Brightline had a big year in 2024 — more passengers, more routes, and way more revenue. But despite all the momentum, the fast train between South Florida and Orlando is still burning cash. Here’s the ride in bullet points:
🚄 The Financials (aka the pain points):
- Brightline had a $549 million loss in 2024, which largely stemmed from a $218 million paid to refinance its $4.6 billion debt and $178 million paid in interest.
- Even without debt payments, Brightline still ran at a $153 million operating loss — spending $341 million, bringing in $188 million.
💰 Revenue Jumped (thank you, Orlando):
- Revenue more than doubled — from $88 million in 2023 to $188 million in 2024.
- Most of that came from the new Orlando route, which launched in late 2023. Orlando fares brought in $119 million (up from $26 million in 2023). South Florida fares (Miami–West Palm Beach) dropped to $33 million from $39 million.
🚆 Riders Packed In:
- Nearly 2.8 million trips booked in 2024 (up from 2 million in 2023).
- 1.6 million trips to/from Orlando, a huge leap from 306,000 the year before.
- South Florida ridership declined to 1.1 million from 1.7 million.
🎟️ Fare Hikes in South Florida:
- In June 2024, Brightline scrapped its $10-per-ride pass, replacing it with a 10-trip package costing $35 per ride. A local South Florida discounted pass is currently not available. Why? To shift focus to the higher-paying Orlando riders.
- A typical ride from West Palm Beach to Orlando costs $49–$74 in SMART class.
Brightline’s strategy seems clear: go long on Orlando, tighten up in South Florida, and hope big infrastructure bets eventually pay off. The tracks are buzzing — the books, not so much (yet).
