First Day of Tri-Rail Downtown Miami Service and more!

After more than a decade of planning and delays, Tri-Rail has finally begun service to Miami Central station in Downtown Miami! January 13, 2024 was the first day of the new service, and although it's only a shuttle train for now, it's much better than nothing. I rode from Pompano Beach to Downtown Miami and returned later in the day, and got lots of video from both the outside and inside of the trains as well as the new station itself.
I also managed to catch CSX L787 running light to prepare for its southbound run, and also the first (planned) time an Amtrak ALC42 Charger led the Silver Meteor.
Chapters:
00:00 - CSX L787 light engine @ Pompano Beach
00:51 - Tri-Rail P675 @ Pompano Beach
01:15 - Hialeah Yard from P675
03:47 - Transfer to Downtown Miami train @ Metrorail Transfer
04:01 - Riding RTA 503 (P675X) southbound to Miami Central
15:33 - Miami Central Station
18:43 - RTA 503 (P686X) northbound to Metrorail Transfer
20:16 - Transfer to SFRC and Tri-Rail P686 @ Metrorail Transfer
21:21 - Tri-Rail P686 @ Pompano Beach
22:06 - Amtrak 97 with ALC42 Chargers
22:40 - Photos

[@tedharrison4109]

It would have been nice if there was some narration of what was going on and where you were at different stops. Any thoughts of your experiences would have been helpful as well. Thanks for the views.

[@Kaithelegoguy]

Nice, i saw 822 and its fully painted set on Friday

[@nonstops_aviation]

They have been developing this Downtown Miami Link for years and now its FINALLY a thing! Tri-Rail, thats phase 1 down

[@SouthernCrescentLimited]

That's me on the platform at 0:36 lol. Had a feeling you were a buff but wasn't sure. Nice shots.

[@THEMORTEMREX3699]

Congrats!!!!!!! I so happy about the tri rail is opening the new service to downtown Miami

[@cyclebythesea9459]

Hah, you caught me walking with my bicycle. I went again today in the afternoon and there weren't as many people on the train this time. Took the noon train this time.

[@OleanderJunction]

Best nighttime spot when I catched CN on M852

[@MasterOfRage]

I Usually See Brightline Pass By When I’m At Midtown On My To Target, I Really Hope I See A Tri-Rail Pass By Midtown

[@JPRAILFANNER12978]

That has to be a great experience for you and I hope you had a great time making this video

[@fionalover2.0gaming18]

Awesome catches.

[@amtrak1214]

Now that they finally completed the Downtown extension they should REALLY consider moving amtrak service to Miami Central Station instead of the airport station. Not to mention Tri-Rail should also expand their fleet.

[@HueyRailfanning]

Tri-Rail did get some federal grant money for some new equipment

[@amtrak1214]

@@HueyRailfanning recently?

[@fshjdkfhasdkfhsd]

5:00 wow that abandoned building is still the same as is the desolate area around it. For now they could almost make the connection between the 1978 Amtrak terminus and Metrorail/Tri-Rail station official now that both modes connect downtown to here or the MIC equally.

[@superbaddy4]

Time to analyze your yard shot, like I always do: 3:10 I find it very weird that they immediately cut 1104 off the set. Although if you saw that Tri-Rail Iceberg Idea I showed you, you'd know that even long before now, I believed that 1104 was in fact a cursed coach, and Tri-Rail seems to just not like running it. 3:16 511 doesn't seem to have gotten any further repairs since about 2 weeks ago when we got our last yard shot before now, although it seems it and 506 behind it are now coupled, whereas they weren't in the last shot before now. 3:25 I had a funny feeling before now that something was gonna be done with 824, and now we know. And just nearby, good to see 515 finally cleaned. It was annoying seeing all that political gunk written on the side. That's filthier than any of that grime could've ever been. 3:38 507 and 505 are now coupled again, and have been moved quite some distance back into the yard. And also, if you look very closely right behind, you can see 503 poking out. But once again, it's blocked off, so we can't make out any actual details to know its true condition and whether or not it's now ready to return to service. 3:41 So 1008 was actually the coach coupled with 503... I thought from the previous shot that I read 1004... So that eliminates 1008 as a candidate to be the 7th unit to get the New Scheme, that now going to either 1004 or 1015. Also, I find it quite peculiar that the FEC number of the Downtown Link train just so happens to be RTA 503, all the while the actual TRCX 503 has been a big focus for a very long time now. Although, of course, 503 won't actually ever get to run the Downtown Miami train since they don't feel like modifying the steps on the UTDC cars to allow them to be used in Miami Central.

[@tropicalrailroadproduction5028]

Awesome catches man!!

[@jamallhayden2512]

Thank You!

[@traintrak]

Awesome video, can't believe it finally happened lol

[@343Floridamain]

IT FINALLY HAPPENED YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY WOOT

[@ethancampbell6076]

16:51 Would that be nice for upgrade the ditch lights on BL36PHs.

[@transitfan2000]

Rare Tri-rail train extension to downtown Miami

[@HueyRailfanning]

not rare anymore :)

[@rj8569]

do you have to pass through security to get on tri rail

[@HueyRailfanning]

no, but you do for brightline

[@superdominic64offical]

was on that same train lol

[@people_playground_]

No you get to the metrorail transfer station and wait for a shuttle train

[@stargamerawesome]

Nice! Is it in service right now or was that a test train?

[@HueyRailfanning]

in service

[@R262SubwayTrain]

It's Sucks that it didn't start at Mangonia Park

[@ericerock1000]

Is downtown Miami before or after the airport station?

[@HueyRailfanning]

it's a transfer at Metrorail Transfer station

[@ericerock1000]

I don’t know where that is? That still doesn’t answer the question. Is this station before or after the Miami airport station?

[@HueyRailfanning]

@@ericerock1000 it’s on a separate line not near the airport

[@Antonio-fj7xl]

After the airport