Monthly Passes Modified (was Discontinued)

[Jeff Smith]

https://www.wftv.com/news/local/brightl ... utType=amp

Brightline ends monthly passes. What’s next for commuters?
...
The Miami-based high-speed rail company notified customers that it will end its $399 SoFlo Solo Pass, $229 SoFlo Shared Pass and $1,199 All Station Shared Pass in an April 29 newsletter.

“In recent months, it has become increasingly difficult to accommodate all guests as peak trains are reaching capacity,” Brightline wrote in its update. “We continue to evaluate the best approach to balance customer demand — and as a result, the sale of Train Passes will be discontinued effective June 1, 2024.”

[Arlington]

This is clearly good news for Brightline. It means they are effectively able to raise prices in SoFla and devote more space to higher $ value longer haul. Anyone complaining can be (partly) displaced onto TriRails' commuter service, or pay the higher per-trip price. They've long told us that they want to better fill the long haul trains and displacing SoFla commuters is a great way to open seats that can then be (re)filled all the way to Orlando.

[JohnFromJersey]

On one hand, this sucks, but on the other, Brightline's primary use wasn't supposed to be for commuters.

Eventually I expect Brightline will be having longer trains and/or tighter headways, so I can see the monthly passes coming back at some point

This is clearly good news for Brightline. It means they are effectively able to raise prices in SoFla and devote more space to higher $ value longer haul. Anyone complaining can be (partly) displaced onto TriRails' commuter service, or pay the higher per-trip price. They've long told us that they want to better fill the long haul trains and displacing SoFla commuters is a great way to open seats that can then be (re)filled all the way to Orlando.

Have you seen the prices for Brightline's monthly passes? Those were high-rolling commuters that bought those to specifically stay away from TriRail, which can be pretty dicey passing through certain stations

[RandallW]

Aren't the Brightline stations other than MCO built to handle low-level boarding commuter trains? If so, that points at Brightline not offering a pass for commuters on the Intercity trains, but other commuter trains operating on its line.

[electricron]

Aren't the Brightline stations other than MCO built to handle low-level boarding commuter trains? If so, that points at Brightline not offering a pass for commuters on the Intercity trains, but other commuter trains operating on its line.

I am under the impression that all Brightline trains lack traps, therefore all their stations have high platforms, except the specific platforms at MCO built for TriMet trains.

[RandallW]

The Aventura station was built with both high level and low level platforms. Brightline uses the high level platforms and Tri-Rail plans on using the low level platform as part of the Northeast Corridor Rapid Transit Project. At point Brightline proposed running its own commuter rail service using different equipment than it's Orlando trains.

[Jeff Smith]

No Orlando: TCPalm

Brightline South Florida commuter pass to cost more for fewer rides and no Orlando leg

Brightline’s South Florida commuter passes will cost 150% to 350% more, allow four times fewer rides, and no longer allow trips to Orlando — starting June 1.

The high-speed rail company will honor, but not renew, already purchased passes until they expire. Existing passholders will even receive 10 complimentary rides under the new passes.
...
Current solo pass: 40 rides every 30 days cost $9 to $16 per ride
Current shared pass: 12 rides every 30 days cost $14 to $32 per ride
New pass: 10 rides every 30 days will cost $25 to $55 per ride

The new 10-pack prices range from $250 to $350 for coach and $350 to $550 for first class.
...

[JohnFromJersey]

I don't think it's a good idea to chase old customers away to accommodate new ones. That being said, with only 4 coaches a train, not much they can really do here. Siemens needs to hurry it up with those new cars, and Brightline should double train length so they can accommodate both commuters and inter-city passengers.

Especially with two planned new stations between Orlando and WPB, they desperately need to increase the car count.

[JohnFromJersey]

The Aventura station was built with both high level and low level platforms. Brightline uses the high level platforms and Tri-Rail plans on using the low level platform as part of the Northeast Corridor Rapid Transit Project. At point Brightline proposed running its own commuter rail service using different equipment than it's Orlando trains.

I don't really see it being a good idea to share FEC/Brightline trackage with TriRail long-term. First and foremost, TriRail offers a much different level of service - it's not as clean as Brightline, it is more prone to (longer) delays than Brightline, etc.

The ideal situation here would be Brightline having up to 10 coaches a train to accommodate commuters and intercity passengers, and not have to screw one to serve the other.

[Jeff Smith]

We do have a topic on Brightline Commuter Rail: commuter-service-proposal-for-miami-dad ... 71598.html

I think BL would be pre-disposed to running it to solve their "LD" capacity issues. Plus, they get paid to do it.