Report: Brightline Is Most Dangerous Train in the Country

Brightline is the most dangerous passenger train in the United States, according to a report published by the Miami Herald on July 15, 2025. Below, our Florida Brightline train accident lawyers explore the report and what this means for train accident victims across the state.

What Does the Report Say?

According to data processed by the Miami Herald and WLRN:

• Brightline trains have killed 182 people since they began testing in 2017.
• One person is killed every 13 days on average.
• Ninety-nine people have been injured by Brightline trains.
• In at least 101 accidents, vehicles were damaged but no one was injured.
• Pedestrians and cyclists made up the majority of deaths (158 out of 182).

Brightline trains have a death rate (24.55) three times higher than Tri-Rail (8.12) and SunRail (8.04) and nearly six times higher than Amtrak (4.20).

Why Are Brightline Trains So Dangerous?

Brightline trains began testing in Florida in 2017 and running officially in 2018. Since the beginning, these trains have proven to be dangerous to pedestrians and drivers alike. In Brightline’s first week of service, four people had already been killed. There are several reasons these trains are so dangerous:

Brightline Trains Are Much Faster Than Existing Trains in the Area

A Brightline train can travel at speeds up to 125 miles per hour, while the Tri-Rail can get up to 80 miles per hour. While Amtrak can get up to 150 miles per hour, it is typically safer as the tracks are in more sparsely populated areas and are often elevated.

Brightline Trains Aren’t Subject to Certain Safeguards

According to the report, trains that travel above 125 miles per hour are subject to mandatory safeguards regarding crossings. Because Brightline travels at 125 miles per hour and below, the trains can travel at street-level, without fences or traffic crossings. In fact, 96% of these crossings are “at grade,” which means they are not elevated above street level. This makes them more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists than other elevated tracks.

Brightline Runs Through Densely Populated Areas

Per the report, Brightline runs through “urban centers, bar districts, and neighborhoods,” which puts pedestrians and cyclists at a much higher risk.

While they run through densely populated areas, crossings can be few and far between. For example, in one Palm Beach Gardens neighborhood, pedestrians going to the nearby mall would need to walk an extra mile and a half to get to an official crossing.

Regulators and Local Governments Retracted Some Lifesaving Safety Measures

Many of the train horns at crossings in South Florida were intentionally silenced to prevent local residents from being negatively impacted by train noise. Those walking or driving through crossings in these “quiet zones” are in much greater danger of being hit by the train. More than half of the Brightline crossings are in quiet zones.

Regulators have also decided against closing some of the more “treacherous” crossings.

Brightline Has Ignored Pleas to Add Preventative Measures

Brightline has known about the high level of trespassing that takes place on its tracks for years. In fact, an engineer for the Federal Railroad Administration published a report in 2014, stating that trespassing had reached “epidemic” levels and urged Brightline to install fencing around the tracks that would deter trespassing.

Brightline refused. The engineer stated in the report, “[T]hey are not exercising appropriate safety practices and reasonable care.”

The Florida Department of Transportation did require Brightline to install fencing; however, the requirement only applies to the “110-mph span of track that opened in late 2023 north of West Palm Beach.” Most of the deaths occurred in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.

The company did accept a federal grant to cover the majority of the costs of fencing, warning signage, and suicide crisis signs along 33 miles of track throughout the state. However, in the 33 months before the funding was released, over 100 people lost their lives.

Brightline Refuses to Take Accountability

In addition to the dangers that Brightline trains pose, the company itself refuses to take accountability for the injuries and deaths. According to the report, the company “failed to urgently address the train’s dangers” while also blaming victims for the high death rate and turning to federal funding and the public for safety upgrades.

As of the time of writing, these safety upgrades (e.g., fencing and suicide-crisis signs) have not been completed.

Brightline Has Opposed Legislation That Would Allow the State to More Properly Regulate These Trains

Florida introduced bills in 2017, 2018, and 2020 that would have given the state more authority over Brightline. The company opposed the bills and each bill died before reaching a floor vote.

What Can I Do If I or Someone I Love Was Injured or Killed by a Brightline Train?

Winning these cases is difficult. In fact, Brightline has not yet been found responsible for a single death that has occurred on its tracks, even though it has faced over a dozen lawsuits. No case has gone to trial, but the company has settled some cases for confidential amounts.

Because these cases are so complex and the company has deep resources, it is important that you do not attempt to handle your Brightline train injury case alone. We are here to help. Our team takes any danger to our community very seriously, and we won’t back down from a fight against even the biggest companies that refuse to take responsibility.

Our experience has taught us that Brightline will attempt to blame you or your loved one for the accident, but we’ll take on your fight like it was our own. And insurance companies across the state know we’re a force to be reckoned with both inside and outside the courtroom.

That’s why we’re trusted by the Florida Gators—and Floridians everywhere.

Call Today If You or a Loved One Was Injured in a Brightline Train Accident

You deserve to have someone fighting for you and your family. We can be that team. Call Meldon Law today to get started with our Florida personal injury attorneys.