The Miami Herald takes an in-depth look at the ridership numbers for Brightline as the high-speed rail prepares for another bond hearing on April 5th. Brightline, soon to be named Virgin Trains, USA, is pushing ahead with its plans to travel to Orlando.
From The Miami Herald
If you build it, will people ride it?
It is the question now dictating the future of Brightline, the express train that hopes to take passengers from Miami to Orlando and beyond.
Almost a year after launching its service from Miami, tens of thousands passengers now hop the train for the Miami-to-West Palm run, and back, each month. In February the figure totaled more than 78,000, according to a monthly Brightline ridership filing.
The number of riders is on a recent uptick, the company reports. Still, passenger levels remain below the company’s initial projections, and Brightline continues to operate at a loss. In February, the company decided to forgo an initial public offering (IPO), one that Bloomberg reported was set to be the largest of the year.