Martin and St. Lucie Counties will see Brightline trains moving at up to 110 miles per hour starting the week of the Oct. 17, 2022, as the passenger rail provider begins train testing along an 11-mile section of track. The six-week testing phase will see trains traveling at high speed on both tracks and in both directions.
The 110-mph testing, in preparation for opening to Orlando in 2023, will occur in phases along the 129-mile rail corridor between West Palm Beach and Cocoa, through Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Brevard Counties. Brightline says it has made crucial safety improvements at all 156 railroad crossings along the corridor. At the nine crossings in Martin and St. Lucie Counties where the new test trains will be operating, all safety improvements have been installed. Those improvements vary per crossing, but may include new crossing gates, signal systems, pedestrian gates, pavement markings and roadway profiles. Where trains will operate at 110 mph, all crossings have quad gates or medians to prevent motorists from driving around lowered crossing gates.
“If the crossing arms are down, don’t drive around,” said Joe Meade, director of safety at Brightline. “This testing serves as a critical reminder to the public to be safe around active railroad tracks and obey all traffic laws. Never stop on the tracks, don’t drive around crossing gates and only cross tracks at a designated railroad crossing.”
Brightline will utilize flaggers who will be present at the nine grade crossings along the testing corridor.
