Presbyterian College > Academic Web Server > Jon Bell > Transit > (Cities | Types) > Miami > Tri-Rail

Miami, Florida: Tri-Rail

Description

Tri-Rail is a commuter rail line which extends 72 miles from Miami (at a station near the airport) to Mangonia Park (just north of West Palm Beach), with stations in intermediate locations such as Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Boca Raton, etc. The name refers to the three counties through which the line passes: Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. It is operated by the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, an agency of the State of Florida. Service began in 1989, as an alternative to the I-95 expressway during its reconstruction.

It uses the CSX tracks (originally Seaboard Air Line) which mostly run alongside I-95. The line was originally single track with passing sidings, which caused delays and reduced flexibility in scheduling. Tri-Rail spent several years double-tracking the line, culminating in April 2007 when a new double-track bridge was placed in service over the New River in Fort Lauderdale.

Trains run about every half hour during rush hours and every hour at mid-day on weekdays, and every two hours on weekends. They use double-deck cars built by Bombardier, of the same time used by GO Transit in Toronto and Metrolink in Los Angeles. Tri-Rail also has one set of Colorado Railcar diesel multiple unit (DMU) cars, that was used on two weekday round trips as of fall 2007.

On weekdays, single one-way fares range from $2.00 to $5.50, depending on distance. Round-trip fares are somewhat lower. On weekends, an all-day unlimited-use ticket costs $4.00. (This information is accurate as of December 2007.)

Free shuttle buses connect most Tri-Rail stations with nearby "downtown" areas and other important locations, including the Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach airports. Passengers can also transfer between Tri-Rail and Metrorail at the Tri-Rail/Metrorail Transfer station.

Other Sites

Pictures

[R] indicates pictures that I have rescanned from film beginning in 2006.

All trains operate in push-pull mode, with the locomotive at the south (Miami) end.

[picture] The platform of the Miami Airport station, which opened in 1998. It is some distance south of the original Miami Airport station, which is now called Hialeah Market. (December 1998)

[picture] Passengers transfer from the train to a shuttle bus at the Miami Airport station. The new station is directly east of the airport terminal, about a five-minute bus ride away. The old station required a much longer and more circuitous bus ride. (December 1998)

[picture] A northbound train approaches the Metrorail/Tri-Rail transfer station, in a view from the stairs of the Metrorail station. (December 1998)

[R] [picture] A northbound train arrives at the Metrorail/Tri-Rail transfer station in Miami. Since this picture was taken, a canopy has been built over the platform. In the background is the elevated Metrorail station. (June 1993; scanned March 2006)

[picture] A northbound train just south of Golden Glades, as seen from the rear cab window of a southbound train that has just passed it. (December 1998)

[R] [picture] A northbound train arrives at Fort Lauderdale. (June 1993; scanned March 2006)

[picture] An exterior view of the Cypress Creek station in Fort Lauderdale, which is sandwiched between office buildings. (August 2000)

[picture] From the north end of the platform at Cypress Creek, we see a northbound train arrive. I think Cypress Creek was the first Tri-Rail station built to accommodate double track. The line was originally mostly single track with passing sidings, but it is gradually being double-tracked. (August 2000)

[picture] Just north of the Cypress Creek station, a train crosses Cypress Creek Road, in a broadside view of the crossing. (August 2000)

[picture] Tri-Rail uses the Proof of Purchase (POP) system, under which passengers must buy tickets from vending machines before boarding trains, and are subject to random inspections. This QuickTix machine is at the Cypress Creek station. (December 1996)

[picture] A southbound train approaches Pompano Beach. [July 2003]

[picture] The train in the previous picture has arrived at the Pompano Beach station, and has stopped on the opposite side of the station. This station consists simply of concrete platforms with small shelters, and a parking lot. [July 2003]

[picture] This sign at the Pompano Beach station describes the double-tracking project. [July 2003]

[picture] The Deerfield Beach station is shared with Amtrak. During 2000-01 the station building was being renovated. (August 2000)

[picture] A southbound train crosses Hillsboro Boulevard, next to the Deerfield Beach station. (August 2000)

[picture] At Boca Raton, the tracks are on an embankment, elevated slightly from the parking lot. This station will be replaced with a new one in a different location, as part of the current double-tracking project. [July 2003]

[picture] A southbound train approaches Delray Beach. [July 2003]

[picture] The train shown in the preceding picture has now left Delray Beach. Beyond it is a construction crew working on the new second track. [July 2003]

[picture] At Boynton Beach, a northbound train passes between the new concrete stairs that will eventually be part of a pedestrian bridge over the tracks. [July 2003]

[picture] A southbound train has just left Boynton Beach, in a view from the road overpass just to the south. Here the line runs almost directly alongside I-95. The second track is under construction to the north and south of the station, and will obviously wipe out the existing station platform when it is complete. [July 2003]

[picture] A northbound train pauses between the new stairs at Lake Worth. [July 2003]

[picture] At Lake Worth, the new northbound track hasn't been laid yet, but work is underway on the platform. [July 2003]

[picture] The West Palm Beach station was built by the Seaboard Air Line in the 1920s, and was restored in the 1990s. (December 2000)

[picture] A train at West Palm Beach shows off Tri-Rails new locomotive color scheme. The coaches are also being redecorated in 2001, but I don't have any pictures of the new ones yet. (December 2000)

[picture] Exterior view of the Mangonia Park station, the northern terminus. This station opened in 1996. (December 1996)

[picture] On the platform at Mangonia Park. (December 1996)

This page was last updated on 2 December 2007.

Presbyterian College > Academic Web Server > Jon Bell > Transit > (Cities | Types) > Miami > Tri-Rail

This page is © 2007 by Jon Bell (jbell at presby.edu), who is solely responsible for its content. If you're interested in using these pictures, please read my terms of usage.