INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Brightline has slashed its schedule between Miami and Orlando, sending 12 fewer trains each day through Sebastian and Vero Beach as the private rail operator adjusts to rider demand.
The changes, which took effect Oct. 6, drop the number of daily round trips on the long-distance route from 16 to 10, company officials said. That means a cut of more than 37% in Indian River County.
Brightline, which launched its Orlando extension two years ago, doesn’t stop in the Treasure Coast region that includes Sebastian and Vero Beach. Also, the cuts to trains extend north all the way to Orlando.
However, the changes—drawn from rider feedback and data crunching—include beefed-up schedules during busy times, more stops in Boca Raton, and longer trains to handle surging demand between South and Central Florida.
“These changes reflect our commitment to delivering a predictable, reliable and comfortable travel experience,” said Patrick Goddard, chief executive officer of Brightline Florida. “We’ve listened to our guests and studied ridership trends to ensure our network evolves with their needs.”
Under the revamped schedule, which Brightline is testing to ramp up capacity, South Florida commuters get more frequent options during peak hours, with trains departing roughly every 30 minutes.
In MiamiCentral, five southbound trains will arrive between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., while five northbound trains will leave between 3:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. Additionally, four northbound trains depart between 7:45 a.m. and 10 a.m., and four southbound trains arrive between 4:15 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Boca Raton sees a big jump in service, with daily departures climbing from 19 to 28 over the past six months. Now, 80% of South Florida trains and 90% of those bound for Orlando will stop there.
For longer hauls between South and Central Florida, Brightline plans to roll out eight-coach trains during high-demand periods, expanding to 10 coaches by year’s end. That shift will nearly double capacity compared with the same period last year, officials said.
Brightline, which launched its full Orlando extension in 2023, has seen steady growth in passengers seeking an alternative to driving or flying along the corridor. The private rail operator did not specify an exact rollout date for the full changes but said they stem from ongoing analysis of travel patterns
