Brightline is accelerating plans to expand its high-speed rail service to Tampa, announcing a $400 million bond sale to help finance the long-anticipated Orlando-to-Tampa extension. The Florida-based rail company says the new line will be a key step in its mission to link the state’s major metropolitan areas, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Orlando—and soon, Tampa.

The bond offering, first reported by Edwin Fost of AInvest.com, is structured as a tax-exempt private activity bond. The first $150 million tranche carries a fixed 6.5% yield over 28 years and will support major infrastructure upgrades along the I-4 corridor.

High-Speed Rail Eyes Tampa

Brightline says the new line could slash travel time between Orlando and Tampa to just one hour, providing a cleaner and more efficient option than driving. The company’s trains produce 75% less carbon dioxide per passenger kilometer than cars, earning the project a “green bond” designation aimed at appealing to environmentally focused investors, according to Bloomberg.

“Tampa is a huge part of our future,” Brightline CEO Mike Reininger said in a 2023 interview with FOX 13. “Once we connect Tampa, 75% of Florida’s population will be within reach of a Brightline train.”

A City Already on Board

Brightline launched service in South Florida in 2018, initially connecting Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. Service later expanded to Boca Raton and Aventura. Construction of the 170-mile stretch to Orlando began in 2019, with the Orlando station opening in 2023.

Tampa Union Station is already seeing strong demand for rail travel. In fiscal year 2024, it served more than 156,000 Amtrak passengers—a 21% increase from the previous year and its highest ridership in over a decade.

To view current routes or book tickets, visit gobrightline.com.

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(Image credit: Brightline)

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