall.” Having long advocated for Brightline in Florida, he continues to monitor this ambitious project closely.