DELAND, Fla. — SunRail officials say they are planning the rail line's next phase of expansion later this year, which will connect the commuter train service to DeLand in Volusia County.

What You Need To Know

  • FDOT officials say construction on an expansion project will start this spring to connect SunRail to DeLand

  • They say the $34 million project will add 12 miles of track to connect DeBary to the Amtrak station in DeLand

  • Service to DeLand is expected to begin in the summer of 2024

A spokesperson with the Florida Department of Transportation said a prime contractor has been selected and construction on 12 miles of track is scheduled to begin this spring. The new line will connect DeBary, where SunRail trains currently stop, to the Amtrak station in DeLand.

The $34 million project is expected to start service to DeLand in the summer of 2024.

DeLand-area resident Jean Bailey said a train ride would be preferable to driving on I-4.

“If the SunRail was here, I could have taken the SunRail down to Longwood and my girlfriend could have picked me up," Bailey said. "We’re going to meet anyways and she would have picked me up and drove me around."

Bailey said that after years of delays, it was good to hear that construction will soon start on the DeLand connection.

“It’s a great savings, especially when gas is higher priced,” said Bailey.

Officials say the next focus will be to connect SunRail to Orlando International Airport.

As Spectrum News reported earlier this month, Universal Orlando and other partners are looking at plans to build a SunRail station near the Orange County Convention Center to connect the rail line to the tourist district and the airport.