“Trains are wonderful… To travel by train is to see nature and human beings, towns and churches and rivers, in fact, to see life.” – Agatha Christie
My recent experience on the new Brightline route from Orlando to Miami and back was slightly different. The train journey between Orlando and Miami didn’t offer the picturesque landscapes one might expect from a cross-state trip. The views were mostly limited to urban sprawl and industrial areas. You look at the back side of most of what you see, but there are moments.
One of the standout features of this trip was the exceptional guest services provided by Raymond, a courteous and attentive staff member. From the moment we stepped onto the platform, his warm welcome set the tone for our journey. Small gestures, like Raymond’s assistance, can transform a routine trip into a memorable one.
The trip began at Orlando International Airport’s new C Terminal. From there, brand-new tracks run east toward the coast. The ride on these new tracks is remarkably smooth and quiet. Because there are no grade crossings, the train could travel at 125 mph on this stretch of track, but once we turned south onto the older tracks, we slowed significantly. The population increased as we traveled further south, which meant more crossings and slower speeds.
“I knew I was going to take the wrong train, so I left early.” – Yogi Berra
My wife Marilee and I left the Orlando station at 6:38 am for this trip, which took about three and a half hours, and arrived in Miami at 10:20. That gave us plenty of time to visit a museum and have lunch before returning to Orlando at 2:50 pm. It was 8:00 pm when we arrived home, making this a long day of travel.
We both look forward to planning our next trip by train to South Florida. Next time, we will likely stay a few nights. Having the option to travel by rail opens lots of possibilities, and we intend to take advantage of them.