MIAMI – Brightline has been at the center of safety concerns since launching service about seven years ago.
Critics have gone so far as to dub it the “Fright Line” or the “Death Train.”
A new investigation is shedding more light and raising questions about the real reasons why.
A joint investigation by WLRN and the Miami Herald found that Brightline trains have killed 182 people since the rail line’s launch in 2018, making it the deadliest passenger railway in the country per mile.
The joint article, which is linked below, says reporters spent a year analyzing federal rail data, local medical examiner records, and police incident reports — finding, on average, there’s been roughly one death every two weeks of service. Of the 182 deaths, fewer than half were ruled suicides. The total was far more than previously reported.
“We have an issue in South Florida just because of the density of the number of crossings,” said Jim Kovalsky, President of the Florida East Coast Railway Society and a former firefighter. “Every crossing creates an exposure for the railroad. All of the population that has grown here built themselves around the railroad. All of the roads here came after the railroad, and the city and the state designed the crossings the way they are. The railroad has been the constant — not the change.”
Brightline has invested millions of dollars — including taxpayer funding — to add more safety measures, but investigators found that people continue to skirt safety gates, become distracted or ignore signs. Others reportedly suffered from medical episodes near the tracks.
Read the investigative reports:
Here is the complete statement from Brightline:
Over three months, dozens of discussions and in-person meetings, Brightline officials have spent nearly 15 hours with the Miami Herald answering questions and educating them on railroad safety. What was clear from the beginning of their reporting and is evident in the story they ultimately published – facts mattered less than their pre-conceived angle.
Safety is the top priority at Brightline. We have been a leader in the industry on safety initiatives related to education, enforcement, and engineering. As a result of our focus, including our significant investments in safety infrastructure, none of the incidents along the railroad have been the result of improper train handling by Brightline personnel or failure of our equipment or infrastructure. The incidents we have seen in Florida are the same ones facing other railroads around the nation.
The tragic fact is that they are preventable. Our hearts go out to anyone impacted by these incidents – including loved ones, our train crew, first responders, and the community at large. We all need to do our part – motorists, pedestrians and community members – to act safely and follow the laws around the tracks.
We have an ongoing, cooperative and strong relationship with the Federal Railroad Administration and the Florida Department of Transportation and are fully compliant with all federal and state regulations.
We will continue to take a proactive approach to public safety and will work with any organization interested in amplifying the message to stay safe around the tracks. If you are interested in learning more or taking the rail safety pledge yourself, please visit BrightlineSafety.com.
Brightline