The company plans hourly round-trip departures between the two cities, 16 times a day. One-way fares between Miami and Orlando will start at $79 for SMART service, and $149 for PREMIUM service. SMART fare bundles for families of four will be available for less than $199 one way.

Excellent question. The estimated total cost for the Brightline extension from West Palm Beach to Orlando International Airport is approximately $6 billion.

However, it’s important to break that down, as the overall Brightline project (Miami to Orlando) has multiple phases with different costs.

Cost Breakdown:

1. Phase 1: Miami to West Palm Beach (Existing Service)

   • Cost: ~$4.5 billion (for the initial 67-mile system, including stations, trains, and track upgrades).

2. Phase 2: West Palm Beach to Orlando (The New Extension)

   • Cost: ~$6 billion (for the 170-mile new construction, including the massive new maintenance facility at Orlando International Airport).
   • This is the figure most people refer to when asking about the “cost to Orlando.”

Total Project Cost (Miami to Orlando):

When you combine both phases, the total capital investment for the entire 235-mile Miami-to-Orlando system is roughly $10.5 billion.

Funding Structure:

Brightline is unique as the only privately funded and operated intercity passenger rail service in the U.S. The funding model is a mix of: Private Equity & Debt: The majority of the funding came from private investment firms like Fortress Investment Group (Brightline’s parent company), as well as institutional debt. Tax-Exempt Private Activity Bonds (PABs): A significant portion was financed through PABs authorized by the U.S. Department of Transportation. These are bonds issued by a public entity for a private project, offering tax benefits to investors.