ORLANDO, Fla. – Getting around Central Florida on the weekends may soon be a little easier as SunRail starts testing Saturday service.
SunRail officials say it was a community effort to get the idea off the ground, and that funding has been the only thing standing in the way of weekend service.
A public-private partnership has launched the four-month pilot project, which will cost nearly $250,000.
Trains will run on Saturday from Oct. 8 to Feb. 11, coinciding with many major events downtown.
Weekend service has long been a goal for many riders since the commuter rail was first launched in 2014. SunRail extended its hours with night service later that year, but it was dropped after ridership numbers declined.
Free weekend service has also been tested for special events, such as the Winter Park Arts Festival and most recently in June for a memorial for victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting.
SunRail says they're looking for additional sponsorship from businesses and organizations and citizens, along with increased ridership numbers.