As it seeks a federally approved deal on restructuring billions of dollars of debt, Brightline says ridership spiked in September as it took on more debt weeks later to fund operations.
The Miami-to-Orlando rail line boasted an 18% increase in passenger trips in September over 12 months prior, it said in its latest monthly ridership and revenue report, published on Oct. 16.
Brightline and its affiliates filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sept. 24, asking a federal bankruptcy court to restructure about $4.4 billion in debt.
While news of the bankruptcy filing hung over just the final week of September, Brightline ridership was up about 40,000 compared to one year ago.
About 71% of that gain came from the line’s trips to and from its Orlando International
Airport station. The rest, just under 12,000, came from trips among Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
Average Brightline fares for South Florida, Orlando down from 2025
Brightline’s ridership from January through September was 14% higher compared to the same period in 2025.
The train brought in $18.2 million in revenue during September, a 14% increase over 12 months prior. Year-to-date, Brightline’s revenue of $178.6 million is 15% higher compared to the same period in 2025.
The average South Florida fare in September cost $22.35, a $1.78 decrease from a year ago. The average Orlando trip cost $72.17, down $4.51.
Nearly a year before Brightline filed for the debt restructuring, financial credit rating agencies projected that the company would default on debts by early 2027 due in part to passenger ticket discounts, leading to the big losses in revenues that the agencies expected.
If a federal court approves the bankruptcy deal Brightline seeks, the rail service's parent company, Brightline Trains Florida, will get $140 million in new loans, plus an additional $350 million in loans from creditors who will win 95% control of it from current owner, Fortress Investment Group.
Separately from that case, Brightline on Oct. 2 took on $190 million more in debt at a 10% interest rate to pay down other debts and fund daily operations.
The rail line lost more than $233 million in 2025, and an additional $54 million during the first three months of 2026, company reports show.
Brightline has said its trains will continue running throughout the bankruptcy case, and it will continue in its efforts to build stations in Stuart and Cocoa on the South Florida-to-Orlando route, as well as in the Tampa Bay area, where it hopes one day to expand service.
Email Chris Persaud at cpersaud@pbpost.com with news tips and article ideas.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Brightline ridership spikes after bankruptcy protection sought
