STATEWIDE — On Wednesday, Brightline will test 35 miles of new rail from Orlando to Brevard County, with an eventual route connecting Orlando west to Tampa that is expected in the future.

What You Need To Know

  • Brightline wants to start service between Orlando and Brevard County sometime between April and June 

  • Eventually, there will be a route to Tampa from Orlando.

But for Wednesday, it is all about getting over to Cocoa. For the test, Brightline trains will go at 7 a.m., all day until 7 p.m., and they will move at speeds up to 125 miles per hour.

Before now, the testing was ongoing from Cocoa to South Florida — to West Palm Beach.

And the train has not been going as fast doing that, just reaching 110 miles per hour.

Ultimately though, the big picture is to connect travel across Central Florida in years to come.

The plan is also to go west, too, eventually.

But this testing on Wednesday signals a new phase, moving people from Orlando east in the near future.

Brightline wants to start service along the track it’s testing Wednesday, between Orlando and Brevard County, sometime between April and June this year.

Heading to Tampa

After high speed rail line Brightline connects South Florida to Orlando International Airport, they’re looking to head west, which has been called the Sunshine Corridor. The plan would include tracks for both Brightline and SunRail to use to connect Orlando International Airport to the Orange County Convention Center and then down I-4 toward Disney Springs, with Brightline then expanding west with a station in Tampa.

The Florida Department of Transportation is working with Brightline on the project. In fact, in its renderings for the new I-4 Express lanes in Osceola County, FDOT included a rail corridor for tracks to run right down the middle of the interstate.

But this all depends on money, about $1 billion needed for that Sunshine Corridor alone. FDOT is working on an application with Brightline for a grant from the Federal Railroad Administration.

That application was supposed to be due this month, but the deadline is now April 21.

So time remains for FDOT and Brightline to work toward the goal of expanding rail in Central Florida.

No date was given on when construction to Tampa could begin.