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Brightline delays Orlando debut again, with earliest possible start date set for Sept. 22

Aug. 31, 2023
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3 min read
NICK EWEN/THE POINTS GUY
Brightline delays Orlando debut again, with earliest possible start date set for Sept. 22
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Editor's Note

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Brightline is once again delaying its debut at Orlando.

The Florida-based private rail carrier announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday that it won't launch its Orlando service from Sept. 7 to Sept. 21 because it is still in the final stages of certification and testing.

The earliest possible date customers could use the Brightline service to and from Orlando International Airport's (MCO) Terminal C would be Sept. 22. However, Brightline did not give an exact date for when it would start service.

Brightline said it has been in contact with passengers whose travel plans have been impacted by the delays.

As of now, tickets are on sale beginning Sept. 22. TPG was at the Orlando station’s official opening back in April. You can read about it here.

Brightline first announced delays to its September Orlando debut earlier in August due to the certification and crew testing.

The Florida-based private passenger train has operated routes within South Florida, including stops in Aventura, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and West Palm Beach. The service from MCO’s Terminal C will be a high-speed route, connecting Central Florida and Miami in just three hours. The train will travel about 130 miles per hour, shaving off around an hour in commuting time.

Brightline
Brightline train in the new Orlando station.CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY



Brighline’s MCO service was slated to be part of a larger expansion for the train service, with plans to add a connecting stop in Tampa and even a stop at Disney Springs. However, Brightline nixed the Disney stop because the “new route configuration does not support a Disney Springs station,” a Disney spokesperson said in a statement to TPG in June 2022.

The Tampa station is still in the early planning stages.

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Related: Brightline high-speed train service expands in South Florida

Map of Brightline destinations.
Map of Brightline destinations. BRIGHTLINE

When will Brightline start the Orlando service?

Right now, we still don’t have an official start date for Orlando service on Brightline, but the train company is selling tickets for Sept. 22 and beyond.

Brightline online ticket sales. BRIGHTLINE
Brightline online ticket sales. BRIGHTLINE

Brightline tells TPG it will let us know as soon as it has an official word for the start of service.

Additional reporting by Clint Henderson.

Related reading:

Featured image by NICK EWEN/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
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