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FLORIDA - Brightline, Florida's high-speed passenger rail system, has been involved in 182 fatalities since its launch, making it the deadliest U.S. passenger rail service per million miles traveled.
A joint investigation by Miami Herald and WLRN, published on Tuesday, revealed that Brightline trains have averaged one fatality every 13 days of service, along with 99 injuries and over 100 vehicle collisions.
The investigation, which used federal rail data, medical examiner reports, and police records, found that 41% of these deaths were ruled suicides, while 91 were accidental.
The company has not been found at fault for any of the fatalities.
Brightline maintains that it prioritizes safety and has invested in modernizing tracks and safety infrastructure.
The company’s statement emphasized that the incidents were caused by reckless behavior and that none were the result of faulty equipment or train handling.
The report also highlighted the lack of safety measures at several crossings.
Some local governments have approved "quiet zones," where train horns are prohibited, leading to safety concerns in high-traffic areas.
Between 2019 and 2023, federal data showed that Brightline had a fatality rate of one per 32,000 miles, four times more frequent than other major U.S. rail services.
Despite these issues, Brightline has continued to invest in safety, with a $10 million commitment toward safety upgrades from a 2022 federal grant.
The company’s ongoing efforts aim to improve safety measures and prevent future fatalities along its expanding rail network in Florida.