South Florida’s Brightline has highlighted an old problem – every year for the past decade, 900 pedestrians were killed by trains

Railway safety has vastly improved for motor vehicles, but reducing the risk of collisions with pedestrians is much trickier.

By: Ian Savage, Northwestern University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 14, 2026

Words: 1,371

Last Updated: 2 months ago

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By Ian Savage, Northwestern University

In 2018, high-speed passenger trains branded as Brightline started running along the formerly freight-only Florida East Coast Railway. Initial service from Miami to West Palm Beach was extended to Orlando in 2023. Unfortunately, the southern end of the line is in the spotlight because of collisions with pedestrians and motor vehicles.

The safety concerns have received extensive coverage in the Miami Herald, Orlando Sentinel, The …

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