This weekend I traveled to south Florida where I had the exciting opportunity to ride the first ever high(er) speed rail in the US. The company is called Brightline and they operate a single route serving 6 destinations between Orlando and Miami.

My trip started in downtown West Palm Beach where I had to walk 3 blocks to the train station, which was super pleasant. Being on foot, I was happy to find that most intersections were complete with bike and pedestrian safety features like green bike boxes, bollard-protected curb bulbouts, and well-marked street crossings.

Some blocks even had protected cycle tracks next to the sidewalk that were well marked and elevated from the roadway. Downtown West Palm Beach was a great example of a Transit Oriented Development, which I talked more about in my earlier CA HSR video. Go check it out.

The experience at the train station was nothing short of top notch. The station has a sleek, contemporary design with a full set of travel amenities like you might find at an airport. There's a check-in desk, kiosks, general seating, bathrooms, a cocktail bar, a shop selling food and merch, and even a separate lounge for premium class passengers.

On top of that, the station felt secure, well-lit, well-staffed, and well-MARKED with multi-lingual wayfinding.

Once on board, the train got up to speed almost immediately, reaching upwards of 125mph. The cabin itself was quite nice, with leather upholstered seats that recline and plenty of luggage space. Other features included a tray table, wall outlets, free WiFi, and a food and beverage cart.

The station in downtown Miami was equally as nice, with easy connections to the Metromover and regional transit.

Overall, it was 5-star experience. I paid $50 for a one-way ticket which was well worth it considering that driving would have taken longer, and I was instead able to use the hour and half to get work done. The coolest part though was that folks onboard were equally as enamored by their experience. The average American rides a train less than once per year, so it was encouraging to watch people discover for themselves what modern rail travel has to offer.

So, if you ever find yourself in south Florida, I encourage you to give Brightline a try. And if you liked this video, don't forget to like and follow.