Florida -Wednesday October 26, 2022: In its push to extend high-speed rail service West Palm to Orlando by next year, Brightline has announced that it will begin 79 MPH speed testing for its passenger trains in Northern Brevard County starting this coming Saturday, October 29.
This testing phase is known as a signal and track cutover. It will take place along a 13-mile section of track, spanning 18 railroad crossings from Sharpes through City Point, Cocoa and Rockledge. This phase includes the integration of a new second railroad track into the existing corridor. Brightline says they will not begin 110 MPH testing in northern Brevard County until early next year.
Flaggers will be present at the northern Brevard crossings continuously from 6 a.m., Saturday, October 29 through 6 p.m., Saturday, November 5. A new rail signal system will also be activated.
The private rail carrier just began 110 MPH speed tests in Martin and St. Lucie counties this past Friday. Those tests are ongoing and slated to last through November.
View a video of Brightline's 110 MPH testing in Martin and St. Lucie Counties below:
Brightline currently operates between Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Construction of its high-speed rail line all the way through to Orlando International Airport is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year. Brightline says its vision is to bring high-speed passenger rail service to additional city pairs and congested corridors across the country that are too close to fly and too long to drive. Its next planned project is to lay a high speed rail-line connecting Las Vegas to Southern California.
Brevard County - Continuous Flagging Operations / 79 MPH Train Testing
6 a.m., Saturday, October 29 through 6 p.m., Saturday, November 5
Residents in northern Brevard County should be alert, follow the law around active railroad tracks and railroad crossings and be aware that once the second track is commissioned, rail traffic could run on BOTH tracks.
* Testing is expected to bring additional wait times at railroad crossings. Stay off the tracks and never go around crossing gates.
* Failure to follow the law could result in fines, points on your license or loss of life.
Sharpes
- Camp Rd.
- Canaveral Groves Blvd.
City Point
- Cross Rd.
Cocoa
- Cidco Rd.
- Beau Gest
- Michigan Ave.
- Dixon Blvd.
- West Highland
- Peachtree St.
- King St. – SR 520
- Rosa L. Jones Blvd. (Poinsett Dr.)
Rockledge
- Barton Blvd.
- Eyster Blvd.
- Rinker Way
- Gus Hipp Blvd.
- Barnes Blvd. (SR 502)
- Carver Rd.
- Ansin Rd.
“Safety around railroad tracks starts with the way in which people interact with the railroad” said Katie Mitzner, director of public affairs, Brightline. “We are reminding the public – pedestrians, motorists and cyclists - to be vigilant about rail safety. Never drive around crossing gates, don’t try to beat a train, always stay off the tracks and only cross at a designated crossing. The safety message is simple: look, listen, live.”
Learn more about Brightline at: www.gobrightline.com.