The Brightline rail service, which connects central and south Florida, has announced its next stop: Stuart in Martin County. The new location – on the Sunshine State’s Treasure Coast half-way between Miami and Orlando – was chosen after a review of five proposals in the area.

The intercity passenger service launched in 2018, connecting Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. In 2022, Brightline opened stations in Boca Raton and Aventura and last September, Orlando, marking the biggest development in American train travel in over 100 years. Trains carry over five million passengers a year along a 380-km route between Miami and Orlando in less than 3.5 hours.

The proposed Brightline Stuart station will be located on a one-hectare site in the heart of historic downtown Stuart, which is approximately 65 km and 40 minutes by train north of West Palm Beach. The station will be easily accessible from I-95, Florida’s Turnpike and the local roadway network.

Travellers will be within walking distance of the downtown and minutes from Stuart’s pristine beaches and oceanfront resorts.

“This marks a historic return to our roots and fulfills a vision held by Stuart for over 30 years, offering residents and visitors alike a first-class journey to Stuart, away from the congestion of highways,” says Stuart Mayor Becky Brunner. “Stuart welcomes Brightline to our seaside town and looks forward to developing a partnership that defines the future of travel and transportation in Florida.”