Brightline Announces Two More Stations on the Coast

By Cathy Padilla

Both the Treasure Coast and Space Coast will be adding Brightline train stations, which begs the question does Volusia County have a station in its future? Brightline has selected Cocoa in Brevard County and Stuart in Martin County to be the next stops on its Florida East Coast Railway corridor that connects Central and South Florida from Orlando to Miami. The station in Stuart is expected to open the second half of 2026, with the Cocoa location coming sometime after as no official date has been set.

According to an announcement released by Brightline, the decision to select Stuart was driven by a number of key factors, including the location and physical characteristics of the site and the ease with which the site will integrate into Brightline’s existing rail infrastructure network. Brightline also highlighted various dynamics of the local market and the site’s accessibility to key local attractions. Expanding into the Treasure Coast will make Brightline one of the most accessible forms of transportation in Florida, giving access to nearly half of the state’s residents and millions of visitors.

“I congratulate the City of Stuart and Martin County on its successful bid to secure the new Brightline station and parking structure. This is proof that our community can work together and come to a solution if we use common sense. I look forward to the economic development the Treasure Coast stop will bring to our local businesses and the opportunities it will provide to the surrounding cities and the region,” said Congressman Brian Mast, FL District 21.

“We’ve seen significant demand and support for a Brightline Station in the Treasure Coast which was evident during this process. It was a difficult decision and we’re grateful for everyone’s support and efforts to make this happen,” said Brian Kronberg, Brightline’s Senior Vice President of Development and Construction. “We couldn’t be more excited to make the City of Stuart our hub for Brightline along Florida’s Treasure Coast.”

The proposed Brightline Stuart station is located on 2.35 acres in the heart of historic downtown Stuart in Martin County. The station is conveniently located between the Miami and Orlando stations. Its location is approximately 40 miles north of Brightline West Palm Beach, just 40 minutes by train, and the station is easily accessible from I-95, Florida’s Turnpike and the local roadway network. Brightline Stuart guests will be within walking distance of the award-winning downtown and minutes from Stuart’s pristine beaches, oceanfront resorts, and internationally acclaimed “Treasure Coast” lifestyle.

“The City of Stuart is thrilled to announce that Brightline has chosen Stuart for the next station in Florida’s expanding passenger rail network,” said City of Stuart Mayor Becky Brunner. “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. Stuart welcomes Brightline to our seaside town and looks forward to developing a partnership that defines the future of travel and transportation in Florida.”

Not as far along in planning or approvals as Stuart, the Cocoa station is planned along Route 528. Federal, state, and local officials are continuing to meet with Brightline and all are ready to move forward. The Cocoa City Council has unanimously voted to commit $5 million to a Brightline station.

Are there talks of a station in Volusia County? So far, nothing has been officially said or even leaked. However, if stations are being built along the coast, Daytona Beach would seem the next logical stop.

Brightline recently surpassed 5 million rides after first launching operations in South Florida in 2018 connecting Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. In 2022, Brightline opened stations in Boca Raton and Aventura. In September 2023, Brightline rolled out the yellow carpet to welcome long-haul travelers between South Florida and Orlando, celebrating true intercity rail. As the first guests entered its station in Orlando, Brightline put an exclamation point on the boldest private infrastructure project in the nation and the biggest development in American train travel in more than 100 years. Today Brightline covers 235 miles between Miami and Orlando in under 3.5 hours.