End of the Line: Brightline Eliminates Discount Commuter Passes

Brightline announced that it will discontinue its All Station Shared Pass, SoFlo Shared Pass, and SoFlo Solo Pass products. Photo by Jillian Cain/Getty Images

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So much for a summer deal.

Brightline has stopped selling its heavily discounted, frequent traveler passes. The move brings an end to ticket packages that many commuters relied upon to travel traffic-free to work in South Florida.

The popular commuter deals, including the All Station Shared Pass, SoFlo Shared Pass, and SoFlo Solo Pass, were discontinued June 1. The Miami to Aventura Commuter Pass, which starts at $299 and is valid for 40 rides in 30 days, remains available in limited quantities under a prior agreement between Brightline and Miami-Dade County.

"In recent months, it has become increasingly difficult to accommodate all guests as peak trains are reaching capacity," Brightline said on its website. "We continue to evaluate the best approach to balance customer demand."

click to enlarge

Brightline will stop selling most of its discount frequent-traveler passes this summer.

Photo by Brightline

In place of the old passes, the train service is offering a Fixed Rate 10-Ride Pack for stations stretching from West Palm Beach to Miami for $350 for standard seating and $550 for premium seating. A 10-ride pack for stations limited to Brightline's southernmost leg (Fort Lauderdale to Miami) will be available for $250 and $350 for standard and premium seating, respectively. The 10-ride passes will be valid for 30 days from the date of purchase.

The new packages are significantly more expensive per ride than the old bulk passes. For instance, the now-extinct SoFlo Solo Pass offered 40 rides in 30 days for $399. (That's three-and-a-half times cheaper per ride than the new passes.)

Brightline didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The company offered a complimentary Fixed Rate 10-Ride Pack to current passholders "to thank you for your loyalty."

The elimination of the commuter discounts could mark a major shift in Brightline's rider demographic. Cash-strapped workers with monthly passes who have been rolling through South Florida in upscale Brightline cabins and enjoying food-and-beverage service may now turn to Tri-Rail, which offers $110 monthly passes for stations from West Palm Beach to Miami.

Tri-Rail rolled out its downtown transfer to MiamiCentral station in January, offering an alternative to the Metrorail connection, which makes several stops from Northside to Overtown before reaching the Government Center station. On July 1, Tri-Rail is scheduled to open an express route with a single-seat ride to serve daily commuters between West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and MiamiCentral station.