Train travel usually evokes either visions of grand steamers, heading through picturesque European cities or crowded American versions plagued by aged seats, stained carpets and delays. Yet, here in South Florida – of all places – we have something of a modern version of that European train of yore. From city core to city core, swiftly, timely and luxuriously, the Brightline train line takes you there.
On our one-day excursion from West Palm Beach to Miami, naturally, we had to see all that Brightline could do for the Gold Coast and see if it could get us to want to repeat the trip. We opted for Brightline+, a concierge service that picks you up from a destination within a five-mile radius of the train station, as we were at the Colony Hotel. Brightline+ offers a range of options for the “last mile.” We went with a Brightline-arranged car service to facilitate the maximum amount of time and worry-free luxury.
Jacque, our assigned mobility ambassador, picked us up in a bright yellow Tesla, part of Brightline’s commitment to reducing emissions and improving the region’s air quality. Brightline also does this with its diesel-electric hybrid locomotives, ensuring each trip contributes less pollution than you would by car. The drive from the Colony Hotel to the Brightline station in West Palm Beach is short. We hardly got into conversation with Jacque before we were dropped off curbside, ready to go. He did give us a few tips for the train ride, namely that Margaret’s mom could join us sometime because Brightline is fully ADA compliant and very accommodating of mobility issues.
We arrived with 15 minutes to spare, more than enough time to check out the station’s offerings. Margaret found the premium lounge and decided to luxuriate there. As a New Yorker and a South Florida surfer, Jadan thought the idea of train travel in the sun a novelty and wanted to see what fellow passengers thought. Many were Northeastern transplants, elated that Brightline was an option. Most said they wished MTA, NJT, SEPTA and Amtrak were like Brightline.
We met up again on the platform, and with a sudden blast of wind, the train pulled into the station. With a smile, we boarded. We reserved a two-seater table in premium to have a private arrangement for our hour or so journey to Miami. There is also the option to travel in the “smart” section, akin to business class rather than first class ammenities. We were able to plug in a laptop and connect to its wifi (all seats in both classes have USB ports and outlets). Most train wifi is awful, but Brightline’s works — such a relief when you have things to do. Soon, we noticed a small, grey, French bulldog, looking at both of us with his tongue out, eager to make friends. During our drive earlier, Jacque mentioned that Brightline was pet-friendly, and the French bulldog, Alonzo, belonged to a young gentleman who smiled at us as he walked by.
A train attendant came by and offered us snacks and sips. We both opted for the included bubbles to celebrate our adventure. In 30 minutes, we stopped in Fort Lauderdale and then continued on. Soon we looked out, seeing traffic build on I-95. We realized we must be close to Miami. Before we knew it, we began to slow down again. We both remarked how quick the ride felt. We planned to visit Thatch in the Design District, a vegan-themed restaurant owned by Margaret’s friend Christopher, and then see some stores in the area.
We exited the train and headed to our assigned “last mile” mobility ambassador, this time named Alejandro. He greeted us with a smile and a Cuban Spanish-infused Miami accent. He told us that he loves the Design District for all the glamorous parties. Finally, we arrived at Thatch. As our meal progressed, Margaret invited some friends to join us. Soon, invites to afterparties were given, and we went to a designer’s boutique for some private shopping before going to Star Island with the rest of the group.
We went onto a yacht but watched the time, knowing we needed to get back at some point. We had late-night drinks planned at Le Bilboquet and dinner at Sant Ambroeus back in Palm Beach.
We let our mobility ambassador know where we were, and a bright yellow Tesla once again whisked us off to the train station. The Brightline Station in Miami is a thing to behold: modern and sophisticated. We waited in the premium lounge and heard the announcement for the train. We boarded and, again, got our private seating area. After what seemed like no time at all, we heard the announcement that we were nearing West Palm Beach. Sean, our final mobility ambassador, whisked us away. Margaret’s husband, David, and a small group of the West Palm Beach set were joining us for dinner. Next, we moved to Le Bilboquet, where our day with Brightline became the talk of the night.
If you find yourself bouncing between West Palm Beach and Miami and in need of speed, comfort and all possible modern conveniences, we recommend you focus on soaking up Florida sunshine and leave your transportation worries behind with a brisk lift on the Brightline. All aboard!
For more information, visit gobrightline.com.
