WRE News: Brightline Struggles to Meet Demand on Some Routes

Miami, FL – March 23, 2024 – Brightline is facing a challenge as it grapples with a surge in demand, outpacing its capacity on certain routes. Approximately one-third of its trains are either at full capacity or near it, with over half of the trains carrying loads exceeding 80% in February alone, the company disclosed to investors. In response to this demand-supply imbalance, Brightline has taken steps to address the situation, placing orders for additional new passenger cars set to arrive this summer. However, in the interim, the company has imposed capacity restrictions on short-distance trips to accommodate more profitable long-distance passengers. The strategy has resulted in a significant drop in short-distance trips compared to the previous year, with a notable decrease from 151,654 trips in February 2023 to just 114,264 trips in February of this year due to the capacity limits. Despite the challenges, Brightline reported record-breaking systemwide passenger counts in February and anticipates another record-breaking month in March.