Brightline
Brightline and JetBlue have teamed to offer customers “a seamless air-and-rail booking experience” for travel across Central and South Florida, they reported June 3. For the first time, JetBlue customers can book Brightline tickets directly on jetblue.com as part of a combined itinerary.
Brightline said it provides “easy connections” between JetBlue flights and its passenger rail stations in Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, and Orlando (see map below). The Orlando station is located at Orlando International Airport. In South Florida, Brightline offers shuttle service between airports and nearby stations, which customers can include in the JetBlue air-and-rail booking. It noted that when booking JetBlue’s Mint® or core experience, customers can be matched with Brightline’s available Premium or Smart fare classes, respectively.
In addition to expanding travel options for new bookings, this agreement also enables JetBlue “to offer alternative itineraries that incorporate Brightline rail segments during periods of irregular Florida operations, providing more flexibility for customers and enhancing recovery options when travel doesn’t go as planned,” according to Brightline and JetBlue.
“As we continue to grow in Florida and offer more flights to and from cities like Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Orlando, our partnership with Brightline helps us deliver even more value and convenience to our customers,” said Dave Jehn, Vice President, Network Planning and Airline Partnerships at JetBlue. “JetBlue and Brightline share a commitment to innovation and great service, and together we’re expanding transportation options for all of our customers to get to where they want to go, whether they’re starting their journey, heading to their final destination, or adjusting plans along the way.”
“We are proud to partner with JetBlue to enhance connectivity throughout Florida,” commented Barbara Drahl, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Commercial Strategy at Brightline. “This partnership enables travelers to book a single ticket for both air and rail, offering a fast, reliable, and eco-friendly rail transportation option while seamlessly connecting to JetBlue’s extensive network.”
For more details on the partnership, click here.
Brightline covers 235 miles between Miami and Orlando. It launched the first phase of its South Florida operations in 2018, connecting Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Stations in Boca Raton and Aventura opened in 2022. Construction of its 170-mile, $6 billion phase two extension from West Palm Beach to Orlando began in 2019 and service launched in September 2023.
In related news, Brightline last month reported designating Industrious as the official “workplace operator” of four Brightline stations—Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Orlando—as well as a bookable railcar for business meetings or private events. Additionally, Brightline and McLaren Applied recently announced a partnership that brings advanced motorsport-inspired technology to passenger rail for the first time.
CTA
In recognition of Pride Month (June), CTA has unveiled its newly designed Pride Train—“adorned with the colors of a rainbow in celebration of the dynamism and continuing evolution of the LGBTQ community locally and nationally.” It serves Red Line riders in Chicago. CTA became the first major U.S. transit agency to unveil a Pride Train when it introduced the concept to Chicago in 2017.
This year’s train features a new exterior design that uses “bold, vertical waving stripes of color that will cover the entirety of the eight-car train,” according to CTA. The ends of each railcar lead with black and brown stripes representing LGBTQ people of color, followed by the trans color trio, which represents marginalized groups in the larger community, then the classic Pride Flag colors at the center. Inside, each of the railcars “will be filled with messages of warmth, welcoming affirmations, as well as feature new car cards that provide local historical facts and information,” the agency reported.
Also updated for the celebration, the Ventura fare cards.
“The CTA is excited to continue the tradition of celebrating the LGBTQ community with the unveiling of the 2025 Pride Train and Pride signature Ventra Card designs,” CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen said. “CTA stands ready to take you to all the fun events that Pride month has to offer.”
Further Reading: Reports: Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Replace Chicago RTA
