New Brightline station to be added near Port Canaveral

Florida’s high-speed rail system will add another stop for commuters to easily travel from South Florida to Central Florida – and it will benefit cruise crowds.

Brightline announced Tuesday (March 12) that it will add a stop in Brevard County, in the City of Cocoa, which will facilitate travel for cruise passengers to and from nearby Port Canaveral, which is about 10-15 minutes away.

The intercity rail system, which launched in 2018, currently serves Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Orlando.

It’s also set for major expansion. In addition to Brevard County, Brightline has also announced plans to open a new station in downtown Stuart in Martin County, which is just north of Jupiter Island.

The new connection to Florida’s Space Coast, however, is considered long overdue.

“Brightline is ready to begin the formal process with Space Coast stakeholders to fulfill our vision for a Brevard County station. The Space Coast TPO, Brevard County, city of Cocoa and other community leaders have started to bring the region together to identify potential federal, state and local resources for a station to be located in Cocoa. We agree the time is now to finalize a plan,” reads a statement from Katie Mitzner, director of public affairs at Brightline, that was shared with local media outlets.

A timeline for when the new station could open has not yet been confirmed. Brightline says it is working with community partners to secure funding.

But Port Canaveral’s leadership team has welcomed the news, saying they’re thrilled that cruise passengers will soon have another transportation option to the port, reports say.

Located about an hour away from Orlando, Port Canaveral is home to many of the industry's top cruise lines, including Carnival, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian, MSC and Royal Caribbean International.

Passengers have traditionally had to rely on taxis, ride shares and shuttles to get to the port. Adding Brightline into the mix will provide another option. 

Brightline recently opened a new station at Orlando International Airport (MCO), making it easier for people commuting from Central to South Florida to get to cruises from Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

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