Brightline Review and Florida trip [Patreon Version Unlocked]

[@alanfisherextras]

The Amtrak Corridor ID video was delayed slightly (I got slightly sick), so here's something to make up for that. Enjoy!

[@FreeJaffa92]

Take some time with it / make it multiple videos. Make it as opinionated as possible.

[@elijaha773]

Still high-quality content. Getting access to Patreon stuff is always a treat.🎉

[@railsand]

like a family member showing their pics from a trip

[@michaelimbesi2314]

The actual reason that so much stuff in the Northeast is grade separated is that in the early 20th century, people who got into accidents at grade crossings started suing, so the railroads started grade separating to reduce their potential legal liability.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Regarding the Flagler wives: It was his first and third wives named Mary. The story of his wives is so interesting. Mary Harkness Flagler was the mother of his three children. After Mary died, Henry married her nurse-caregiver, Ida Alice Shourds. Ida Alice, called Alicia by her husband, was much younger than Mr. Flagler. After being declared incurably insane, Ida Alice was hospitalized. Flagler obtained a divorce and married Mary Lily Kenan, who was with him at his death in 1913 and inherited his wealth, and she suddenly died in 1917, with people believing foul play was involved. And I definitely agree with what you said about the train wraps. Miles in Transit always complains about dots in his videos and I agree with him every single time. I know they did this to promote Orlando as a new Brightline destination, but part of the experience of taking trains or transit in general are seeing your surroundings, knowing where you are, and of course the wraps ruins that. When WMATA does special wraps on their trains, they don't cover the windows! The views of the relaxation of not having to worry about driving is part of the experience of riding a train, and whenever advertisement wraps the windows of a bus or a train, it absolutely makes the passengers inside feel like an afterthought. It's dehumanizing.

[@highway2heaven91]

Hopefully they’ll take it off soon!

[@DevynCairns]

I completely agree with the window wrapping. I understand using buses and trains for ads, but at the very most it should only cover the body of the vehicle, not any of the windows. TransLink (in Vancouver) has experimented with some wrappings (especially on double decker buses), but so far it doesn't seem like window wrappings will happen - even when they tried them, it was only parts of the windows and not the whole thing. On trains they really only put ads on the part of the body below the window, in rectangles.

[@ncard00]

It’s not permanent, and looking out the windows is a waste of time, when you have the world’s best train wifi onboard. And Brightline is a realistic approach to HSR in the US, but all you transit/rail advocates just complain all the time and want perfection. These KZbin videos make no change, unless you send them to the people in charge of making decisions, or you will just agree with other transit people, and keep things in a little isolated bubble, where everyone agreess.

[@DevynCairns]

@@ncard00 that's a little harsh for a complaint about window wrapping! It doesn't mean Brightline sucks or is useless or anything, it's just something I don't like about it and wish they didn't do. Many other places don't do it. It's nice to look out the windows sometimes

[@TheRandCrews]

@@ncard00 that sense why even our windows on the train right? People would just flock to use the internet or their phone or laptop or do something else than look at the views of the outside of the train. People especially kids don’t need to see outside anymore especially when they’re just stuck on their iPads right, probably just cheaper to not have windows installed just have full on walls like a freight car

[@briannem.6787]

@@TheRandCrews @ncard00 I don't know why you feel the need to be so pessimistic, but people DO still look out windows. Even those that do use their mobile phone would still glance outside Also, windows make for an important fire exit and so I think there'd be rules that technically mandate them, so failing to fit windows would mean needing more doors per car just for use in an emergency... Even if somebody didn't care to look outside, the very idea of a windowless box would probably make them avoid the train. People tend to be wierded out if they're trapped in a windowless room, especially if the room sways and makes little noises as it moves. Finally, I know that modern trains have automated PA systems to tell you the stop name, but looking out the window to see the station name sign is still nice

[@wta1518]

@@DevynCairns Don't worry about them, they're just a troll.

[@AshleyBromiley]

the wrapped windows actually make me nauseous when I try to look out them

[@Taitset]

Really like this format Alan!

[@noahlavaty]

agreed he should definitely keep this up

[@TeamEXAngus]

When I clicked on this video I was not expecting to see you here Taitset

[@Taitset]

@@TeamEXAngus I'm a big fan of Alan's videos. :)

[@MaxPrehl]

"SEPTA please run the airport connection all night" we're literally begging

[@starfilmsanimation]

I hate the security theatre. They do that in Spain too and it's annoying for getting trains. In countries that don't have that I've been able to get on trains last second (including one time where by the time I caught my breath in the foyer the train was moving)

[@mrxman581]

Spain has had people set off bombs on their trains. It's not just theater. Better plan your schedule.

[@enjoystraveling]

In the United States and especially Florida, some people carry guns hidden and it’s allowed if they have a permit, so I find it a good thing that they do have the security for Brightline. However, when I did live in Germany and guns are not allowed step under very strict rules, and a permit, there was not security to get on train, except to have a ticket

[@jg-7780]

4:45 That anecdote reminds me of when I took the first ever westbound ride on the DC silver line extension, and someone actually got off at Dulles to catch a flight!

[@mrxman581]

To use the word entropy as a euphemism for old was clever and funny. From now on I won't say I'm getting old. I'll say I'm suffering from entropy.😆

[@JustinSchroeder29]

It was bothering me because it didn't feel like the right word but knew it was close... pretty sure he was going for atrophy... and to be honest either of which I'd struggle to pluck out of the word bank on the spot.

[@csus4add9]

I like the term entropy because it is the opposite of uniformity. A jungle, for example, is full of entropy even though it’s young and vibrant. On the other hand, Paris is basically frozen in time from Napoleon III, so it would be low entropy even though it’s old. And I think Philadelphia is one of the most entropic cities out there, and that’s what is charming about it.

[@xiezicong]

It's ridiculous that the airport line isn't 24/7.

[@ivanoffw]

It was such a nice surprise when I arrived, but I had to take a taxi to get back to the airport at 5am. There was definitely enough people at the airport that morning to run the train, since the TSA line wrapped into one of the bridges to the parking lot.

[@superj8502]

It's not true that a lot of european railways have security checks. Only spain and the channel tunnel.

[@highway2heaven91]

Miami-Dade county is actually building a BRT in the US 1 Busway. But it’s located next to the main stroad not in it so future BRTs will have to use this concept.

[@mdhazeldine]

3 HUNDRED level crossings? OMG. No wonder you keep hearing about accidents in the news. The statistical probability of something going wrong there is really high. That's an expensive problem to solve retroactively.

[@EmyrDerfel]

So many level crossings, and Florida man gonna Florida man.

[@mrxman581]

That's why it's NOT HSR.

[@counterfit5]

At least it doesn't run down the street in Tampa

[@williamerazo3921]

Or Florida drivers are terrible bad. NJ and NY Commuter rail hand crossings too

[@robk1310]

Entitled drivers can’t wait for a gate arm to go up 🙄

[@Bill5O1]

The Miami metro is built farther away from the airport because they plan to extend it south, and doing it like that is cheaper than a tunnel.

[@herlsone]

Dear @brightline, never wrap the windows!!!!!!

[@starfilmsanimation]

Also I empathize with your annoyance with SEPTA. I wish Sound Transit had a more reliable connection to the airport when the light rail isn't running

[@CarlLevitt]

5:50 "Now it's time for a bathroom review (whoo!)"

[@Pensyfan19]

Great compilation of footage! I'm glad you enjoyed your time down there, as I feel I should also return to Miami, of course to ride Brightline again, this time from Orlando, as well as to visit more of the city since I was only there between trains.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

It's a shame you didn't get to visit Little Havana/Calle Ocho and have some Cuban food like a frita cubana, ropa vieja or pastelitos, but both the Metrorail and Metromover are quite cool! Miami's skyline is underrated, it feels like the Vancouver of the Caribbean! Like if you compare the Miami skyline in the intro of ¿Qué Pasa, USA?, a 1977 PBS sitcom about an immigrant family adjusting to life in the US and fighting between their Latino traditions and adapting (it was the first bilingual sitcom), to now, you can clearly see development around Miami has exploded. Speaking of Cuba, the roosters found in South Florida like in Miami and Key West are descendants of Cuban ones bred for fighting. Doing that isn't legal in the US anymore, hence why a lot were released and now roam the region. Little Havana has big rooster statues, and the reason why is they were installed back in 2002 when there was a craze to put animal sculptures up in US cities. They're based on a model sculpted by Tony Lopez who had a pet rooster named Pepe who followed him around. Also, fun fact, Cuba actually got trains before SPAIN itself did! Cuba's first steam railway line opened in 1837 when it was a Spanish colony, making it the seventh place overall to get trains.

[@JohnGeorgeBauerBuis]

That is interesting that Cuba got a railway before Spain, although considering how mountainous Spain is, it makes a lot of sense.

[@edwardmiessner6502]

That disused rapid transit platform at right angles to the main Metrorail platform? That was supposed to handle Metrorail Red Line trains out Flagler Street to the Midway Mall (It was at the corner of Flagler and Route 826, I don't what's there now), but NIMBYs killed it.

[@frafraplanner9277]

7:23 What if states started charging a grade crossing tax?

[@enjoystraveling]

Then, freight trains would have to pay it also

[@frafraplanner9277]

@@enjoystraveling Freight railways could stand to be grade separated for safety too

[@stevenroshni1228]

looks like Brightline doesn't understand the advantages rail has over flying

[@hotelandelevator1236]

Wow, used to live there, the difference between FDOT and CDOT is like night and day, CDOT is thinking of building a rail line from Denver to Steamboat Springs

[@CoffeeOnRails]

The seats on those venture sets look similar to the garbage they’ve recently installed on the Class 390 Pendolino here. I fit them but holy heck the wings mean talking to a person next to you is super uncomfortable as the wings HIDE YOUR FACE!

[@himbourbanist]

man even running hourly Airport line trains overnight would be doable. Can't tell you how many times I've landed just after the last train leaves

[@jerryconnors8663]

Good video Alan and thank you! Totally agree with you on the window wrapping on these trains and city buses. I took Brightline when it first began r/t West Palm to Ft Lauderdale in 2018. That train flew. The right of way was the old Florida East Coast line. In recent years before Brightline it was being used as a freight line. So when Brightline came along with the high speed operation, they almost weekly had rail crossings fatalities. I heard they have over 20 rail crossings just between West Palm and Ft Lauderdale. Then last week I heard about the Melbourne fatalities at the same crossing one day apart. It’s a great mode of transportation, a bit pricey but hopefully ridership will pick up.

[@BrennanZeigler]

For the most part, I hate Florida and unless I’m going to Disney or Universal, I have no reason to go there, but with Brightline now fully operational, I now have one more reason to go there

[@tonywalters7298]

I wish they would elect someone who is not a fascist

[@davidjackson7281]

@@tonywalters7298Love Matt Gaetz too.

[@robk1310]

Florida is the best. A lot less crazy democrats and they are tough in crime. 👍🏼

[@MrEdHasibuan1996]

The security scanner thing is pretty normal in Spain and some Asian countries afaik...

[@97nelsn]

I almost went to Miami this year for Art Basel, but I didn’t due to personal reasons. Last time I went to Miami I was staying in Miami Beach and I took the 150 bus to the airport and it was actually pretty quick. Wish Miami Beach would have some sort of rail service since it’s a popular destination but also filled with lots of vehicular traffic as I remember going into Miami Beach in a friend’s Tesla.

[@walrus4282]

look up the miami smart plan. we have it to build a monorail from downtown to the beach :/

[@mrxman581]

​@@walrus4282Isn't that a Simpsons episode? 😆

[@86pp73]

​@@walrus4282 Monorails do be goofy, but they are also a workable form of mass transit. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good, especially when dealing with dealing with a state gov like in Florida

[@walrus4282]

@@86pp73 no I agree but miami dade is considering what to replace the people movers in downtown with. It would just be nicer if we could tie the systems together given the proximity.

[@86pp73]

@@walrus4282 I guess we'll see what happens. Having briefly looked at the SMART info online, I believe the local authority might be opting to modernise the people-mover and use that for the Beach Corridor. Not a terrible idea, honestly. After doing the reading, I really hope Florida DoT won't bugger the whole SMART programme. Even if only a single leg of the metrorail or metromover systems receive something, it could still be a huge boon for Miami. The NE Corridor looks very interesting in what it could bring

[@egbutler114]

Love the unedited version. Not really a fan of the diesel powered HSR. Would love to see you update the Roosevelt Broad Street subway extension meetings.

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

Yeah Miami isn't a place one would think would have good transit in North America, but it does! It's not perfect by any means, but it's still great that Miami has all this, and has led to a lot of development! The connectivity of Miami's Metrorail and Metromover with the commuter Tri-Rail is effective. They got people to ride trains when there was highway construction in the 1980s, so Tri-Rail was meant to be a temporary solution to still get people to and from work. Because it proved to be such a popular service, they made the service permanent. And they purchased more rolling stock from Hyundai Rotem, as well as renovating coaches so they can be bike cars, furthering reach with making it great for cyclists. The Metromover is the most successful of the North American urban people movers. Because of the Metromover and its different loops, so much development has popped up downtown thanks to its connectivity to the Metrorail. And the Metrorail first opened in 1984 as a park and ride system with parking garages outside downtown but now, transit-oriented development has popped up by stations like by Brownsville and Historic Overtown/Lyric Theatre stations.

[@jpg3702]

And someone who recently traveled on New Jersey Transit with bags and planning to take shinkansen with bags, I'd love for you too. Include information about what people do with their bags on bright line. Or other real lines that you review. Thank you!

[@breadmaster1714]

also with transit in miami it is the county that runs everything. all of are cities are insanely small and the city runs buses and trains while cities run smaller bus trolleys.

[@norlockv]

Alan, the shaky footage was just fine. We watch this for commentary, not Leon Chamroy’s cinematography.

[@wta1518]

The footage already looked like shit because of the wrap anyways.

[@MrJamieBattle]

I’ll be visiting Miami via Brightline this weekend (December 16th) and i can’t wait. I’ve been to Miami before but not since early 2018.

[@mrxman581]

I don't mind the wrapping as long as it doesn't cover the windows. What's the point of covering the windows when uou xan still easily make out the huge advertisement on the rest of the train. Not covering the windows doesn't make the advertising less effective. It's still all over the rest of the train. The issue you described about stopping to let another train pass are because they decided to single track it to save costs. But that compromise negatively impacts effectiveness since it increases the trip time. You didn't say how long it took you to make the trip including going through the terminals. Was the total amount of time the same in both directions? Oh, and how much was the riund trip? Thanks.

[@patrick97764]

Not going to lie I didn't even know miami had a metro system

[@xoxxobob61]

Miami is one of the 2 Heavy Rail Metro systems in the South with the other being Atlanta. It will celebrate it's 40th. year of service next year.

[@DanielCoin88]

Do a review on Brightline West (Former XpressWest or DesertXpress) once it open by Late 2027 or Early 2028!

[@enjoystraveling]

Normally, I wouldn’t be for security for trains, since I’ve used them all over Europe, but for the United States specially Florida that allows guns carried, and you don’t know carrying them then I think it’s a very good idea they have security to x-ray for certain things I haven’t heard not too long ago. A person in the Orlando airport had forgotten they had had a gun. They had till the x-ray caught it.

[@mdhazeldine]

Both you and Reece used the word "entropy" in your videos published in the last 24hrs. Did you have a private bet with each other to see if you could shoehorn it in? LOL.

[@chrispontani6059]

Couldn’t take a cab from the airport

[@timmydeee]

I like that your hair still looked amazing after 25 hours on the go 😂

[@CirrusGorringe]

hot take dots on windows are okay in hot climates because shade

[@richardsmith4187]

I agree with you regarding the wrapping on Brightline trainsets !! IT SUCKS for the same reason you mentioned and it just screams CHEAP. Does Brightline really need revenue from advertisement ???? Brightline trains look great in the color schemes they have and don't need all the wrap as it really takes away from the beauty and yes the window wrap does hinder seeing and filming out the windows. I live in Fla so that's my only real gripe right now. BRIGHTLINE, wake up your trains are not inner city buses !!!!!!!!

[@johnmc67]

Never been to Toronto, eh?

[@Adamguitarherochamp1]

They put that vinyl wrap as a celebration of the Orlando station opening

[@zacharyabelson8196]

Is that a pr for people movers in a day?

[@eirinym]

You really must be huge Alan.

[@Shytot-1]

I find it amazing that a country that professes to be a modern 1st world country is making such a big deal about an ordinary train.

[@java-gn1xs]

You should visit Cape Coral for the memes Or St Augustine that place is cool

[@alecboucher5984]

If st. aug had good transit it would be a game changer

[@cmd062]

If I have to go thru security to get on the train I might as well fly, was not aware that Brightline made you go thru airport style security.

[@DevynCairns]

Why would that be the dealbreaker? I agree that it's kinda silly, but it's not like the whole take off your shoes and take out your electronics dance at an airport, it's more like the bag scan at a theme park or something like that. There are lots of other benefits to taking a train At the same time, with this particular train... it's a bit unfortunate that it only goes to the airport.

[@enjoystraveling]

I think there was only one person ahead of me in line when I went through the Brightline security and I’m glad that they have it because in Florida as well as and some other parts in United States some people pack, in other words carry legally guns hidden in their clothes.

[@definitelynotacrab7651]

Shame its not electrified though

[@alfredogarbanzo2276]

i think the grade crossings are not the move, FDOT NEEDS TO fix that . Also just wish Brightline was less expensive, bc the more passengers you add the more expensive it gets when u pay for multiple tickets.

[@robk1310]

It keeps the low class bums away. Which is good the Karen’s and Ken’s that would show up if fares were lower would tick everyone off.

[@nkg1190]

Miami seems like it has so much potential for TOD. How is the housing situation like there currently?

[@NeonNion]

Florida, including Miami, are severe risk zones for climate change. No new homes should be built in such an area.

[@anthonysnyder1152]

Miami is now the most expensive city to live in based on avg income of residents. Think it surpasses NYC like 2 years ago...

[@nkg1190]

@@anthonysnyder1152 holy crap...

[@williamerazo3921]

Can’t believe Miami citizens pay almost 90% of their income on housing and transportation

[@robk7266]

How were the grade crossing collisions Brightline'e fault? It is always the car driver's fault. How about people don't be idiots, and if they are, let em learn their lesson.

[@history_leisure]

Airport line should be 30mins or Beth from 6am-9 or 10pm, then hourly overnight. Whole route (since it technically ends at Temple and not Glenside-although night train should probably connect to Wayne JCT or Fern Rock) is high platform and has gates instead of just the scanners (night trains can bypass Eastwick since almost no one uses that stop anyway)

[@nickstransportvlogs]

6:39 - It’s Siemens, what do ya expect from a European rail stuff manufacturer?

[@watson-disambiguation]

wrapped vehicles are so annoying, I agree

[@eprohoda]

How are things?- so unusual picture! so long. Alan!

[@sbeve7445]

alan must be like 2 meters tall or something. I was like 1 meters 8 and it was fine

[@DavidNightjet]

I went to one of his meetups last year, yeah he's a tall dude

[@wsdtime]

11:55 Agreed

[@KoleWilliams]

love this

[@johnmcqueen4883]

As a transit geek I did a Miami-Ft Lauderdale transit tour last Thursday, riding 16 trains and busses in 12 hours. I took Brightline for the first time , from Aventura to Ft Laud (11 min). I was just as angry as you that the whole train was “wrapped” (I didn’t know that’s what it was called, so thanks!). It’s so cheesy to be wrapped in an ad for “The Islands of the Bahamas” and it messed with my photography too. Actually I preferred your obscenities about it, kudos. Some of my Miami Transit (free this month) and Broward County Transit ($1 for seniors like me) were wrapped, but they’re city busses, not new and much-publicized modern “high speed trains” and first class was wrapped too.

[@richardsmith4187]

Agree !!! Brightline trains are NOT Christmas presents, so get that damn wrap off. Only time will tell if Brightline listens to the public ????

[@bjf10]

Definitely interesting stuff!

[@history_leisure]

4:50 be funny if it was Molly and The Legend of In The Loop

[@th3thrilld3m0n]

omg i have the same shirt! And as a local Orlando resident, I can't stand how Brightline missed the mark on so many things that typically make good public transit. It doesn't even come to the city! I still need to drive to the airport and pay for parking or use rideshare, then the trip takes the same amount of time as driving and instead of $16 in tolls and like $10 in gas each way, its over $100 one way! So stupid.

[@timothystamm3200]

They are apparently thinking of a Sunrail connection.

[@davidjackson7281]

Fast train travel can be so comfortable. Fare is $79 to Miami and when on sale it's $59. Congratulations on traveling 250 miles on up to 4 gallons for $10 of gas. Don't forget the cost of repairs and maintenance for wear and tear on a 500 mile roundtrip.

[@enjoystraveling]

@@davidjackson7281 I got a $39 fare from Orlando to West Palm in November

[@robk1310]

I’m with FDOT. Busses suck. Hate them. Hate them on the roads. Busses encourage low income patronage. Can’t we have some city’s without low class busses everywhere? Get the trains running and let people ride those.

[@McSnipes78]

I love you Alan

[@chachelawson5149]

I liked it

[@baronjutter]

FLORIDA SLIDE SHOW

[@dennisud]

So you chose to do this as in a schedule where you couldn't stop to rest, right! Was this a weekday where there was a Brightline train every hour? BTW, a week later they doubled the trains so they had one leaving every half hour! You know it federal law to go through security, I had to when I used the greyhound bus. You lucky it didn't take as long as the Airport TSA. You chose your schedule as you said. I agree the wrap while ok to advertise, should have been done later on after all the Media had their chance to have clear windows. That was a dumb move. Bad luck on the camera fiasco. The Miami Metro was just upgraded a few years back and has 2 train lines one to North west Miami-Dade, and a shorter one directly to the Airport! I lived most of my life in Miami and that system has finally caught up to their original goal. More lines are slated for the near future to to the north east county, and an extention parallel to the Dolpin Expressway due west. You should have taken Brightline back just so you could at east see out the window better. Better luck next time.

[@cwarren9981]

being in the philadelphia area i wouldn't mind trying out the brightline down in miami