ORLANDO, Fla. — Brightline celebrated its one-year anniversary at Orlando International Airport on Sunday, having logged 5.4 million miles since the Orlando station opened.

What You Need To Know

  • Brightline celebrates one year of service at Orlando International Airport, with 5.4 million miles traveled

  • 2.6 million rides have been taken, officials said, taking about 1.9 million cars being off of roads 

  •  Due to increased demand, the company is expanding their fleet 

In that time, Brightline officials say the train service has recorded 2.6 million rides, taking an estimated 1.9 million cars off the road.

Sarah and Roberto Gonzalez, passengers on the 8:50 a.m. train to Miami, said they were trying the train for the first time to attend a baseball game between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves.

“We were curious about the train because there are a lot of things in Miami we’d love to do, but we don’t want the hassle of driving, parking, and staying overnight,” said Sarah. “This was the perfect excuse to try it out.”

Sarah said she was most excited about the scenic views from the train, which passes through Florida’s agricultural areas and along the coast.

As demand for the service has grown, Brightline is expanding its fleet. Barbara Drahl, senior vice president of marketing, said the company is adding more trains to meet the increasing demand.

“Just this week, new coaches left Sacramento, and by the end of next year, our fleet will have expanded by 70 percent,” said Drahl.

Despite its success, Brightline has faced challenges with a number of accidents involving the train. In collaboration with local communities, state, and federal officials, the company plans to implement additional safety measures over the next year, including more fencing, signage, and exit gates.

For passengers like the Gonzalez family, the service offers a convenient alternative to driving.

“There’s a lot of benefits, like staying off of I-4,” said Roberto.