Passenger Rail Is Making a Comeback: Kiplinger Forecasts
Privately-owned passenger rail lines are popping up in the U.S. which could make getting to popular vacation destinations easier.

Travelers could soon have more options to get where they're going, thanks to new train routes. To help you understand what is going on and what we expect to happen in the future, our highly-experienced Kiplinger Letter team will keep you abreast of the latest developments and forecasts (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Letter or subscribe). You'll get all the latest news first by subscribing, but we will publish many (but not all) of the forecasts a few days afterward online. Here’s the latest...
Here’s something that would have sounded impossible until just recently: Privately owned passenger rail is making a comeback in the U.S. A route operated by Brightline, backed by private equity giant Fortress Investment Group, is already in operation between Miami and West Palm Beach. Service will expand to Orlando starting in September, with the $6 billion project linking the theme parks in central Florida with the two fast-growing metros in the southern part of the state.
Beyond Florida, Brightline has big plans in the West, with a $12 billion line between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Construction is expected to take four years. The firm seeks to control costs by building along existing highway rights-of-way.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
By contrast, California’s troubled high-speed rail project is nowhere near completion of its planned Los Angeles-to-San Francisco service and has ballooned in cost. Brightline has received some federal transportation funding. But the company says that it can pioneer the comeback of private rail service largely with private dollars.
This forecast first appeared in The Kiplinger Letter, which has been running since 1923 and is a collection of concise weekly forecasts on business and economic trends, as well as what to expect from Washington, to help you understand what’s coming up to make the most of your investments and your money. Subscribe to The Kiplinger Letter.
Related Content
- A Rail Stock for the Long Haul
- 24 Best Travel Websites to Find Deals and Save You Money
- 13 Best Infrastructure Stocks for America's Big Building Spend
- Construction Sector Sees Backlogs and Year-Over-Year Declines: Kiplinger Economic Forecasts
- Is Travel Finally Back? New Report Reveals Record Tourism Rebound
- How to Budget for a Vacation When Prices Keep Rising
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

Sean Lengell covers Congress and government policy for The Kiplinger Letter. Before joining Kiplinger in January 2017 he served as a congressional reporter for eight years with the Washington Examiner and the Washington Times. He previously covered local news for the Tampa (Fla.) Tribune. A native of northern Illinois who spent much of his youth in St. Petersburg, Fla., he holds a bachelor's degree in English from Marquette University.
-
New $6,000 'Senior Bonus' Deduction: What It Means for Taxpayers Over Age 65
Tax Changes If you’re an older adult, a new bonus tax deduction could provide a valuable tax benefit. Here's how it works.
-
Walmart Plus Members Will Soon Have Their Choice Between Two Streaming Services
Discover which streaming service is coming to the platform.
-
AI Start-ups Are Rolling in Cash
The Kiplinger Letter Investors are plowing record sums of money into artificial intelligence start-ups. Even as sales grow swiftly, losses are piling up for AI firms.
-
What is AI Worth to the Economy?
The Letter Spending on AI is already boosting GDP, but will the massive outlays being poured into the technology deliver faster economic growth in the long run?
-
Kiplinger Special Report: Business Costs for 2026
Economic Forecasts Fresh forecasts for 2026, to help you plan ahead and prepare a budget on a range of business costs, from Kiplinger's Letters team.
-
Trump-Era Regulations Will Broaden Access to Crypto
The Kiplinger Letter The president wants to make the U.S. the leader in digital assets.
-
Big Changes Are Ahead for Higher Ed
The Kiplinger Letter A major reform of higher ed is underway. Colleges are bracing for abrupt change, financial headwinds and uncertainty.
-
Breaking China's Stranglehold on Rare Earth Elements
The Letter China is using its near-monopoly on critical minerals to win trade concessions. Can the U.S. find alternate supplies?
-
What New Tariffs Mean for Car Shoppers
The Kiplinger Letter Car deals are growing scarcer. Meanwhile, tax credits for EVs are on the way out, but tax breaks for car loans are coming.
-
AI’s Rapid Rise Sparks New Cyber Threats
The Kiplinger Letter Cybersecurity professionals are racing to ward off AI threats while also using AI tools to shore up defenses.