A Brightline stop at Disney? Companies say they’re working on it
A Brightline express stop at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando has long been discussed. This week, a Brightline official said the idea is closer to reality than ever.
The Orlando Sentinel reported Tuesday that talks with The Mouse were “in a rather advanced state,” according to a Brightline executive.
In a statement released Tuesday, Brightline, soon to be known as Virgin Trains, formally confirmed the talks.
“We are continuing to explore the possibility of building a station on Walt Disney World Resort property, which we believe will help transform the region,” said Senior Vice President Ben Porritt.
He said a proposed station would provide a direct rail connection to Orlando International Airport, and serve as the initial segment for Virgin Trains’ future extension to Tampa.
The Sentinel reported that Disney confirmed talks are ongoing.
Earlier this year, Brightline broke ground on its long-planned, $4 billion link to Orlando, a route that will see it race up southeast Florida, then cut west along State Road 528, reaching a top speed of approximately 125 miles per hour. The company is also set to open three new stations next year: in Boca Raton, Aventura, and PortMiami. Additional stations are also under consideration at locations along the Space and Treasure coasts.
This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 1:29 PM.
