Brightline

The 2026 Pulitzer Prizes recognized the Miami Herald and WLRN journalists as finalists in the Local Reporting category for their joint investigation into the systemic failures that made Florida’s Brightline the deadliest major passenger train in the nation.

Florida’s private passenger train service saw its business grow in 2025, but not fast enough to keep up with its approaching debt requirements. Brightline’s annual report shows while ridership and revenues increased, it is burning through cash.

March was a record month for Brightline, carrying almost 11,000 passengers on the average day. Yet, the service still is rushing to fix its finances as it gets a little more time to pay some of its debts.

A judge this week dismissed a former train conductor’s personal injury lawsuit against Brightline, calling it a “shotgun pleading” that was overly long and contained irrelevant material.

Cheaper fares for rides between Brightline stations in South Florida helped boost ticket sales in February. The train’s longer distance service was able to charge more than a year ago and still attract more passengers. It needs more of that as it races to meet its debt obligations.

Brightline's ridership has been growing, but its financial health has been deteriorating as it has had a tough time raising fares. One credit ratings agency now expects it will have to restructure its outstanding debt sooner than expected just a few months ago.

The project is one of only 30 entries selected from a pool of over 100 high-stakes submissions evaluated for their impact on U.S. public policy and government accountability.

Brightline experienced a jump in South Florida passengers in January, attracted by lower fares. Long distance ridership was down slightly as average fares rose. It shows the price sensitivity of passengers as Brightline works to accelerate its business and shore up its finances.

Brightline experienced record ridership in December but two credit rating agencies now warn the service may not be able to make its scheduled debt payments in one year.

The first private passenger rail service in more than a century in the U.S. is finding it difficult getting more people to pay higher fares as it works to increase its revenues faster. Brightline faces some big debt payments in 2026. At least one analyst warns of default.

In 1966, 1,700 motor vehicle occupants died at railroad crossings. Nowadays, that number is typically less than 150. Over the same period, the number of vehicles on the road has tripled. By these measures, the risk has fallen by an amazing 97%. What happened?

The parent company of Brightline's Florida passenger rail service named Nicolas Petrovic as CEO. He previously led a major European rail network and comes on board as the Florida business is struggling to grow fast enough.