The All Aboard Florida project, connecting Miami to Orlando by rail, marked a major milestone this week with the completion of the first coach-car shell.
The 85-feet long first coach car for the Brightline service rolled out of Siemens’ manufacturing facility in Sacramento and is a major step forward for the long awaited All Aboard Florida project.
"With the completion of the first coach car shell, we are bringing our vision for a truly unique train service that will transform travel in Florida one step closer to fruition," said Mike Reininger, Brightline president.
"The Siemens team has been working diligently and we are thrilled to mark this milestone as the finishing of this car progresses and the manufacture of additional cars continues."
The coach shell is first component of Brightline’s four-car train sets that will accommodate 240 passengers on the route.
It will initially start with five train sets during the first phase of service from early 2017 between Miami and West Palm Beach.
By June 2018, Brightline expects to expand to 10 trains with seven cars, each carrying 356 passengers.
Brightline also began construction work on its repair facility in West Palm Beach, where trains will be serviced.
The facility is slated to open in August, while work is underway on Brightline’s train stations at MiamiCentral, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando.
