Is America's Best Train Brightline Worth The Price?

Today I tried America's "Best" train service called Brightline in order to find out how good or bad they actually are! Located in Florida Brightline is considered to be the future of rail travel in the United States connecting Miami to Orlando! I bought a ticket on both their First Class and Economy Class in order to find out what they were really like and if they can really transform the way trains work in America!
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Time Stamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:35 - Brightline Station
01:35 - First Class Lounge
03:38 - First Class Trip
07:51 - Economy Class Station
09:20 - Economy Class Trip
12:19 - Final Review
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[@coolboyalexander7789]

My dad took Brightline a couple times and he absolutely ENJOYED it

[@ericstruk]

It’s super good?

[@ericstruk]

It’s super good!

[@Torontolover2013]

Eric Struck I dare you to do Brightline vs Amtrak next Saturday ❤

[@ncard00]

The brightline trains do not show up on google maps when searching for trips with public transportation between all the different stations/cities where Brightline has service. Please share this information with Brightline leadership and staff and people you know, so this issue can be fixed quickly.

[@baseballstar1562]

@@ericstrukwhy did you repost it’s super good twice

[@animationhubztiktok]

As a local I’ve taken Brightline since 2019 and they do not disappoint

[@clayabby4585]

After going to Japan, it's great to see the US trying to improve their public transportation. It was amazing seeing the public transportation in Japan, especially the Shinkansen (bullet train). I hope the US gets that one day, and this is a big step in the right direction.

[@wellplayed3938]

I travelled both places, but affter going to China, I found Japan is still like a tiny boy. China's high speed railway total mileage is almost 70% of the world. it's average speed is about 350 km/hour. You can travel 1500 km distance in 8 hours, including the wait time. Japan doesn't have that long distance for you to enjoy the travel. The only thing I agree is that US is still in cave age, all the infrastructure is too outdated, especially the public trans.

[@marcoschavez1028]

Came here to say the same thing. It's sad to see train travel in the U.S. is so tragic. I've taken Amtrak my whole life and it's just getting worse. I visited Japan in January 2023 and the shinkansen 🚄🚅 felt like I was living in the future.

[@guyz7777]

And brightline is private funded...not govt funded / tax payer dollars

[@clayabby4585]

@@guyz7777 The Shinkansen in Japan is also privately funded

[@hdlim8753]

@@wellplayed3938 in china, you can make food order online and its deliver to you on the next station, if time allow.

[@jamesquivey1538]

The Aventura Station has complimentary shuttle bus service between the station and the mall that runs every hour. The only issue is that it doesn't stop at the public transportation area where the other busses board, rather outside the food court on the other side of the mall (just remember where they drop you off). The bus driver was nice, seats were comfortable, air conditioning was appreciated, and the ride was decent. They have plans for a sky bridge to extend over US 1 (Biscayne Blvd) to be added at a later date.

[@kevwwong]

I was recently in France and really enjoyed the convenience of rail travel there. It's nice to see that a company like Brightline is trying to bring some of that back in the US.

[@werewolflover8636]

Convenance? You’ lucky SNCF was working the day you went! There’s a good chance that they would be on Strike! I live in France and there’s ZERO train service to my village and I like many others who live here never take the train! It’s much to expensive, slow , unreliable, and it’s cheaper and much quicker to fly! Unless you live in a huge city in France there’s no fast train service!

[@kevwwong]

@@werewolflover8636I'm assuming that there's also zero air service to your village as well then. But you make a good point - if you're in a smaller town your options are much more limited than in a larger area. Still... have you tried taking the train in the US? As for your other point, flights are always going to be faster. But airports are usually outside of city centre, so for a tourist, getting to the airport can be a hassle, especially when visiting multiple cities. There's a lot of security to go through. And you have bags to check etc. The time you save going through the air can be eaten up by waiting (which is why a guy like Erik is smart to invest in something that gives him lounge access). Is it cheaper? Maybe it is for you, but even EasyJet started getting to around €100pp, while I could travel "premiere" class on a train for around half that pp. I might have lost some time, but I did end up saving money. Finally, I know that France is starting to crack down on short haul domestic flights. I am curious as to how that will end up affecting you.

[@kevwwong]

@@LTNetjakGood points, especially regarding the political structure.

[@dannykeqing2366]

As a train lover, I see this video as a absolute W.

[@gloofisearch]

Woow, finally the US is getting some modern trains.....made by Siemens;-)

[@dennisud]

You NEED To take this again IF you fly into Miami then go to Orlando! It's a great trip for the price!

[@MAL1GNANT]

Brightline is doing HSR correctly Treat it like airplanes, to replace long car rides and short flights.

[@tonyburzio4107]

Amtrak tried this, but the unions shot it down.

[@kevingreen5793]

You should do an updated review on Brightline once they expand service to Orlando (which I think opens today actually).

[@Wiki024]

Actually opened yesterday but ye

[@Patrick-yh5yd]

YES! Wait a year to review this train. See if any of those waiting areas have anyone sitting there and all that food? Give it a year.

[@Wiki024]

@@Patrick-yh5yd it will probably stay the same but that sounds cool

[@KiranMachiraju]

I really fell for the leg room. Beats buses, cars, flights, everything! 6:35 -"Anything from the trolley dears?" 😂🤣

[@ariesescudero7039]

Thanks for your reviews looking forward to experience it myself since they coming here in Las Vegas. I love your videos keep it up

[@KanishQQuotes]

Beautiful stations . Hope this jump starts good passenger train service in USA

[@tonyburzio4107]

Well, on Brightline. Amtrak has just had a few major setbacks. Multi-Billion dollar setbacks.

[@TheOnlyName]

Can't believe how nice this is, I'll have to try this out if I visit Florida again!

[@greggperez2124]

Great review! I cant wait to take it from Orlando to Miami one day!

[@paulmoreno6279]

Awesome my guy! Greetings from Palm Beach FL 😎

[@burritoshake]

been on it a handful of times myself, its so ridiculous how convenient it is

[@dominiksystemgamesandtech]

Try to review more country railways like you can even go to europe and try like trains in Czechia, Slovakia, Austria, UK, Germany and much more

[@Bobrogers99]

Your superlatives were a bit over the top, but I'm sure that both classes gave you good value for your fare. The stations are huge and well equipped, perhaps in anticipation of future line expansions. There must be a substantial subsidy to maintain this level of service.

[@tonyburzio4107]

No subsidy, and Brightline is running an operational profit.

[@yug1378]

So happy to another train video because I loveddd eric’s via rail vid and this one has ECONOMY AND FIRST CLASS (as per the intro)??❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉

[@ELAviation]

Loved your videos buddy

[@Bruce-MiloPKM]

You know it is a good day when Eric posts

[@Rgrail]

Your bang on there

[@CranehawkPilot]

Even in the UK, first class national rails seats are just different coloured than the standard class. No access to any lounge really just the standard metal seats in the station. In the UK, we don’t even security scanners for rail stations.

[@ncard00]

If you just focus on the lowest possible travel time, which is what I prefer, people don’t care as much about service.

[@jackgoldbridge3403]

Well your 1st class experience depends on which opperator you take in the uk. LNER/Avanti/GWR all offer lounges to there first class customers at most stations but no where near as good as Brightline Lounge's. I know for sure LNER offer a 3 course meal on the train if you're on for long enough. Not too sure about the others. But you're right with most first classes experience they are terrible. Mainly because they are commuter trains designed for shortish travel to get large amounts of people in/out the local city.

[@erik_griswold]

@@jackgoldbridge3403Free booze in an unstaffed UK train lounge would be interesting.

[@oliverstemp9132]

@@jackgoldbridge3403what’s bonkers is every UK TOC is technically privately owned and none of them have bothered to get anywhere close to this experience, the UK rail service is a disgrace.

[@enjoyslearningandtravel7957]

@@ncard00 I care about service

[@Cassie4486]

I'm from Connecticut originally before moving to Florida. Trains are common as driving in the Northeast. But bars are not really necessary, just like in airports. Once people jump on Brightline, they are going to wonder how the state ever survived without train service.

[@user-cz3bz5rs2x]

In england there is no security trainstations

[@ericstruk]

Well America has guns 😅

[@jaspreetlamba4149]

@@ericstrukwell america Is guns😅

[@tonyburzio4107]

America has always had guns, and only after 9/11 security checkpoints.

[@bernardfriedman532]

10:55 Oh trust me! You don't wanna walk to Aventura station. It will take you about 20 minutes just to get to the station. And you definitely don't wanna be walking through this humidity. They should've built a walkway that connects directly to the shopping mall. I think the configuration of the Aventura station is off and should be better designed. This could've hindered me from going to Fort Lauderdale Brightline station, but luckily I was able to take Lyft to get to this station. Definitely room for improvement with this station

[@ericstruk]

Yeah I had to walk in the scorching heat 😂

[@paulszalai4120]

The station is designed to accommodate a pedestrian bridge to the mall property. Coordination between Brightline, FDOT, and mall ownership is ongoing. The station is built to accommodate TriRail commuter trains as well.

[@rit1chea]

@@ericstruk Wow, BL advertises "Now available: roundtrip shuttle service in Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami." Yes, the heat/real feel in FL has been unreal this summer.

[@enjoyslearningandtravel7957]

@@ericstruk Maybe I’m wrong, but I think I saw another videos other KZbinrs taking the brightline shuttle which looks like a minivan on the return back to the Aventura station from the mall also. I think I saw this into three separate videos.

[@enjoyslearningandtravel7957]

Maybe you need to check into this, definitely avoid the heat

[@stephenkings5910]

I really enjoy your videos! Can you ride the Tren Mava? I want to see what it's like. Thank you.

[@CranehawkPilot]

@Eric Struk, can you do a London tube vs NYC subway video as well?

[@Davo32795]

I know that Amtrak will be getting new set which are similar to the brightline sets called the Amtrak airo. In the Midwest they also these same train cars and a similar locomotive (different design)

[@tonyburzio4107]

The Airo is starting out with a $2 Billion loss because they forgot to check if the new cars fit in the maintenance bays. They do not.

[@CrayCrayBros]

Me and my family took Brightline before From west palm beach to Miami and I sat in economy, and I also wrote the bright line from Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale

[@evanberner]

I haven't tried to use Brightline yet. I priced out the new route from Boca to Orlando, and in economy it's $75/person. So, to do a round trip for 2 people you're looking at $300, and that's not including how you get around once you're in Orlando. I would love to try it, but at that price, I'll continue to just trek up the Turnpike in my car.

[@akivaplutno]

How long does it take to drive?

[@evanberner]

@@akivaplutno For me, it's about 2.5-3 hours from my house to Disney property.

[@sandserpenthiss]

wait hold up ORLANDO FINALLY OPENED as a floridian i gotta try this sometime

[@The_banana_cats]

I love your channel and you got another sub

[@ericstruk]

Thank you for being here I appreciate you!!

[@tomwilley1474]

Love your channel

[@alanzemsky7695]

Great video! Is there a way to ensure you can get a seat facing the direction of the travel? Do the charts show that when you book your seat?

[@exoressdelivers70]

Yes. You select your own seat on the app, and it shows you which way it faces.

[@user-xm5in7zj9y]

Bro I love how you are doing the seat comfort test and the guy a few seats over just casually has a cup full of gummy bears😂

[@sodacanstuffsnocopy]

blud really likes gummy bears 😂

[@alypp6531]

Can you do Emirates? Im Canadian and im going to dubai in 3 months! Ty!❤

[@Yourboipres]

You should do the Florida sun rail

[@JoeHusosky]

There is free shuttle transportation to the mall and back that runs every 10 or 15 minutes.

[@pableaux76]

Makin’ my way downtown!

[@rotatethrottleaviation6111]

Loving it at Florida

[@ProudSalvadorianGuy2008]

Plis do American brand economy hotels plissss, we love your videos

[@jamallhayden2512]

Thank You!

[@meow4619]

Usually when the US/UK media report the Chinese high speed rail way, they usually put "but at what cost" at the end of the report 🤣

[@piero17sb]

Still behind most European or Asian trains by a lot specially price, but nice to see the US finally trying to catch up

[@LandonsTrains]

You should do Metra or Amtrak. Because I think you might like it!

[@melbournetransport15]

Request: take the Eurostar from Paris to London

[@ddaly223]

I love all vids three are so good

[@Perich29]

Wow, Florida, New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, California, Illinois, and Nevada has high speed rail. Arizona needs to catch up with the other states.

[@Amtran727]

Eric, I can't believe you didn't have an alcoholic drink on the premium leg, to go with your salami and cheese!

[@Gregory_Jones2226]

Is it ok if you Can put Southwest airlines and Allengent air head to head Plus Enjoyed the video!😊

[@FeedingFrenzy91]

While Premium is cheap for this route like the biggest benefit there is the lounge I think because it's only around a 20 minute trip so you don't get to enjoy the premium benefits on the train as much. God bless everyone.

[@keithpugh7538]

Usually everything is always nice and clean on grand opening day, let’s visit that in 6 months. I hope they expand up to north Florida

[@tonyburzio4107]

Tampa first, then Jacksonville. Atlanta perhaps.

[@cptpawn7035]

i cant wait for brightline west and the new velaro novo highspeed train

[@androidgamingwithshashank2009]

Bro, You Should Travel On The Delhi-Meerut RRTS Train. Trust Me Man You Are Going To Say WOW

[@kyu5653]

what do you use to record youself? eg. camera, mic

[@sahanicorn]

Can you do Westjet vs Air Canada?

[@Angel.8999]

I love ur channel

[@diogolol8334]

Ive been on a train jn the uk and theres ni security you just need to scan something than you have to wait then get on the train and i never been on a first class but you try it try it as your back pain lol

[@Metrolink856productions]

Even though I live in California, I think Brightline is great!

[@user-pl3hu6br7f]

I love ur videos u just got a sub 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@RoyalCaribbeanCruiseChronicles]

The app still doesn’t work booking a ride. I’m taking train down from Orlando to FLL for a cruise in a few weeks. Will post video of the experience ❤

[@905shadz8]

Do a review of Amtrak pacific surf liner if you get the chance

[@macpollo_11]

Go Eric!

[@KreekCraftFan2021]

Again he does it, he is the Best KZbinr when its about traveling. He is lucky he isnt at Frankfurt's Train Station and using the "DIE DEUTSCHE BAHN DIE KOMMT NIE PÜNKTLICH"

[@ericstruk]

I’ve been there before 😂

[@enjoyslearningandtravel7957]

I’m taking the German rail and they’ve often come punctual

[@Wooden_Aviation]

Can u try silver airways and Azul Airways ✈️

[@VLOGINGISLIFE899]

Erek is the best 😂

[@nealdelplays]

can you pls try elal airline or isreali airlines it is one of the safest airline in the world in isreal if you wanna go on a plane its the safest yet but if you do go go on the 787 Dreamliner as safe as it get it has a Missle Defuser its a good airline

[@United_Wings]

New series ❤

[@Sportsthebest542]

Eric when are you going to to avelo?

[@RespactStudios]

nice video as always Eric

[@ItsHd_YT]

Can you do the Worst British Airline?

[@KanishQQuotes]

You mean all of them

[@ProfessionalFloridian]

What if i told you Drunk drivers hate that company

[@protector22222]

Wait im lost if you had assigned seats how did a family take your seat?

[@slide4_nj]

FLY AIR KOYO!

[@ProfessionalFloridian]

Imagine 💀

[@Krebssssssss]

Train companies: “We want people to enjoy traveling.” Airlines: “Sorry, our tuberculosis section is the only seating we have left on this flight right into Satan’s butthole.”

[@BatoonyPants]

“You just show up and go.” Any train station summed up to a simple sentence

[@Canadiantrainfan]

As a fellow Canadian from montreal, i can totally agree with you! I took brightline in january from fort lauderdale to west palm beach and back with premium on the way there and economy back. My mind was blow with all the amenaties and the service with 1 train every hour compared to 4 trains a day with via rail! I was surprised they gave me food onboard! I was with my dad on that day and he regreted going to mcdonalds for breakfast insted of eating for free in the lounge! This experience was amazing compared to what we have in canada, especially with the new brightline expansion to orlando!

[@AirplaneMan10]

Keep up the great work Eric, you’re amazing

[@rishavm8628]

So cool

[@Jacks0n426]

Day 2 of asking you to fly Alaska airlines including Alaska horizon and Alaska Skywest.

[@tayswizzle1387]

In December they have like polar Express experience

[@enjoyslearningandtravel7957]

I read the ad. It looks fun serving hot chocolate, and singing waitresses, I believe.

[@fredstrainandbusvids.]

@Eric Struk Can you try out an English train?

[@howardcobb4656]

For the product - economy is just fine. In USA going from Orlando to Miami is still easier to go by car.

[@enjoyslearningandtravel7957]

Going from Orlando to Miami is easier if you enjoy driving, but for some people it’s stressful on the toll road and other people have poor vision or they’re taking medication.

[@avagd6293]

Again I say, there are millions of Americans that cannot drive.

[@howardcobb4656]

@@avagd6293 Again I will say - this type of train travel will not work. It is a mind set.

[@Axil0011Music]

Day 5 of asking Transavia VS Aegean vs Sky Express please I have watch every video!!

[@marcianoemanuel6109]

Try enterprise in the Belfast Lanyon Place Northern Ireland Uk

[@rishavm8628]

Best KZbinr

[@jellojiei6061]

Brightline is owned by fortress investment group and the financed a lot of it by buying property near the line before it was made and trying to take advantage of the increasing value. I could be a bit wrong.

[@tonyburzio4107]

You are correct. Brightline is considered a lure to rent their buildings around the stations. Since Fortress (Abu Dhabi Retirement Fund) pays the bonds that built the railroad out of rent on their buildings, all Brightline has to do is not make an operational loss. They are running a substantial operational profit.

[@ItzzNerfDud3]

This is fire! Day 15 of asking Peruvian airlines btw

[@richardayehuikouaho8933]

CAN you do video in france , denmark and germany have a god day

[@jonahsahn]

"making my way...." downtown

[@reynaherbison2207]

At the bar, why was one of the TVs playing a kids show? There’s 22 year olds there.

[@Buzzardthunder]

The central Valley in California is hot too

[@Pepper-mp5of]

Have you ever tried the go train in toronto. Cheaper and really good

[@NicoClashRoyale]

Video 3 of asking you to review Ita airways

[@_StarAlex]

day 1 of asking to try turkish airlines business class and fly to istanbul because their airport is AMAZING

[@talatuolorunnisola2629]

Yup

[@Spiidster679]

Fly next with Finnair

[@henryaure994]

Noooooo I had hoped this was gonna be an airline review!!!!

[@krisb5344]

Same

[@axeyplayz9816]

Can you do a flight video of qantas I you can ty