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| Tri-Rail commuter train at MiamiCentral Station Photo:Phillip Pessar/Miami 02/07/24 See link to license below* |
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By Jane Feehan
As of this post, Tri-Rail has operated for 35 years in
South Florida. In 1989 it was the first commuter train created in the United
States in 20 years. Though the new highspeed, long-distance Brightline train commands
recent transportation headlines, Tri-Rail history and current status are worth
a look and a comparison.
Rapid completion of a new railroad was critical. A $400 million interstate reconstruction project was slated to begin in Broward County in January 1989. Tri-Rail was promoted as an alternative to the anticipated I-95 traffic mess; commuting times were expected to increase by at least one third. Rail officials said they could provide their alternative service by 1988.
There were hurdles to jump in the three years before rail service was expected to begin. Many SOFLA residents resisted building Tri-Rail when it was proposed.
Some cited an increase in taxes as a problem; others thought the service would not appeal to many and it would fail. Funding was an issue – who was going to pay—federal, state or county? Other than start-up costs to fund, operations were expected to run nearly $11 million a year. (Costs, of course, have changed since then; so have financial responsibilities among government entities.) Also, what tracks would be used—Amtrack, CSX and at what cost? (Tri-Rail asked Amtrack to provide crews to run some of their trains; Amtrack passed on that idea.)
Stops were yet to be determined and station construction completed. It was a lot of work for a few years. Early Tri-Rail project estimated costs hovered at about $60 million but some news accounts settled on $75 million as a final figure. Work progressed but inaugural service was pushed ahead a few months to Jan. 9, 1989.
A soft opening for VIPs was held January 6. Two hundred officials climbed aboard Tri-Rail cars for the first ride from Boca Raton to Miami. Dixie Land music played while Chablis and cream puffs were served. Riders reported delays but assured reporters it would be a great alternative to I-95.
The real “fun” and perhaps more realistic reviews came with the actual service commencing Jan. 9. Traffic on I-95 was backed up for more than a mile north of Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. For some reason, state officials decided to hold a ceremony to launch the I-95 reconstruction project … on the median.
Drivers shouted obscenities at DOT officials as traffic crawled by. Tri-Rail riders saw the backup (track ran parallel to the interstate), laughed and applauded— even though they had experienced a number of connection issues and delays due to speed restrictions. South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Gary Stein, who rode the train Jan. 10, wrote a column titled Tri-Rail Trip Rates Step Above Walking.
Disappointment was two sided. Tri-Rail officials had hoped for 7,000 riders opening day; only 1,500-1,600 showed up for a ride to work. By September 1989 rail and government officials were discussing a budget of $307.5 million to be used over five years to promote ridership of the “troubled Tri-County Railroad.”
Mid-day service was added but in December that year, the Sun-Sentinel reported that “ridership has never met even modest expectations.” So it went. Service expanded yet ridership remained a struggle.
Today, publicly funded Tri-Rail is managed by the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA), which was established in 2003.
Better times ahead?
Tri-Rail service was extended from West Palm Beach to
downtown Miami in January 2024, a big plus for the railroad. Its terminus sits in
Brightline’s MiamiCentral [sic] complex at Northwest 1st Avenue.
Today’s Tri-Rail fact sheet reports the following and paints an improved picture:
- Ridership up to 13,000, an average weekday count; that’s 3,735,897 a year
- 73.5 miles of service between Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties and 18 stations
- Fares run $1.25-$17.50.
- Fleet of 11 trains, 21 locomotives, 19 cab cars, 29 coach cars
On Brightline
Brightline service is too new to make an assessment, but here are a few points for comparison. Check company reports for ridership stats at https://www.gobrightline.com/.
- Brightline is the first privately owned and operated inter-city passenger railroad built in the U.S. in 100 years
- Owned by Fortress Investment Group
- Local service began in 2018.
- High speed service began Sept. 22, 2023, from Miami to Orlando, raising ridership 250 percent for Jan. 2024, according to the Palm Beach Post.
- 52 percent of its traffic is now long distance.
- Brightline lowered ridership estimates in 2024 from 7 or 6.5 million to 5 or 5.5 million. (Source info varies). Refer to Brightline ridership reports at: https://www.gobrightline.com/
- Brightline is the first rail service to use Elon Musk’s Starlink Internet Service.
- Brightline project ran $6 billion.
A new wrinkle may be in the works for Brightline. Avelo Airlines announced April 25, 2024, that they will test a Miami to Orlando service for $46, a cheaper (in some cases) and faster service to Orlando. Competition is good.
Sources:
Sun-Sentinel, Nov.
12, 1985
Sun-Sentinel, July 19, 1986
Sun-Sentinel, Oct. 23, 1986
Palm Beach Post, Dec. 10, 1987
Sun-Sentinel, Nov. 10, 1988
Palm Beach Post, Jan. 7, 1989
Sun-Sentinel, Jan. 7, 1989
Sun-Sentinel, Jan. 10, 1989
Sun-Sentinel, Jan. 11, 1989
Sun-Sentinel, Sept. 16, 1989
Sun-Sentinel, Dec. 6, 1989
Sun-Sentinel, Dec. 16, 1989
Sun-Sentinel, Apr. 25, 2024
Palm Beach Post, Jan. 12, 2024
Palm Beach Post, Mar. 8, 2024
Yahoo Finance News: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/brightline-lowers-florida-ridership-projections-092832976.html
Tags: Tri-Rail history, Fort Lauderdale History, SOFlA transportation history, Brightline Rail, Florida train service, highspeed rail service, Starlink, Avelo Airlines
