only very spacious and fully accessible, but a
unique hands-free experience,” Grinell said.
Other amenities of the train include:
• Extra space for luggage
• Pets are welcome
• Bike racks
Expanding partnership
Brightline announced in November 2018
that it had entered into a new strategic
partnership and trademark licensing
agreement with the Virgin Group, which
will establish Virgin Trains USA.
“Our private sector-led eff ort to reinvent
passenger rail service in America is taking
another leap forward with the addition of
the Virgin team,” said Wes Edens, chairman
of Brightline and cofounder of Fortress
Investment Group. “Virgin has built
a respected and trusted brand in travel
14 | Mass Transit | MassTransitmag.com | DECEMBER 2018/JANUARY 2019
and hospitality. With our shared focus on
customer experience, powered by a culture
of innovation and disruption, we are well
positioned to build on our success.”
In a Virgin blog by founder Richard
Branson, he stated, “A little over a year
ago, we visited Miami to see the new privately
funded passenger rail system that
Brightline and Fortress Investment Group
was building in Florida.”
Branson continued. “It was clear
from that our fi rst visit that Wes Edens,
Brightline’s founder, and his team had
an exciting vision and the skills for
American rail travel that no other private
American enterprise has been able
to do for a century.”
“Th is partnership further validates the
incredible accomplishments of our team
as we challenge conventional wisdom to
reinvent train travel in America,” said
Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline.
“Given our shared values and Virgin’s
track record, this partnership will help
amplify our eff orts and growth potential
as we seek to expand to new markets.”
Virgin Group has an impact in the
UK rail sector. Virgin Trains, which operate
as a high-speed passenger rail line,
has been in operation for 21 years. Th e
partnership between Brightline and Virgin
Group opens the door for riders to
expand to accessing other Virgin brands.
Branson fi nished in his blog, “We
have a long history of creating innovative
businesses that shake up markets and establish
loyal followings. We transformed
domestic air travel with Virgin America
and have spent more than a decade looking
for a similar opportunity to change
the face of American railways. We believe
Brightline is at the forefront of this innovation
and the ideal partner to work with
to alter perceptions and traveling habits
across the United States.”
Brightline will rename itself Virgin
Trains USA and the switch to Virgin
Trains USA branding begins in 2019.
Looking towards the
future of the rail line
Brightline has plans to further expand
into Orlando and Tampa. It also recently
revealed an exciting project to connect
Las Vegas to Southern California.
Brightline announced in September
2018 the acquisition of XpressWest,
For more information, visit www.MassTransitmag.com/10066382
BRIGHTLINE
/MassTransitmag.com
/10066382
/www.slec.com
link