ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida passenger rail operator Brightline is expected to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as soon as this week, according to several financial media outlets, including Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal.
Brightline is looking to restructure more than $1 billion in corporate debt while keeping the trains, which travel between Miami and Orlando, running on schedule.
The move has been a long time coming. Earlier this year, News 6 reported that an audit showed there was “substantial doubt” about Brightline’s ability to continue running because the company did not have the liquid funds to service its debt while meeting upcoming obligations.
[WATCH: Brightline revenue rises, but audit flags ‘substantial doubt’ about future]
The audit showed Brightline lost another $127 million last year. Its total debt is listed at $2.26 billion.
The news comes as Brightline experiences both revenue and passenger growth amid climbing gas prices.
Between January and May of 2026, Brightline carried nearly 1.5 million riders, a growth of 16% year over year, after posting a record 3.1 million passengers in 2025 and bringing in $214 million in revenue in the same year.
Brightline added more trains and used lower fares to attract more short-distance passengers.
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