Florida’s Brightline has struck a restructuring agreement that will infuse the private high-speed passenger train service with $490 million in new capital while also lowering its debt.

Some travelers across Florida are turning to Brightline trains as they say they are trying avoid long airport lines and higher gas prices.

Brightline’s highly-anticipated Miami-to-Orlando line will begin on Friday, Sept. 22, the rail company announced.

Officials say a Brightline commuter train hit a car carrying a woman and her grandchild on the higher-speed line’s first day back in operation since the coronavirus pandemic began.

ORLANDO, Fla. – The president of Brightline Trains met with transportation leaders in Orlando on Wednesday to discuss the company’s expansion project through Central Florida. Patrick Goddard was the guest speaker at the Alliance for Regional Transportation Education Series, which was held at the site of Brightline’s future station at Orlando International Airport. “This is a very diverse market and it is a perfect market for intercity passenger rail,” Goddard said. Goddard said station is an important stop in what will eventually connect Orlando to the west coast of Florida. A time frame for the Tampa extension hasn’t been announced, but the extension to Orlando International Airport is scheduled to be completed before the end of 2022.