Brightline

Today, the Miami Herald and WLRN publish a memorial list of the 196 people struck and killed by Brightline trains in Florida since 2017 — to honor their lives, raise awareness about the deadly Brightline corridor and spark conversations about how public safety can be improved.

Brightline is carrying more passengers throughout its service territory, but ticket revenue from its South Florida-only service remains lower than it was a year ago. The company also updated lenders that it will use reserves to make a debt payment in January.

Florida’s new rules for rail crossings take effect Jan. 1, aimed at reducing the number of drivers and pedestrians killed by trains. But they won’t lead to wholesale change along the deadly Brightline corridor, where 195 people have been killed — the rules are for new projects. Here is a look at the safety solutions experts say could be most effective.

The private passenger train service changed its schedule in October to add more trains and cars for commuters between its South Florida stations. More riders showed up as average fares fell.

Since Brightline launched in 2018, its trains have hit 174 vehicles, killing 25 people and injuring 63 more, an investigation by WLRN and the Miami Herald found. Another 104 people survived without injuries, some by fleeing their cars before impact. “Wounds on your body disappear slowly over time,” one survivor said. “But wounds on the inside? Those you keep.”

A lawsuit that threatens the multi-county coastal link transit project is on ice for now, and elected leaders are pushing ahead with Brightline negotiations.

The private company that promised to be “financially viable on its own” is losing money — and using government subsidies to grow its business. Read the latest installment in the WLRN / Miami Herald series Killer Train.

Brightline train crews confront violent deaths on a regular basis. Their experiences, their suffering, are part of the long debris trail of the nation’s deadliest major passenger rail system. “What’s your body count?” someone asked the conductor on Instagram. “16,” he responded, like he was providing his shirt size.

Episode 4 of the WLRN News and Miami Herald podcast 'Killer Train' explores the long history of safety issues on train tracks in South Florida.

Florida's private passenger train service had concentrated on growing its long distance service between South Florida and Orlando. In recent weeks, it has changed pricing and schedules in hopes of attracting regional commuters, too.

Brightline revenue and ridership is up so far this year as it continues looking for a financial partner. The service has billions of dollars in debt and is operating at a loss. One investor thinks the "most bearish view" is reflected in recent bond prices.

The Trump administration on Monday announced it is committing $42 million to address safety concerns along the Brightline route, as officials respond to the train’s record as the deadliest major passenger railroad in the nation.