Brightline To Begin High Speed Testing Of Orlando MCO Train

As Orlando awaits the arrival of Brightline High Speed Trains to Miami via a brand new station at Orlando International Airport's Terminal C, the company inch ever closer with the start of testing of its trains at higher speeds through northern Brevard County in preparation for its opening to Orlando.

Starting this weekend, the area will see trains travel at 79 mph this month, with the speed increasing to 110 mph early next year.

"The tests will take place along a 13-mile section of track, spanning 18 railroad crossings from Sharpes through City Point, Cocoa and Rockledge.

A the high speed tests get underway here in Orlando we won’t see passengers get to board Brightline trains until 2023.

The new Orlando train station will connect 170 miles of track from central Florida to southern Florida.

When the trains begin operating the travel time will be cut in half, when taking a train from Orlando to Miami without the traffic.

As well as the Orlando station, Brightline is working on a Tampa station to give access to Central Florida’s west coast.

The massive infrastructure project is making progress and encompasses four zones including the area of the Orlando International Airport and the Brightline Vehicle Maintenance Facility.

The testing is expected to bring longer wait times for drivers at railroad crossings, according to Brightline.

Flaggers will be present at the following railroad crossings from 6 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 29 through 6 p.m. Saturday. Nov. 5 while the new rail signal system is commissioned:

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.

"Residents 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. Failure to follow the law could result in fines, points on your license or loss of life," Brightline said in a statement.