ORLANDO, Fla. – Some travelers across Florida are turning to Brightline trains as they try to avoid long airport lines tied to a partial government shutdown and rising gas prices, with many citing convenience, lower stress, and competitive fares as key reasons for making the switch.
“With everything that has been happening, it’s kind of insane to be honest,” one rider said.
For those traveling across Florida, rail travel is becoming an increasingly popular choice.
“It’s easier, to be honest,” another rider explained. “It’s easier on gas, and I don’t have to go through the TSA check line in Orlando and then in Miami.”
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According to an email, Brightline Florida CEO Patrick Goddard notes, “last weekend, more than 40,000 guests traveled between Orlando, Miami, and across South Florida — a new Brightline ridership record.”
Goddard also noted that continued airport congestion is prompting more travelers to choose Brightline as an alternative to flying whenever possible.
Ashley Blasewitz, Brightline’s Director of Media Relations, says the surge in demand includes a spring break travel record.
“We saw 9,400 riders in one day alone, which was last Sunday,” she said.
Although Blasewitz says they can’t directly link the high gas prices to the growth in ridership, she did say the company is also offering discounts, with some fares as low as $39.
“I think you have to look at it as an opportunity cost as well—not just the cost of gas, but the cost of stress and loss of productivity time,” said Blasewitz.
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The deals make it a competitive option for some travelers. When asked whether higher gas prices make train travel a better option, one rider responded, “I would hope so.”
For many riders, the convenience the train offers compared to the airport or making a road trip is better.
“I can read, have a snack, sleep—you can’t beat it,” one traveler said.
Others say the journey itself is part of the appeal.
“What we’re going to see scenery-wise, because it’s going to be parts of Florida we won’t see on the highway,” another added.