Brightline: Miami to Orlando by train (fares, stations, tips for 2026)

By the TrainsNews rail expert · updated 13 October 2026

Brightline is the only privately run intercity passenger railroad in the United States. It links Miami and Orlando International Airport in about 3 hours 30 minutes, with stops in Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach, and tops out at 125 mph (200 km/h). Fares start at $39 one way on current promotions, and the line carried a record 3.1 million passengers in 2025. Its parent companies filed for Chapter 11 in September 2026, but the trains keep running normally. Here is everything you need to know.

Brightline at a glance

The stations

• MiamiCentral (downtown Miami): connects with Metrorail, Metromover and Tri-Rail commuter trains.
• Aventura and Boca Raton: opened in December 2022; no checked-bag service.
• Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach: the original 2018 stations.
• Orlando (MCO): inside Orlando International Airport, next to Terminal C, linked by a footbridge. Opened in September 2023.

Coming next: a Cocoa station on the Space Coast, now funded and heading into final design (opening possibly around 2030), and a proposed Stuart station, still waiting for a federal grant.

Brightline fares

Brightline prices change with demand: book early and travel off-peak to pay less. There are two classes:

• SMART: the standard class, sold as Saver, Select or Flex.
• PREMIUM: wider seats, station lounge, complimentary food and drinks and a free checked bag, sold as Select or Flex.

• Cancellation: Saver is non-refundable; Select gives 75% back as travel credit; Flex (long-distance) is fully refundable.
• Extras: a $0.48 booking fee and a $1.50 departure fee at MCO; phone bookings cost $25 more.
• Kids and round trips: Brightline runs discounts for children aged 3–12 and up to 10% off round trips booked 7 days ahead; under-3s ride free on a lap. Check the current offer terms when you book.

Prices checked on gobrightline.com on 13 October 2026; the price shown at booking applies.

Booking, luggage and on board

• Book in the Brightline app or on gobrightline.com.
• Carry-on (all classes): 2 carry-ons plus 1 personal item; each carry-on up to 50 lb and 24 × 16 × 10 in.
• Checked bags: $30 standard, $60 large (up to 70 lb); drop them at least 30 minutes before departure. One standard bag is free in PREMIUM.
• Pets: small dogs and cats in a carrier under the seat ($10 within South Florida, $45 to or from Orlando).
• Bikes: only folding bikes (they count as a carry-on); full-size bikes, e-bikes and surfboards are not allowed.
• On board: free Wi-Fi and power outlets at every seat; PREMIUM seats are 21 inches wide versus 19 in SMART.
• Parking: from $12 a day in Miami, Aventura and Fort Lauderdale to $20 at Orlando, cheaper when prepaid in the app.

How Brightline works: an engineer's view

Brightline is not a European-style high-speed line. South of Cocoa it shares the historic Florida East Coast Railway corridor with freight trains, through hundreds of level crossings: trains run at 79 mph between Miami and West Palm Beach and up to 110 mph up to Cocoa. Only the new, fully fenced section from Cocoa to Orlando airport, with no public level crossings, allows 125 mph.

The trains are protected by Wabtec I-ETMS positive train control (PTC), the US standard that enforces speed limits and stop signals. On the Cocoa–Orlando section it works with cab signalling to unlock the 125 mph "higher speed mode"; above 79 mph, level crossings are activated wirelessly ahead of the train.

Each train has a Siemens Charger diesel-electric locomotive at each end (4,000 hp, EPA Tier 4) and Siemens Venture coaches built in Sacramento. To meet demand without adding paths, peak long-distance trains were lengthened to 10 coaches by the end of 2025.

The corridor's weak point is safety at grade: more than 200 people have been killed by Brightline trains since 2018, most of them pedestrians or cyclists, according to AP and local media counts. Federal grants are funding upgrades at 327 level crossings and 33 miles of fencing; Brightline reported 30% fewer trespass incidents and collisions in the first quarter of 2026.

Bankruptcy: what it means for passengers

On 24 September 2026, 17 Brightline Florida parent and holding companies filed for Chapter 11 to restructure about $2.5 billion of debt, with $490 million of new capital from Assured Guaranty and bondholders. The operating company, Brightline Trains Florida, did not file: trains, tickets and timetables are unaffected. Ridership was still growing in 2026, up 15% year to date to the end of July.

What's next: Tampa and Las Vegas

• Orlando–Tampa: about 85 miles, mostly in the I-4 median. Still at planning stage, with no funding or construction date.
• Brightline West (Las Vegas–Southern California): a separate company, not part of the bankruptcy. The 218-mile, 200 mph line is now targeted for late 2029, with a $3 billion federal grant but large funding gaps.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Brightline from Miami to Orlando?

About 3 hours 30 minutes from MiamiCentral to Orlando International Airport.

How much is a Brightline ticket from Miami to Orlando?

From $39 one way in SMART Saver on current promotions booked 14 days ahead. Long-distance passengers paid about $70–75 on average in 2026.

Where is the Brightline station in Orlando?

At Orlando International Airport (MCO), next to Terminal C. Allow at least 1 h 30 to get through the airport to the train.

Is Brightline still running after the bankruptcy?

Yes. Only parent companies filed for Chapter 11; the operating company did not, and trains run as normal.

How fast does Brightline go?

Up to 125 mph (201 km/h) between Cocoa and Orlando; 79–110 mph further south.

Can I take a bike or a big suitcase?

Folding bikes only. Large suitcases can be checked for $30–60 (free once in PREMIUM), except at Aventura and Boca Raton.

Key takeaways

• Miami to Orlando airport in about 3 h 30, around 16 round trips a day.
• From $39 on promotions; book 14 days ahead and pick Flex if your plans may change.
• The bankruptcy concerns holding companies only: trains keep running.

Read also

• Paris to Lyon by train
• Haramain High Speed Railway guide
• Paris to Barcelona by train
• All our train travel guides

For rail enthusiasts

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Sources: Brightline, Orlando station, tickets, current offers, terms of service, baggage and July 2026 ridership report; December 2024 ridership report; Siemens Mobility, rolling stock case study; Mass Transit, Chapter 11 filing (29 September 2026); AP via Spectrum News (25 September 2026); Progressive Railroading, safety upgrades (16 June 2026); Railway Age, speeds (2023); Spectrum News, Cocoa station (6 October 2026); FOX5 Las Vegas, Brightline West (January 2026). Information checked on 13 October 2026.