Brightline to launch simulated service

Brightline, the new privately financed and operated express rail service in southern Florida, will begin "simulated service" between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale as soon as this week, the railroad announced on Twitter.

Although an exact date was not specified, the tweet stated that Brightline will run up to 10 trains a day on the route.

Meanwhile, a recent report by the Fitch Ratings Agency stated that Brightline's service to Miami will start early next year. Although Brightline executives have declined to comment publicly on the report, the Fitch information was made part of the railroad's analysis of a $600 million bond issue by the Florida Development Finance Corp. The revenue bonds will be used to fund the rail project's south segment.

Brightline is a privately owned and operated intercity high-speed rail service that eventually will operate between Orlando and Miami. To learn more about the project, read this feature in Progressive Railroading's April issue.