View source for Tri-Rail

{{Short description|Commuter rail service in South Florida}}
{{About|the Floridian train operating company, Tri-Rail|the transmission of electrical power to rail vehicles|Third rail}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name                            = Tri-Rail
| color                           = {{rcr|SFRTA|Main}}
| logo                            = Tri-Rail logo.svg
| logo_width                      = 300px
| image                           = Tri-Rail_at_MiamiCentral_station.jpg
| image_width                     = 300px
| caption                         = A Tri-Rail train at [[MiamiCentral]]
| type                            = [[Commuter rail]]
| system                          = 
| status                          = 
| locale                          = [[Greater Miami]]
| start                           = {{stl|SFRTA|Miami Airport}} (Main Line)<br />{{stl|SFRTA|MiamiCentral}} (Downtown Miami Link)
| end                             = {{stl|SFRTA|Mangonia Park}} (Main Line)<br />{{stl|SFRTA|Metrorail Transfer}} (Downtown Miami Link)
| stations                        = 39
| daily_ridership                 = {{American transit ridership|FL Pompano Beach total daily}} ({{American transit ridership|dailydate}}){{American transit ridership|dailycitation}}
| ridership2                      = {{American transit ridership|FL Pompano Beach total annual}} ({{American transit ridership|annualdate}}){{American transit ridership|annualcitation}}
| open                            = {{Start date and age|1989|01|09}}
| close                           = 
| owner                           = [[South Florida Regional Transportation Authority]]
| operator                        = Herzog Transit Services
| character                       = At-grade
| stock                           = 
| linelength                      = {{convert|80.0|mi|km}}
| tracklength                     = 
| tracks                          = 
| gauge                           = {{Track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| electrification                 = 
| speed                           = {{convert|79|mph|km/h|0}}
~{{convert|38|mph|km/h|0}} overall average
| elevation                       = 
| map                             = {{switcher
| {{maplink-road|from=Tri-Rail.map}} Tri-Rail highlighted in teal <hr />
| Show interactive map
| [[File:Tri-rail-miami.svg|300px]]
| Show static map
| {{Tri-Rail|inline=yes}}
| Show route diagram
}}
| website                         = [https://www.tri-rail.com/ tri-rail.com]
}}

'''Tri-Rail''' {{reporting mark|TRCX}} is a [[commuter rail]] service linking [[Miami]], [[Fort Lauderdale]] and [[West Palm Beach]] in Florida, United States. The ''Tri'' prefix in the name refers to the three counties served by the railroad: [[Palm Beach County|Palm Beach]], [[Broward County|Broward]], and [[Miami-Dade]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Tri-Rail Train Schedule|url=http://www.tri-rail.com:80/system.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970709152914/http://www.tri-rail.com/system.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 July 1997|date=9 July 1997|access-date=8 November 2021}}</ref> Tri-Rail is managed by the [[South Florida Regional Transportation Authority]] (SFRTA) along [[CSX Transportation]]'s former [[Miami Subdivision]];<ref>{{cite web|title=MI-Miami Sub – The RadioReference Wiki|url= https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/MI-Miami_Sub |website=wiki.radioreference.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=CSX Transportation{{!}}Jacksonville Division Timetable No. 4|url= http://www.multimodalways.org/docs/railroads/companies/CSX/CSX%20ETTs/CSX%20Jacksonville%20Div%20ETT%20%234%201-1-2005.pdf |last=Downing |first=R.R.|date=January 1, 2005 |website=multimodalways.org |access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref> the line is now wholly owned by the [[Florida DOT]]. The {{convert|80.0|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} system has 19 stations along the [[Southeast Florida]] coast, and connects directly to [[Amtrak]] at numerous stations, to [[Metrorail (Miami-Dade County)|Metrorail]] at the [[Tri-Rail and Metrorail Transfer station|Metrorail Transfer station]], [[Miami Airport station]], and [[MiamiCentral]], and to [[Brightline]] at MiamiCentral.

In {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the line had a ridership of {{American transit ridership|FL Pompano Beach total annual}}, or about {{American transit ridership|FL Pompano Beach total daily}} per weekday as of {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}}.

A second Tri-Rail line on the [[Florida East Coast Railway]] corridor, dubbed the "Coastal Link", has been proposed. The line would operate between [[Toney Penna station]] in [[Jupiter, Florida|Jupiter]] and [[MiamiCentral]] in [[Downtown Miami]], and add commuter rail service between the downtown areas of cities between West Palm Beach and Miami. Combined with the existing Tri-Rail line, this expanded Tri-Rail system is estimated to have a daily passenger ridership of almost 30,000; or approximately 9&nbsp;million passengers per annum, doubling Tri-Rail's current ridership.

== History ==
[[File:West Palm Beach SAL 003.jpg|thumb|left|The [[West Palm Beach station]], built in 1925, is one of the many original stations built by the [[Seaboard-All Florida Railway]] in the 1920s. Today, these stations are used by Tri-Rail and Amtrak.]]

=== 1920s: Seaboard-All Florida Railway ===
{{See also|Seaboard-All Florida Railway}}
The line on which Tri-Rail operates was built by the Seaboard-All Florida Railway (a subsidiary of the [[Seaboard Air Line Railroad]]) for [[Inter-city rail|intercity]] passenger rail service in the early 1920s. The line was inaugurated on January 7, 1927. Intercity rail service by Seaboard operated the [[Orange Blossom Special (train)|Orange Blossom Special]] service from [[New York City]] until 1953. [[Amtrak]] continues to offer passenger rail service with the ''[[Floridian (train)|Floridian]]'' train from [[Chicago Union Station|Chicago]] and ''[[Silver Meteor]]'' train from [[New York Penn Station|New York City]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Woods |first=Kimberly |date=2024-09-23 |title=Amtrak Launching the Floridian, with Daily Service Between Chicago and Miami |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2024/09/amtrak-launching-the-floridian-with-daily-service-between-chicago-and-miami/ |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=Amtrak Media |language=en-US}}</ref> Today, the original 1920s Seaboard stations are used by Tri-Rail for service at [[West Palm Beach station|West Palm Beach]], [[Deerfield Beach station|Deerfield Beach]], [[Fort Lauderdale station|Fort Lauderdale]], [[Hollywood station (Florida)|Hollywood]]. Though no longer in use, the Seaboard stations at [[Delray Beach Seaboard Air Line Railway Station|Delray Beach]], [[Opa-locka station|Opa-locka]] and [[Hialeah station (Seaboard Air Line Railway)|Hialeah]] are still standing.

=== 1980s–1990s: Planning and inauguration ===
Planning for a new commuter rail line began in 1983, and building the organization began in 1986. The current system was formed by the [[Florida Department of Transportation]] and began operation January 9, 1989, to provide temporary commuter rail service while construction crews widened [[Interstate 95 in Florida|Interstate 95]] and the parallel [[Florida's Turnpike]].<ref>3,000 a day ride Tri-Rail trains ''[[Railway Age]]'' February 1989 page 24</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.getcruising.com/rails/_trirail.html|title=TRI-RAIL South Florida's Commuter Rail System |website=GetCruising.com |access-date=2011-11-10}}</ref> Tri-Rail was free from opening until June 1, 1989.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post/159826975/ |first=Lois |last=Kaplan |title=Leniency the ticket as Tri-Rail starts charging |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |date=June 2, 1989 |page=2B |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Due to higher than expected ridership, FDOT made Tri-Rail a permanent service, adding more trains and stations in the process.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}} The state's original plan was to use the more urban Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) line, but FEC declined the offer as it wanted freight to be their top priority.<ref name="sunsentinel59,000" /> In 1998, the initial {{convert|67|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} route was extended north from the West Palm Beach station to the {{stn|Mangonia Park}}, and south from {{stn|Hialeah Market}} to Miami Airport (at an earlier station on the site of the current station). Construction of the extensions began in 1996; which added nearly {{convert|4|mi}} to the system.

=== 2000s: New stations, more service ===
[[File:Boca Raton Tri-Rail Station.jpg|thumb|Boca Raton's Tri-Rail station, an example of the mid-2000s rebuilt that includes double track platforms and a pedestrian overpass]]
In the early 2000s, Tri-Rail received a budget of $84.8&nbsp;million{{clarify|date=December 2015|reason=Per year or total? If total, how many years?}} for double tracking, building extensions, improving stations, establishing a headquarters, and linking to buses.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sun_sentinel/access/71006099.html?dids=71006099:71006099&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+10%2C+2001&author=WILLIAM+E.+GIBSON+Washington+Bureau+Chief&pub=South+Florida+Sun+-+Sentinel&desc=TRI-RAIL+GETS+BOOST+IN+U.S.+BUDGET+SHORTFALL%3A+BUSH%27S+BUDGET+PROPOSAL+LEAVES+EVERGLADES+PROJECTS+OUT+%2458+MILLION.&pqatl=google |title=Tri-Rail gets boost in U.S. budget shortfall: Bush's budget proposal leaves Everglades projects out $58 million |date=April 10, 2001 |last=Gibson |first=William E. |newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|access-date=2011-12-02}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In 2002, Tri-Rail began to upgrade its [[grade crossings]] to include raised medians and/or four quadrant gates to prevent cars from driving around them in an attempt to beat trains. This decreases accidents and allows the cities they run through to petition for them not to use their whistle between 10&nbsp;p.m. and 6&nbsp;a.m.{{citation needed|date=January 2012}} They also decreased [[headway]]s to 20 minutes during rush hours.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2002-06-20/news/0206200126_1_crossings-four-quadrant-gates-trains |title=Tri-rail Upgrade To Speed Service |last=Turnbell |first=Michael |date=June 20, 2002 |newspaper=Sun-Sentinel |access-date=2011-12-01 |archive-date=2014-02-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204032411/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2002-06-20/news/0206200126_1_crossings-four-quadrant-gates-trains |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Pompano-trirail-station.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Pompano Beach station]]—slated for rebuild—was not renovated or rebuilt during Tri-Rail's double-tracking but was redone later in the 2010s.]]
In 2007, a project to upgrade the full length of the line from Mangonia Park to Miami Airport with [[double track]] was completed with the opening of a high-level fixed bridge over the [[New River (Broward County, Florida)|New River]] near [[Fort Lauderdale]]. During the 2000s, most of the stations were completely rebuilt to accommodate for double-tracking and include dual platforms, elevators, pedestrian bridges over the tracks, large roofs over the platforms, and better facilities.

In March 2006, Tri-Rail went from 30 passenger trains a day to 40 trains; the completion of the New River rail bridge, the double-tracking project, and the addition of a second [[Colorado Railcar]] [[diesel multiple unit]] (DMU) ushered in sweeping changes to Tri-Rail's operational timetables. Tri-Rail added several more trains during peak weekday commuting hours in June 2007, increasing to the current 50 trains per day, as well as increasing weekend service.<ref name="50trainspress" /> During "rush-hour," trains ran every twenty to thirty minutes rather than the previous schedule of every hour. This change comes at quite a fortuitous time in Tri-Rail's operation history. With [[gasoline]] prices at record highs—particularly in South Florida's sprawling metropolis—Tri-Rail saw a double-digit percentage increase in ridership in mid-2007.{{citation needed|date=January 2012}} By 2009, annual ridership had reached about 4.2&nbsp;million passengers.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2011/mar/01/rick-scott/gov-rick-scott-raps-tri-rail-while-rejecting/ | title=Gov. Rick Scott raps Tri-Rail while rejecting high-speed rail funding | publisher=Politifact | date=2011-03-01 | access-date=2018-12-29}}</ref> This was also the time during which work was being done on I-95 to add the express lanes from the Golden Glades Interchange to the Airport Expressway near Downtown Miami.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-11-14/news/fl-95-express-construction-20111111_1_row-of-plastic-poles-stretch-of-carpool-lanes-general-travel-lanes/2|title=I-95 express lane construction comes to Broward starting Nov. 28|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|access-date=2011-11-23|archive-date=2013-02-03|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203095019/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-11-14/news/fl-95-express-construction-20111111_1_row-of-plastic-poles-stretch-of-carpool-lanes-general-travel-lanes/2|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2007, [[Veolia Transport]] commenced operating the Tri-Rail service under a contract that ran until June 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/commuterregional/veolia-transportation-gets-tri-rail-contract-extension/|title=Veolia gets Tri-Rail contract extension|work=Railway Age|date=August 30, 2013}}</ref>

=== 2009{{endash}}2022: Growth and airport station<span class="anchor" id="2010s: Growth and Coastal Link"></span><span class="anchor" id="2009–present: Growth and Coastal Link"></span> ===
[[File:Fort Lauderdale SAL station NW.jpg|thumb|[[Fort Lauderdale station]], built in 1927, serves Tri-Rail and [[Amtrak]].]]

In 2009, Tri-Rail service was nearly cut drastically, with the threat of being shut down altogether by 2011,<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.cnweeklynews.com/commentary/editorial/1696-we-cant-let-trirail-close|title=We can't let Tri-Rail close! |work=CNN |date=June 7, 2009|access-date=2011-11-28|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100421233216/http://www.cnweeklynews.com/commentary/editorial/1696-we-cant-let-trirail-close|archive-date=April 21, 2010}}</ref> even as ridership was at a record high, as Palm Beach County withheld its funding of the system and looked to cut its funding from $4.1&nbsp;million to $1.6&nbsp;million per year. This would mean that Broward and Miami-Dade counties would also have had to cut their support to $1.6&nbsp;million each to match. The state, which was also running a budget shortfall and did not pass a rental car tax increase to help fund Tri-Rail, would have had to cut its support as well. This would have caused an immediate cut from 50 to 30 daily trains and a complete cutting weekend service, followed by additional cuts and possible shut down two years later.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/090401/story2.shtml|title=Tri-Rail may be forced to cut half its weekday routes, eliminate weekend service |last=Polansky |first=Risa |publisher=Miami Today News |date=April 2, 2009|access-date=2011-11-28}}</ref> Schedules were decreased slightly, but service was never cut altogether, as dedicated federal funding was attained through the $2.5&nbsp;million grant as part of the [[American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009]].

After a 25% fare increase in mid-2009, annual ridership dropped by 15% (about 600,000) in 2010.<ref name=SFTRA2013>{{cite web|title=Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2013|url= http://www.sfrta.fl.gov/docs/overview/2013_CAFR_15MB.pdf|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141204161011/http://www.sfrta.fl.gov/docs/overview/2013_CAFR_15MB.pdf|url-status= dead|archive-date= December 4, 2014|publisher=South Florida Regional Transportation Authority|date=December 12, 2013|access-date=2014-06-12}}</ref> However, in 2011, Tri-Rail again saw increasing ridership due to sustained high gas prices, averaging about 14,500 riders per weekday by the end of year. Throughout the year, ridership increased at a rate of about 11% per month, paired with a decline in automobile travel <ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/driving-on-the-decline-as-gas-prices-remain-2023383.html |title=Driving on the decline as gas prices remain above $3 a gallon |last=Salisbury |first=Susan |date=December 9, 2011|newspaper=Palm Beach Post|access-date=2011-12-09}}</ref> and an increase in employment, with 285 companies and 2,829 individuals joining in the discount program.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fl-tri-rail-ridership-2011-20120112,0,5335928.story|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203081946/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fl-tri-rail-ridership-2011-20120112,0,5335928.story|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 3, 2013|title=Tri-Rail's ridership soars in 2011|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|last=Turnbell|first=Michael|date=January 12, 2012|access-date=2012-01-12}}</ref>

In 2011, the dilapidated Pompano Beach station received a $5.7&nbsp;million federal grant, to be redone as a "green station," generating more than 100% of its energy demand through solar power, with the excess to be sent to the grid or stored for nighttime lighting. Construction started in spring 2012 with the station remaining open during construction.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-11-27/news/fl-tri-rail-pompano-station-20111127_1_tri-rail-spokeswoman-bonnie-arnold-tri-rail-line-second-track |title=New Pompano Beach Tri-Rail station will be solar-powered |last=Turnbell |first=Michael |date=November 27, 2011 |newspaper=Sun-Sentinel |access-date=2011-11-28 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224501/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-11-27/news/fl-tri-rail-pompano-station-20111127_1_tri-rail-spokeswoman-bonnie-arnold-tri-rail-line-second-track |url-status=dead }}</ref> The crossing of Race Track Road and the Tri-Rail line near the Pompano Beach station, rough for several years, was also repaired in 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-11-25/news/fl-race-track-crossing-20111125_1_rail-crossings-public-highway-rail-grade-crossings-repair-crossings |title=Rough railroad crossing in Pompano Beach irks jostled drivers |date=November 25, 2011 |newspaper=Sun-Sentinel |last=Turnbell |first=Michael |access-date=2011-12-01 |archive-date=2013-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723060150/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-11-25/news/fl-race-track-crossing-20111125_1_rail-crossings-public-highway-rail-grade-crossings-repair-crossings |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In early 2012, it was announced that a second Tri-Rail station in [[Boca Raton]] was once again being considered at the busy intersection of [[Glades Road]] (S.R. 808) and [[Florida State Road 809|Military Trail]] (S.R. 809), near [[Town Center at Boca Raton|Town Center Mall]], [[Florida Atlantic University]] and large office parks. A station was proposed for this location in the early 2000s while many other stations were being renovated. [[Boca Raton station (Tri-Rail)|Boca Raton station]] near [[Yamato Road]] (S.R. 794) is the busiest station in the system<ref>{{cite news |last=Streeter |first=Angel |date=January 4, 2011 |title=Second Tri-Rail station in Boca Raton proposed |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/boca-raton/fl-boca-raton-new-tri-rail-station-20120104,0,1907065.story |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203110206/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/boca-raton/fl-boca-raton-new-tri-rail-station-20120104,0,1907065.story |archive-date=February 3, 2013 |access-date=2011-01-04 |newspaper=Sun-Sentinel}}</ref> as of 2014, with 1,600 riders a day,<ref>{{cite news |last=Latzman |first=Philip D. |date=April 7, 2015 |title=As ridership increases, Boca Raton embraces train travel |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/boca-raton/fl-boca-raton-trains-tri-rail-20150407-story.html |access-date=2016-08-19 |work=Sun-Sentinel}}</ref> surpassing the [[Tri-Rail and Metrorail transfer station]] in [[Miami-Dade County]]. For this reason, and the fact that Glades Road is considered the most congested road in the county, an [[infill station]] there has been long considered.<ref>{{cite news |last=Streeter |first=Angel |date=May 11, 2014 |title=New Boca Raton Tri-Rail station on the horizon |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2014-05-11/news/fl-boca-raton-tri-rail-station-20140508_1_new-station-second-tri-rail-station-tri-rail-officials |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701223515/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2014-05-11/news/fl-boca-raton-tri-rail-station-20140508_1_new-station-second-tri-rail-station-tri-rail-officials |archive-date=2017-07-01 |access-date=2016-08-19 |work=Sun-Sentinel}}</ref> However, in 2019, plans for the station were ultimately canceled by the city and Tri-Rail.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baitinger |first=Brooke |date=2019-07-25 |title=Boca won't get a second Tri-Rail station anytime soon |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2019/07/25/boca-wont-get-a-second-tri-rail-station-anytime-soon/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref>

Total ridership on the system fully recovered to earlier high levels in fiscal year 2013, to 4.2&nbsp;million.<ref name="SFTRA2013" /> Tri-Rail wanted to double ridership by 2021 to 30,000 daily riders by building the Coastal Link.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article18291674.html | title=Push to build Miami Tri-Rail station driven by desire as much as data  |work=Miami Herald | date=11 April 2015 | access-date=2015-04-14 |first=David |last=Smiley}}</ref>

[[File:Miami Central Station from NW 25th Street.jpg|thumb|[[Miami Intermodal Center]] opened in April 2015. It is the largest station in Florida, serving Tri-Rail, [[Metrorail (Miami-Dade County)|Metrorail]], and buses.]]
In April 2015, the Miami Airport station opened at the [[Miami Intermodal Center]], once again connecting Tri-Rail directly with the [[Miami International Airport]] for the first time since the original Miami Airport station closed in 2011. This new station has connections to [[MIA Mover]] (providing a direct link to the airport), [[Metrorail (Miami-Dade County)|Metrorail]], [[Miami-Dade Transit#Metrobus|Metrobus]] and [[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound]]. After extensive delays, [[Amtrak]] has yet to move its operations from its [[Miami station (Amtrak)|current station]].<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.miamiherald.com/news/traffic/article129451899.html | title=The trains are too long. The platform is too short. Bad news for the new station  |publisher=Miami Herald | date=January 29, 2017 | access-date=2017-01-30}}</ref> This new station was under construction since 2009, with a September 2011 closure of the original Miami Airport station to allow for construction of the new station.<ref>{{cite news |last=Turnbell |first=Michael |url= http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-tri-rail-miami-station-tour-20150402-story.html |title=Tri-Rail opens Miami airport station |newspaper=Sun-Sentinel |date=April 5, 2015 |access-date=2015-04-05}}</ref>

On January 27, 2017, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority board voted to award [[Herzog Transit Services]] a $511&nbsp;million, 10-year contract to operate Tri-Rail beginning in July 2017.<ref name="2017 contract" /> The board disqualified the other five bidders ([[Amtrak]], [[Bombardier Inc|Bombardier]], [[First Transit]], [[SNC-Lavalin Rail & Transit]] and incumbent operator [[Transdev]]), stating that they had all submitted "conditional" prices despite the request for proposals mandating that the bid price be final.<ref name="2017 contract" /> The other five losing bidders all protested the contract, with Transdev, Bombardier, and First Transit jointly requesting a court injunction to prevent it from being awarded.<ref name="2017 contract">{{cite web | url= http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/broward/article129203979.html | title=Massive Tri-Rail deal approved after bids tossed, warnings issued |publisher=Miami Herald |date=January 27, 2017 |access-date=2017-01-30}}</ref>

=== 2023{{endash}}present: Livery redesign and MiamiCentral service ===
[[File:TriRail Sign MiamiCentral Downtown Miami (46626814674).jpg|alt=A sign at MiamiCentral displaying Tri-Rail.|thumb|A sign at [[MiamiCentral]] displays Tri-Rail. This station includes direct connections to [[Brightline]], [[Metrorail (Miami-Dade County)|Metrorail]], and [[Metromover]], as well as being part of a [[mixed-use]] complex.]]
In the first quarter of 2023, the [[South Florida Regional Transportation Authority]] (SFRTA) reported a 25% increase in Tri-Rail ridership, surpassing 350,000 riders for the first time in three years. To meet the demand, the SFRTA began an overhaul process with their Brookville locomotives, which is anticipated to be completed by 2025, and received a federal grant that will allow the replacement of a third of the aging fleet of railcars with new ones, which are expected to start service in the coming years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-09 |title=Game-changing grant bringing Tri-Rail one-third new locomotives, cars |url=https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2023/05/09/game-changing-grant-bringing-tri-rail-one-third-new-locomotives-cars/ |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=Miami Today |language=en-US}}</ref> In addition, the SFRTA created a new livery design, which debuted in time for the Tri-Rail service into [[MiamiCentral]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dech |first=David |date= |title=From the Desk of David W. Dech – April 2023 |url=https://us20.campaign-archive.com/?u=32dce0f5c4a475c014a7cf3e2&id=0d3ef69400 |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mackey |first=Ryan |date=2023-04-18 |title=Tri-Rail trains will soon get a new look |url=https://www.local10.com/news/local/2023/04/18/tri-rail-trains-will-soon-get-a-new-look/ |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=WPLG |language=en}}</ref>

Tri-Rail service to MiamiCentral (Tri-Rail Downtown Miami Link) began service on January 13, 2024.<ref name="DML-open">{{cite news |last1=Beyer |first1=Brandon |last2=Quintana |first2=Julian |last3=Rosario |first3=Rubén |title=Grand opening ceremony held for Tri-Rail service into downtown Miami |url=https://wsvn.com/news/local/miami-dade/grand-opening-ceremony-held-for-tri-rail-service-into-downtown-miami/ |access-date=January 13, 2024 |work=[[WSVN]] |publisher=[[Sunbeam Television]] |date=January 12, 2024}}</ref> The station, which is also a [[mixed-use]] complex, is located in [[Downtown Miami]] and includes direct access to [[Brightline]] as well as [[Miami-Dade Transit]] services. The initial service consists of a shuttle service between [[Metrorail Transfer Station|Metrorail Transfer station]] and MiamiCentral, but a MiamiCentral Express train has since been added, running from MiamiCentral to [[West Palm Beach station]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-23 |title=Initial service plan will be a dedicated train between Metrorail Transfer and MiamiCentral. |url=https://twitter.com/Tri_Rail/status/1639019131222597634 |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref> To continue traveling north or south, a transfer is required.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-24 |title=Won't need to pay for another fare, and direct service between Transfer station and downtown. |url=https://twitter.com/Tri_Rail/status/1639236519344107521 |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref> It marks the first time Tri-Rail trains use [[Florida East Coast Railway|Florida East Coast's]] trackage for service. Tri-Rail trains switch to the FEC's Little River Branch on the Iris Connection south of Metrorail Transfer station and head east to the FEC mainline, where they turn south and head to Downtown Miami. Tri-Rail trains began testing the corridor on June 19, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-20 |title=SFRTA begins testing Tri-Rail trains on FEC Tracks |url=https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/vehicles/press-release/53063866/south-florida-regional-transportation-authority-sfrta-sfrta-begins-testing-trirail-trains-on-fec-tracks |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=www.masstransitmag.com}}</ref> The total cost of accommodating Tri-Rail trains in MiamiCentral was about $70 million.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Tri-Rail Downtown Miami Link Service |url=https://www.tri-rail.com/pages/view/downtown-miami-link |access-date=21 November 2019 |website=Tri Rail |publisher=Southern Florida Regional Transportation Authority}}</ref>

With the Brightline extension to [[Orlando International Airport Intermodal Terminal|Orlando]], the company has indicated that their trains have reached capacity, especially during peak commute time along the [[Southeast Florida]] region. As a result of this, Brightline proposed for the SFRTA to facilitate a {{visible anchor|express|text=Tri-Rail [[express train]]}} between the [[West Palm Beach station]] and MiamiCentral, with few stops in between. This would be similar to the route Brightline currently services in Southeast Florida.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Train Pass Info: Costs, Availability & More {{!}} Brightline |url=https://www.gobrightline.com/train-tickets/passes |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=www.gobrightline.com |language=en}}</ref> On May 31, 2024, the SFRTA announced that the new weekday [[rush hour]] express train, with stops at [[Boca Raton station (Tri-Rail)|Boca Raton]], [[Fort Lauderdale Airport station|Fort Lauderdale Airport]], and Metrorail Transfer, which began service on July 1, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-01 |title=Tri-Rail to launch West Palm Beach-MiamiCentral limited-stop, rush-hour service July 1 |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/tri-rail-to-launch-west-palm-beach-miamicentral-limited-stop-rush-hour-service-july-1/ |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=Trains |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=May |first1=Tiana |title=Tri-Rail Launches New Express Service to MiamiCentral |url=https://railway-news.com/tri-rail-launches-new-express-service-to-miamicentral/ |website=Railway-News |access-date=9 July 2024 |language=en-gb |date=4 July 2024}}</ref>

== Extensions and upgrades ==
{{Tri-Rail Coastal Link}}
{{anchor|Glades}}

=== Proposed routes ===

==== Coastal Link (FEC line service) ====
{{anchor|Coastal Link}}
{{See also|Northeast Corridor Rapid Transit Project}}
In the 2025 and 2030 long-range transportation plans, Tri-Rail has envisioned moving to or adding service on the [[Florida East Coast Railway]] (FEC) corridor, which runs parallel to [[U.S. Route 1 in Florida|U.S. 1]] ([[Biscayne Boulevard]]/[[Brickell Avenue]] in Miami-Dade County, and Federal Highway in Broward and Palm Beach counties). This corridor will provide more opportunities for pedestrian travel from stations to end destinations than does the current South Florida Rail Corridor, which must rely almost exclusively on shuttle buses for passenger distribution. Tri-Rail officials project that the project would cost about $2.5&nbsp;billion and that 59,000 people per day would ride it,<ref name="sunsentinel59,000">{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-09-16/news/fl-fec-passenger-rail-20100915_1_tri-rail-passenger-train-rapid-transit-bus|title=Officials seek public input on new transit option along FEC tracks|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|date=September 16, 2010|access-date=2011-11-14|archive-date=2010-09-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921115430/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-09-16/news/fl-fec-passenger-rail-20100915_1_tri-rail-passenger-train-rapid-transit-bus|url-status=dead}}</ref> The FEC, which denied the state's request to use the line for commuter rail in the 1980s, is now under new ownership as of 2017, and has now stated that it is willing to allow the use of the {{convert|85|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} segment of track between downtown Miami and Jupiter for passenger trains.<ref name="sunsentinel59,000" />

Tri-Rail service on the FEC line would bring stations to [[Downtown Miami]]'s transit hub, [[Government Center station (Miami)|Government Center station]] via MiamiCentral, as well as service in [[Midtown Miami]]/[[Miami Design District]], [[Upper Eastside (Miami)|Upper East Side]]/[[Miami Shores]], [[North Miami]], [[North Miami Beach]]/[[Aventura, Florida|Aventura]], Downtown [[Hollywood, Florida|Hollywood]], and Downtown [[Fort Lauderdale]], putting it within walking distance of thousands of potential riders. Getting to and from the current stations has been a major detractor of Tri-Rail's convenience since opening.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au_eynv2IlA |title=Tri-Rail Open WJTV |publisher=WJTV/YouTube|year=1989|access-date=2011-11-27}}</ref> Miami's Downtown Development Authority along with Miami-area politicians are{{when|date=September 2020}} actively lobbying to bring Tri-Rail to the city core.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/091029/story3.shtml |title=Miami Downtown Development Authority hashing out plans to bring Tri-Rail downtown |newspaper=Miami Today News |date=October 29, 2009 |access-date=2011-02-27}}</ref>

Track connections between the FEC tracks and the South Florida Rail Corridor are also currently under construction.{{when|date=September 2020}} These connections are mainly for freight connectivity between the two lines, but are planned for future Coastal Link use. The Northwood Connection just north of West Palm Beach will provide a new connection as well as rehabilitating an existing connection. The Iris Connection will connect the SFRC to the FEC's Little River Branch near Hialeah. FDOT has built both connections, which were funded by a federal TIGER grant.<ref>{{cite web|title=S. FL Freight and Passenger Rail Enhancement Project|url= http://tri-railcoastallinkstudy.com/tiger.php |website=Florida Department of Transportation|access-date=24 August 2017}}</ref>

The Coastal Link is planned to begin in phases. The first phase is known as Tri-Rail Downtown Miami Link, which began service on January 13, 2024.<ref name="downtowndate">{{cite news |title=Tri-Rail sets date to launch long-planned service to downtown Miami |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/tri-rail-sets-date-to-launch-long-planned-service-to-downtown-miami/ |access-date=6 January 2024 |agency=Trains |date=January 5, 2024}}</ref>

A later phase would allow Tri-Rail to begin service to Jupiter by having trains switch to the FEC on the new Northwood connection north of West Palm Beach and head north to Jupiter with additional stops in [[Palm Beach Gardens]], [[Lake Park, Florida|Lake Park]] and [[Riviera Beach, Florida|Riviera Beach]]. No official timeframe has been given for this phase.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tri-Rail Coastal Link Project Update |url=http://tri-railcoastallink.com/downloads/meetings/022715-TRCL-SFRTA-Board-Presentation.pdf |website=Tri-Rail Coastal Link |access-date=9 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825061212/http://tri-railcoastallink.com/downloads/meetings/022715-TRCL-SFRTA-Board-Presentation.pdf |archive-date=25 August 2017}}</ref>

Miami-Dade County is also working to find funding for service on the FEC from Downtown Miami as far north as [[Aventura, Florida|Aventura]].<ref name="Barszewski">{{cite news|last1=Barszewski|first1=Larry|title=Difficult track ahead for coastal commuter rail|url= http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/transportation/fl-sb-coastal-tri-rail-problems-20170308-story.html |access-date=24 August 2017|agency=Sun Sentinel}}</ref> Construction of an additional track for commuter service would require the approval of Brightline, which owns [[trackage rights]] to operate passenger trains over the corridor.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lyons |first1=David |title=Waiting for Tri-Rail to run through downtowns? Don't hold your breath |url= https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/transportation/fl-bz-tri-rail-east-future-20191108-6gg5lzx735bvdplzgudwce7lra-story.html |access-date=12 November 2019 |work=Sun Sentinel |date=8 November 2019}}</ref>

If the Coastal Link is fully implemented, Tri-Rail would operate in three separate services with a line on the FEC tracks from Jupiter to Downtown Fort Lauderdale, a line on the existing tracks from Mangonia Park to Pompano Beach, and then transition to the FEC tracks and continue to Downtown Miami. Another line would run on the existing tracks from Boca Raton to Miami Airport.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tri-Rail Coastal Link System Map |url=http://tri-railcoastallink.com/downloads/AltBv5.pdf |website=Tri-Rail Coastal Link |access-date=9 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219033200/http://tri-railcoastallink.com/downloads/AltBv5.pdf |archive-date=19 February 2015}}</ref>

Before full implementation of the Coastal Link service can begin, officials have acknowledged that a new crossing over (or under) the [[New River (Broward County, Florida)|New River]] in Fort Lauderdale is necessary. The FEC's current low-level drawbridge is unable to handle Tri-Rail service along with Brightline and FEC freight service without negatively affecting vessel traffic on the river since the bridge would need to be lowered quite often. Proposals include a taller bridge or possibly a tunnel under the river.<ref name="Barszewski" />

In 2020, [[Brightline]] solicited a proposal to operate a commuter rail service on the FEC, utilizing its exclusive trackage rights for passenger service, under a different system known as the [[Northeast Corridor Rapid Transit Project]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Brightline in talks with Miami-Dade to run commuter-rail line, report says |url= https://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/Brightline-in-talks-with-Miami-Dade-to-run-commuter-rail-line-report-says--60560 |access-date=31 May 2020 |agency=Progressive Railroading |date=29 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Price-Williams |first1=Abigail |title=Memorandum |url= http://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/legistarfiles/Matters/Y2020/201056.pdf |website=Miami Dade County |access-date=31 May 2020}}</ref> Under these plans the city of Miami would support the service operated by Brightline, without direct involvement of Tri-Rail.<ref>{{cite news |title=Brightline close to county deal on commuter tracks. Next up: Fights over stations |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article245981730.html |access-date=25 September 2020 |agency=Miami Herald}}</ref>

==== Homestead and Doral (CSX Homestead Subdivision line service) ====
There had been proposals in the past{{when|date=January 2024}} by [[Miami-Dade County]] and [[CSX Transportation]] to use the [[Homestead Subdivision|CSX Homestead Subdivision]] for Tri-Rail service, with the corridor being purchased by the county or the [[Florida Department of Transportation]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCaughan |first=Sean |date=2015-08-06 |title=What if Tri-Rail Extended All the Way to Homestead? |url=https://miami.curbed.com/2015/8/6/9933036/tri-rail-expansion-homestead-csx |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=Curbed Miami |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.miamidadetpo.org/library/studies/csx-corridor-evaluation-study-final-2009-08.pdf | title=Miami-Dade county CSX corridor evaluation study | access-date=2024-07-19 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006035050/https://www.miamidadetpo.org/library/studies/csx-corridor-evaluation-study-final-2009-08.pdf | archive-date=2022-10-06}}</ref> However, one of the problems at the time{{when|date=January 2024}} was that the price of the corridor was exorbitant. Since then,{{when|date=January 2024}} CSX has had new leadership, and the company is now willing to make a deal with Miami-Dade County to potentially have passenger rail service initiated on the corridor.<ref name=":1" /> Service could include the Lehigh spur from the Miami Intermodal Center to [[Doral, Florida|Doral]], as well as the Homestead Subdivision from the Miami Intermodal Center to [[Homestead, Florida|Homestead]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Gothner |first=Chris |date=2023-04-20 |title=To tackle traffic, Miami-Dade officials consider new people movers, trains |url=https://www.local10.com/news/local/2023/04/20/to-tackle-traffic-miami-dade-officials-consider-new-network-of-people-movers-trains/ |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=WPLG |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-18 |title=Gears shifting from buses to rail for East-West Transit corridor |url=https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2023/04/18/gears-shifting-from-buses-to-rail-for-east-west-transit-corridor/ |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=Miami Today |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hanks |first=Douglas |date=2023-04-21 |title=Could western, southern commuters get a rail option? Miami-Dade revives 836 train idea |work=Miami Herald |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article274548301.html |access-date=2023-04-23}}</ref> {{As of|2024}}, both lines only see sporadic freight service, and the southernmost {{convert|12|mi}} of the Homestead Subdivision (south of the [[Gold Coast Railroad Museum]]) have been out of service {{as of|2019|since=y|lc=y}}.<ref name="FRA">{{cite web |title=CSX Transportation, Inc.-Discontinuance of Service Exemption-in Miami-Dade County, Fla. |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/03/25/2019-05653/csx-transportation-inc-discontinuance-of-service-exemption-in-miami-dade-county-fla |accessdate=27 June 2019 |website=Surface Transportation Board|date=March 25, 2019 }}</ref>

=== Proposed stations ===

==== VA Medical Center station ====
Tri-Rail is currently in the preliminary stages of adding a station near the [[VA Medical Center]] northwest of the [[Mangonia Park station]]. The tracks northwest of Mangonia Park are currently owned by [[CSX Transportation]], which Tri-Rail would need to have an agreement with to operate at the potential new station. [[Palm Beach County]] is expected to cover the costs of the project.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Diamond |first=Mike |date=2024-03-25 |title=Tri-Rail eyes expansion service to the VA center from its Mangonia Park station |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/local/westpb/2024/03/25/tri-rail-train-eyes-expansion-to-va-center-in-riviera-beach/72866002007/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=The Palm Beach Post |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Little River station ====
In November 2023, [[Michael Swerdlow|Swerdlow Group]] responded to a request for proposals from [[Miami-Dade County]] for a new [[affordable housing]] development in [[Little River (Miami)|Little River]], which also includes a Tri-Rail station. The project is located just east of I-95 and just north of the FEC's Little River Branch, which is part of the current route of the Tri-Rail Downtown Miami Link, which has no stations along the east-west route (with the north-south route eventually having stations as the result of the [[Northeast Corridor Rapid Transit Project]]).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-03 |title=Tri-Rail due downtown this year – where will be next? |url=https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2023/10/03/tri-rail-due-downtown-this-year-where-will-be-next/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Miami Today |language=en-US}}</ref> Swerdlow Group had indicated that they would fund $20 million for the station.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Creative |first=STRYV |date=2024-02-21 |title=Swerdlow proposes over 7,000 apartments in Miami-Dade |url=https://sjmpartners.com/coming-soon/swerdlow-proposes-over-7000-apartments-in-miami-dade/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=SJM Partners, LLC |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bandell |first=Brian |date=2024-02-14 |title=Swerdlow proposes over 7,000 apartments in Miami-Dade (Photos) |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2024/02/14/swerdlow-proposes-over-7k-apartments-in-miami-dade.html |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rogoz |first=Adina |date=2024-09-19 |title=Inside Miami's Milestone Senior Housing Project |url=https://www.multihousingnews.com/inside-the-residences-at-sawyers-walk-a-community-for-miamis-low-income-seniors/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=www.multihousingnews.com}}</ref>

== Operations ==
Tri-Rail shares the South Florida Rail Corridor trackage with Amtrak's ''[[Silver Meteor]],'' ''[[Floridian (train)|Floridian]],'' and [[CSX Transportation]]'s [[Miami Subdivision]]. The Florida Department of Transportation purchased the track from CSX in 1989. Under the terms of the agreement, CSX would continue to provide dispatch services and physical plant maintenance for the track and would have exclusive freight trackage rights until certain conditions were met. At midnight on March 29, 2015, CSX handed over dispatching and maintenance to SFRTA (Tri-Rail). While this should have the advantage of giving passenger trains signal priority over freight trains, it was at first wracked with delays.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-tri-rail-delays-20150406-story.html |title=Tri-Rail falters in first week of dispatching |work=Sun-Sentinel |date=April 6, 2015 |first=Michael |last=Turnbell |access-date=2015-04-13}}</ref>

Tri-Rail participates in the [[EASY Card]] regional smartcard-based fare collection system along with [[Miami-Dade Transit]]. Purely paper tickets are also available for same-day or weekend use. A paper ticket or an EASY Card with a paper-based transfer receipt (created after a confirmed trip is completed) can be used to obtain transfer discounts when transferring to [[Broward County Transit]] as well as [[Palm Tran]]. However, only EASY Cards may be used to obtain a transfer discount when transferring to Miami-Dade Transit.<ref name="tri-rail">{{cite web|url= http://www.tri-rail.com/rider_info/fare_information.htm |publisher=tri-rail.com|title=rider_info/fare_information|access-date=2017-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.tri-rail.com/rider_info/transfer_info.htm |website=tri-rail.com |title=rider_info/transfer_info|access-date=2017-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tri-rail.com/easy/docs/FlyerBCT_Palm_TranCustomertransferdft11v5_ENGLISH%281%29.pdf |title=Broward County Transit / Palm Tran Transfer Change! |access-date=2012-02-29 |archive-date=2012-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216092844/http://www.tri-rail.com/easy/docs/FlyerBCT_Palm_TranCustomertransferdft11v5_ENGLISH%281%29.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Due to the route's success, Amtrak's ''Silver Meteor'' and ''Floridian'' do not allow local travel between West Palm Beach and Miami. The two trains only stop to discharge passengers southbound and receive passengers northbound. This policy is in place to make seats on those two trains available for passengers making longer trips.

=== Fares and services ===
Tri-Rail fare is divided into six zones for 24-hour passes, ranging from $2.50 to $8.75, with fare calculated by the number of zones traveled through, and whether it is one-way or round trip. On weekends, a $5 all-day pass good for all zones is available, though trains run hourly headways. For frequent use, Tri-Rail offers a $110 monthly pass (good for Tri-Rail only) and a $155 regional monthly pass (good on Tri-Rail, [[Metrorail (Miami-Dade County)|Metrorail]], and [[Miami-Dade Transit#Metrobus|Metrobus]]). Discount fares are available for senior citizens, the disabled, students, and children under 12.<ref>{{cite web|title=Calculating Your Fare|url= http://www.tri-rail.com/fares/fare-calculator/ |publisher=Tri-Rail|access-date=2013-10-28}}</ref> Certain businesses allow their employees to register for the Employer Discount Program, which reduces their fares by 25%.<ref name="50trainspress">{{cite web|url= http://www.tri-rail.com/pdf/Announcements/Chamber_PC.pdf |title=Now we can get you to work faster... |publisher=SFRTA |access-date=2012-01-12}}</ref> Free parking is available at all Tri-Rail stations.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/11/prweb8986643.htm|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111203031408/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/11/prweb8986643.htm|url-status= dead|archive-date= December 3, 2011|title= Save Money on Holiday Travel by Riding Tri-Rail to Airports Across South Florida |website=[[PRWeb]] |access-date=2011-12-04}}</ref> On weekdays, 50 train trips are made in all, with 25 in each direction, while on weekends only 30 trips, 15 north and 15 south, are made in all, with 1-hour headways between each train. While Tri-Rail peaks at speeds of {{convert|79|mph|km/h|0|abbr=}}, it can be extracted from the timetable and the distance of the line that its overall average speed is approximately {{convert|38|mph|km/h|0}}.

On December 19, 2025, Tri-Rail stated that it will be announcing special service and hours for [[2026 FIFA World Cup]] games at [[Hard Rock Stadium]] and [[Inter Miami CF]] home games at [[Miami Freedom Park]].<ref>https://mailchi.mp/58870c60f2c6/on-track-april-17004195?e=c284fc3305</ref>

=== Revenue and expense ===
For fiscal year 2010, train revenue was approximately $10.3&nbsp;million.<ref name="2010 ridership">{{cite web|url= http://www.sfrta.fl.gov/docs/overview/2010_CAFR.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110312105729/http://www.sfrta.fl.gov/docs/overview/2010_CAFR.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= March 12, 2011 |title=South Florida Regional Transportation Authority Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2010 |publisher=SFRTA}}</ref> Total operating expenses for fiscal year 2010, including depreciation expense, were approximately $86.9&nbsp;million. Expenses increased by approximately $14.9&nbsp;million or 20.7% when compared to fiscal year 2009.<ref name="2010 ridership" /> 2010 was a low year for ridership after the economy crashed and there were service cuts. By 2015, ridership was about 25% higher.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article18291674.html |title=Push to build Miami Tri-Rail station driven by desire as much as data |work=Miami Herald |first=David |last=Smiley|date=April 11, 2015|access-date=2015-04-12}}</ref>  By 2018, fare revenue was budgeted at $13.4 million, whereas operating expense was $119.8 million.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://media.tri-rail.com/Files/About/SFRTA/Resources/Financials/Operating/Complete%20PDF%20FY%202019-2020%20Operating%20Budget.pdf | title=Operating Budget - Fiscal year 2019-2020 | access-date=2024-07-19 | publisher=South Florida Regional Transportation Authority}}</ref>

=== Travel direction ===
The line has no turn around point so all trains will face one direction at all times. Locomotives will always face south. For this reason, Dual Operation Passenger Cabs are located on the opposite side of the train facing north. Trains will travel north in reverse and south forwards.

== Stations ==
[[File:Miami Metro Map 2017.png|thumb|400px|Schematic of rapid transit and passenger rail service in the Miami area in 2018. Tri-Rail's Downtown Miami Link (shown in pink) became operational on January 13, 2024.<ref name="DML-open"/>]]
A typical station contains two tracks and two [[side platform]]s connected by an overpass. Most stations have large parking lots, however, some, like West Palm Beach and [[Hollywood station (Florida)|Hollywood]] have a limited number of spaces, most of which are reserved for Amtrak travelers.
{|class=wikitable
!Location
!Zone
!Station
!Time to<br />{{stn|Pompano Beach}}
!Year<br />opened
!Connections
|-
|[[Mangonia Park]]
|rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|1
|{{stn|Mangonia Park}}
|48 min
|1998
|{{rint|bus|1}} [[Palm Tran]]: 21, 31, 33
|-
|[[West Palm Beach]]
|{{stn|West Palm Beach}}
|42 min
|1925
|{{Unbulleted list
  | {{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: {{lnl|Amtrak|Floridian}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Silver Meteor}}
  | {{rint|brightline}} [[Brightline]] {{small|(at the [[West Palm Beach station (Brightline)|Brightline station]])}}
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[Palm Tran]]: 1, 2, 20, 31, 40, 41, 43, 44, 49, 60
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[West Palm Beach|WPB Trolley]]: Green Line
  | {{rint|us|greyhound}} [[Greyhound Lines]]
  }}
|-
|[[Lake Worth Beach, Florida|Lake Worth Beach]]
|{{stn|Lake Worth Beach}}
|33 min
| rowspan="2" |1989
|{{rint|bus|1}} [[Palm Tran]]: 61, 62
|-
|[[Boynton Beach, Florida|Boynton Beach]]
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|2
|{{stn|Boynton Beach}}
|28 min
|{{rint|bus|1}} [[Palm Tran]]: 70, 71, 73
|-
|[[Delray Beach]]
|{{stn|Delray Beach}}
|19 min
|1991
|{{Unbulleted list
  | {{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: {{lnl|Amtrak|Floridian}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Silver Meteor}}
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[Palm Tran]]: 2, 70, 81, 88
  }}
|-
|[[Boca Raton]]
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|3
|{{stn|Boca Raton||Tri-Rail}}
|13 min
|1989
|{{Unbulleted list
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[Palm Tran]]: 2, 94
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[Boca Raton, Florida|Boca Raton Shuttles]]: BR-1, TPABS, TREX
  }}
|-
|[[Deerfield Beach]]
|{{stn|Deerfield Beach}}
|6 min
|1926
|{{Unbulleted list
  | {{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: {{lnl|Amtrak|Floridian}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Silver Meteor}}
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[Broward County Transit|BCT]]: 48, 728
  }}
|-
|[[Pompano Beach]]
|{{stn|Pompano Beach}}
| –
| rowspan="2" |1989
|{{rint|bus|1}} [[Broward County Transit|BCT]]: 34
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Fort Lauderdale]]
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|4
|{{stn|Cypress Creek}}
|8 min
|{{rint|bus|1}} [[Broward County Transit|BCT]]: 14, 60, 62
|-
|{{stn|Fort Lauderdale}}
|15 min
|1927
|{{Unbulleted list
  | {{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: {{lnl|Amtrak|Floridian}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Silver Meteor}}
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[Broward County Transit|BCT]]: 9, 22, 81
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[Fort Lauderdale|LauderGO!]]: NW Community Link, Neighborhood Link
  }}
|-
|[[Dania Beach]]
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|5
|{{stn|Fort Lauderdale Airport}}
|22 min
|2000
|{{Unbulleted list
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[Broward County Transit|BCT]]: 4, 6, 15, 16, 110
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[Dania Beach, Florida|Dania Beach Bus]]: West Route
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[Tri-Rail Shuttle]]: FLA-1 to {{rint|air}} [[Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport|Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood Int'l Airport]], SFEC Shuttle
  }}
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Hollywood, Florida|Hollywood]]
|{{stn|Sheridan Street}}
|26 min
|1996
|{{Unbulleted list
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[Broward County Transit|BCT]]: 12
  | {{rint|us|greyhound}} [[Greyhound Lines]]
  | {{rint|us|megabus}} [[Megabus (North America)|Megabus]]
  }}
|-
|{{stn|Hollywood||Florida}}
|30 min
|1928
|{{Unbulleted list
  | {{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: {{lnl|Amtrak|Floridian}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Silver Meteor}}
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[Broward County Transit|BCT]]: 7
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[Hallandale Beach, Florida|Hallandale Bus]]: 3
  }}
|-
|[[Miami-Dade]]
|rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;"|6
|{{stn|Golden Glades}}
|39 min
|1989
|{{Unbulleted list
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[Metrobus (Miami-Dade County)|Metrobus]]: 75, 75A, 77, 401, 95/95A/95B Golden Glades Express
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[Broward County Transit|BCT]]: 18, 441
  | {{rint|bus|1}} NMB Line: E
  | {{rint|us|greyhound}} [[Greyhound Lines]]
  }}
|-
|[[Opa-locka]]
|{{stn|Opa-locka}}
|45 min
|1927
|{{Unbulleted list
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[Metrobus (Miami-Dade County)|Metrobus]]: 32, 135
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[Tri-Rail Shuttle]]: North Link
  }}
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Hialeah]]
|[[Tri-Rail and Metrorail Transfer station|Metrorail Transfer]]
|52 min
| rowspan="2" |1989
|{{Unbulleted list
  | {{rint|miami|metrorail}} [[Metrorail (Miami-Dade County)|Metrorail]]: {{rcb|Miami-Dade Transit|Green|inline=route}}
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[Metrobus (Miami-Dade County)|Metrobus]]: 79
  }}
|-
|{{stn|Hialeah Market}}
|58 min
|{{rint|bus|1}} [[Metrobus (Miami-Dade County)|Metrobus]]: 132
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Miami]]
|[[Miami Intermodal Center|Miami Airport]]
|64 min
|2012
|{{Unbulleted list
  | {{rint|miami|metrorail}} [[Metrorail (Miami-Dade County)|Metrorail]]: {{rcb|Miami-Dade Transit|Orange|inline=route}}
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[Metrobus (Miami-Dade County)|Metrobus]]: 7, 20, 36, 37, 56, 150, 338
  | {{rint|monorail}} [[MIA Mover]] to {{rint|air}} [[Miami International Airport]]
  | {{rint|us|greyhound}} [[Greyhound Lines]]
  }}
|-
|[[MiamiCentral]]
|72 min<br/>(transfer at [[Tri-Rail and Metrorail Transfer station|Metrorail Transfer]])
|2018
|{{Unbulleted list
  | {{rint|brightline}} [[Brightline]]
  | {{rint|miami|metrorail}} [[Metrorail (Miami-Dade County)|Metrorail]]: {{rcb|Miami-Dade Transit|Green|inline=route}} {{rcb|Miami-Dade Transit|Orange|inline=route}}
  | {{rint|monorail}} [[Metromover]]: {{rcb|Miami-Dade Transit|Omni|inline=route}} {{rcb|Miami-Dade Transit|Brickell|inline=route}} {{rcb|Miami-Dade Transit|Inner|inline=route}}
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[Metrobus (Miami-Dade County)|Metrobus]]: 2, 3, 7, 9, 11, 21, 77, 95, 100, 203, 207, 208, 400, 401, 836, 837
  | {{rint|bus|1}} [[Broward County Transit|BCT]]: 109, 110
  }}
|}

== Ridership ==
[[File:Tri-Rail and Metrorail transfer station.jpg|thumb|right|[[Tri-Rail and Metrorail Transfer Station]] is one of the busiest stations on the line and serves as a major transfer point between Tri-Rail and Miami-Dade Transit]]
[[File:Opa-locka Tri Rail Station (8436152308).jpg|thumb|right|{{stn|Opa-locka}} features [[Moorish Revival architecture]] similar to historic buildings in [[Opa-locka]].]]

<big>'''Annual ridership averages'''</big>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Date !! Passengers<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.sfrta.fl.gov/docs/planning/Existing%20System/2002-2007%20Station%20Ridership%20Data.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100624004706/http://www.sfrta.fl.gov/docs/planning/Existing%20System/2002-2007%20Station%20Ridership%20Data.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= June 24, 2010 |title=2002-2007 Annual Ridership through March 31, 2007 |publisher=SFRTA |access-date=2011-12-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.sfrta.fl.gov/docs/Planning/Performance%20Measurement%20Evaluation/Performance%20Measurement%20Evaluation%20(2007).pdf|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100623234059/http://www.sfrta.fl.gov/docs/Planning/Performance%20Measurement%20Evaluation/Performance%20Measurement%20Evaluation%20(2007).pdf|url-status= dead|archive-date= June 23, 2010|date=August 2007|title=Performance Measurement Evaluation|author=Kittelson & Associates |publisher=SFRTA |access-date=2011-12-11}}</ref><br /><small>Annual total</small>!! % Change !! Passengers<br /><small>Weekday average</small>
|-
| 1995 || 2,481,200 || - || N/A
|-
| 1996 || 2,301,400 || -7.2% || 7,500
|-
| 1997 || 2,377,700 || +3.3% || 8,000
|-
| 1998 || 2,215,600 || -6.8% || 7,200
|-
| 1999 || 2,180,000 || +1.6% || 7,300
|-
| 2000 || 2,397,900 || +10.0% || 8,700
|-
| 2001 || 2,543,604 || +6.1% || 8,500
|-
| 2002 || 2,629,400 || +3.4% || 9,200
|-
| 2003 || 2,755,300 || +4.8% || 9,200
|-
| 2004 || 2,814,800 || +2.2% || 9,700
|-
| 2005 || 2,619,900 || -6.9% || 8,500
|-
| 2006 || 3,177,000 || +21.3% || 11,600
|-
| 2007 || 3,502,500 || +10.2% || 12,600
|-
| 2008 || 4,303,600 || +22.9% || 14,800
|-
| 2009 || 3,789,700 || -11.9% || 12,400
|-
| 2010 || 3,645,000 || -3.8% || 12,300
|-
| 2011 || 3,947,900 || +8.3% || 13,300
|-
| 2012 || 4,070,700 || +3.1% || 14,300
|-
| 2013 || 4,350,782 || +6.9% || 14,800
|-
| 2014 || 4,389,600 || +1.0% || 14,400
|-
| 2015 || 4,292,705 || -1.0% || 13,900
|-
| 2016 || 4,240,699<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfrta.fl.gov/docs/planning/TDP/SFRTA-TDP-FY16-Annual-Update-Final-Draft-Transmittal-to-FDOT.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221042344/http://www.sfrta.fl.gov/docs/planning/TDP/SFRTA-TDP-FY16-Annual-Update-Final-Draft-Transmittal-to-FDOT.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 21, 2016|title=Annual Update Final Draft}}</ref> || -1.0% || 13,900
|-
| 2017 || 4,287,400<ref>[https://ti.org/pdfs/2017-Q4-Ridership-APTA.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwi6jq_wysbpAhUBvp4KHQ4lAGwQFjAGegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw0iP1Ehgb5Wi9FyXE0CHqiA Unknown]{{dead link|date=February 2022 | fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> || +1.1% || 13,900
|-
| 2018 || 4,413,900<ref>[https://www.apta.com/wp-content/uploads/2018-Q4-Ridership-APTA.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjXorbg8MbpAhWLvp4KHSgTDNMQFjACegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw3zy8tDw-Nrwdr4s-sREYIM Unknown]{{dead link|date=February 2022 | fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> || +2.9% || 13,900
|-
| 2019 || 4,505,100<ref name="auto">[https://www.apta.com/wp-content/uploads/2019-Q4-Ridership-APTA.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiUrpeOkMjpAhWSJzQIHRcmCjQQFjAEegQIBBAK&usg=AOvVaw2Uwd3rFLsZ9LeH_rk_7YT0 Unknown]{{dead link|date=February 2022 | fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> || +2.0% || 13,900
|-
| 2020 || 2,204,500 || -51.1% || 6,400
|-
| 2021 || 2,029,609  || -8.3% || 6,350
|-
| 2022 || 2,776,205 || +31.1% || 9,500
|-
| 2023 ||  3,735,897  || +29.5% || 13,000
|-
| 2024 || 4,578,680<ref>{{cite news|last=Rosario|first=Rubén|title=Tri-Rail sets new annual ridership record|url=https://www.wlrn.org/transportation/2025-07-30/tri-rail-closure-budget-shortfall|work=WLRN Public Media|date=July 30, 2025|access-date=August 9, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Tri-Rail Sets New Annual Ridership Record |url=https://www.thenextmiami.com/tri-rail-sets-new-annual-ridership-record/ |website=The Next Miami |date=August 6, 2025 |access-date=August 9, 2025}}</ref>
 || +22.6% || 14,800

|}

=== Ridership records ===
Tri-Rail posted its highest-paid daily ridership in the commuter-rail system's 24-year history on June 24, 2013. It transported 19,060 people, many of whom attended a "victory parade" for the [[Miami Heat]], which won the [[2013 NBA Finals|2013 National Basketball Association championship]]. Most trains operated at or near capacity, SFTRA officials said in a press release. Special four-car sets were operated to accommodate the anticipated overflow crowd.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/TriRail-scores-record-daily-ridership-due-to-Miami-Heat-parade--36609 |title=Tri-Rail scores record daily ridership due to Miami Heat parade|date=June 2013|publisher=SFRTA/Progressive Railroading|access-date=2013-06-26}}</ref>

Previous Miami Heat victory parades resulted in high ridership counts for Tri-Rail, as well. On June 23, 2006, Tri-Rail transported 18,613 riders; and on June 25, 2012, the agency carried 18,355 passengers. In 2019, TriRail reached its highest annual ridership with 4.5 million riders.<ref name="auto" />

== Rolling stock ==
{{more citations needed section|date=April 2019}}

=== Locomotives ===
The service began with five [[EMD F40PH|F40PHL-2]] diesel locomotives. Tri-Rail later took delivery of three F40PH-2C locomotives and two ex-Amtrak EMD F40PHRs (Now upgraded to 3C specifications and electronics). In 2006, six [[EMD GP49]] locomotives were acquired from [[Norfolk Southern]] and were rebuilt by Mid America Car Company to the designation GP49H-3.<ref>Tri-Rail takes on rare GP49s ''[[Trains (magazine)|Trains]]'' April 2007 page 29</ref>

On October 29, 2008, the Tri-Rail switched to biodiesel fuel with a goal of a 99-percent blend, when available.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tri-rail.com |title=South Florida Regional Transportation Authority |website=Sfrta.fl.gov |access-date=2011-02-27}}</ref>

On February 25, 2011, Tri-Rail announced an order for ten [[Brookville BL36PH]] locomotives, with options for 13 more, from the [[Brookville Equipment Corporation]] at a cost of $109&nbsp;million.<ref name="sun" /> The purchase was met with criticism by the [[Florida Chamber of Commerce]] and state lawmakers, who claimed the bidding process was flawed. Rival bidder [[MotivePower]] filed a lawsuit against Tri-Rail, claiming that the bidding process was skewed in Brookville's favour.<ref name="sun">{{cite news|url= http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/109-million-tri-rail-contract-awarded-after-challenge |title=$109 Million Tri-Rail Contract Awarded After Challenge |newspaper=Sunshine State News |date=February 25, 2011 |access-date=2011-02-27 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110312073932/http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/109-million-tri-rail-contract-awarded-after-challenge |archive-date=March 12, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Tri-Rail later added two more BL36PH locomotives to the order for a total of 12. As of 2015, all locomotives have been delivered and are used in regular service, allowing the F40PHL-2, F40PH-2C, and F40PH locomotives to be retired. However, in July 2018, all the F40PHM-2C and F40PHR locomotives were sent up to [[Progress Rail]] in Patterson, Georgia to be rebuilt and returned to service for use on the Coastal Link. They were returned from August 2020 to January 2021, and have been put back in service on the RTA mainline.

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Tri Rail 803 Hollywood Florida Station (8562303983).jpg|M-K F40PHL-2 locomotive in Hollywood
File:Tri-rail EMD F40PH.jpg|M-K F40PHM-2C locomotive at West Palm Beach
File:Tri-Rail train Miami Airport train station 2015-04.jpg|EMD F40PHR-2C locomotive at Miami Intermodal Center
File:Tri-Rail 812.jpg|EMD GP49H-3 locomotive at Metrorail Transfer
File:Miami Airport train station Tri-Rail BL36PH 2015-04.jpg|Brookville BL36PH locomotive at the Miami Intermodal Center
File:RTA Tri-Rail F40PH-3C (Morrison-Knudsen) Miami Airport (51977108791).jpg|PRLX rebuilt M-K F40PHM-3C at the Miami Intermodal Center
</gallery>

=== Passenger cars ===
Tri-Rail uses two types of passenger cars. Since the beginning of operations, the system has used 26 [[Bombardier BiLevel Coach]]es purchased new from [[Urban Transportation Development Corporation]] (even though they were delivered in [[GO Transit]] colors, the Tri-Rail cars were purchased new and never used or sold secondhand by GO, only leased by GO for a short period of time), a common model among Canadian and US commuter railroads, 11 with operating cabs and 15 without. Briefly, bi-level rolling stock from [[Colorado Railcar]] (4 DMU power coaches and 2 unpowered coaches) was used beginning in 2006.

In 2010, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority agreed to purchase new rail cars from [[Hyundai Rotem]] for $95&nbsp;million.<ref name="sentinelnewcars">{{cite news |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-01-05/news/fl-tri-rail-new-trains-20130104_1_tri-rail-spokeswoman-bonnie-arnold-tri-rail-s-brookville-equipment |title=Tri-Rail gets new, safer passenger cars |first=Michael |last=Turnbell |publisher=Sun Sentinel |date=January 5, 2013 |access-date=2013-05-09 |archive-date=2013-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702142238/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-01-05/news/fl-tri-rail-new-trains-20130104_1_tri-rail-spokeswoman-bonnie-arnold-tri-rail-s-brookville-equipment |url-status=dead }}</ref> The first new car was put into service in March 2011. By late 2011, the 12 new locomotives and 24 new passenger cars had not yet been delivered, and the original cars, many over 30 years old, were falling into disrepair. This led to Tri-Rail often running two cars per train instead of three despite increasing ridership, leaving only standing room on many trains during rush hour.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/editorials/fl-trirail3-editorial-dl-20111202,0,5918920.story |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203222140/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/editorials/fl-trirail3-editorial-dl-20111202,0,5918920.story |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 3, 2013 |title=Tri-Rail faces more challenges than crowded cars |newspaper=Sun-Sentinel |date=December 2, 2011 |access-date=2011-12-02 }}</ref> By January 2013, all trains were again running with 3 cars, just as most of the Hyundai Rotem rail cars were delivered. In addition to decreased comfort but more reliability, the new cars provide additional safety with front and rear [[crumple zones]] designed to absorb energy in a crash.<ref name="sentinelnewcars" />

In 2015, three Bombardier coaches were renovated to include additional bicycle capacity. Cars 1002, 1006, and 1007 had one side of seating removed from the lower levels, which were in turn replaced by bike racks. These trains with special bike cars have the capacity to carry an additional 14 bicycles per train.

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Tri-rail Bombardier BiLevel Coach.jpg|Tri-Rail cab car 501 departing Deerfield Beach
File:Bikecar.JPG|One of Tri-Rail's bicycle cars, renovated to accommodate 14 bicycles per car
File:Miami Airport train station Tri-Rail platforms 2015-03 (16577512697).jpg|Hyundai Rotem trainsets at Miami Airport
File:Tri-Rail Hyundai Rotem cab car.jpg|Hyundai Rotem Cab in Hollywood
File:Miami Airport train station Tri-Rail platforms 2015-03 (16577512667).jpg|Hyundai Rotem cab closeup
</gallery>

=== Diesel multiple units ===
In 2003, after receiving a grant from the [[Florida Department of Transportation]], Tri-Rail contracted to purchase two pieces of [[rolling stock]] from Colorado Railcar: a self-propelled [[Colorado Railcar DMU|diesel multiple unit]] (DMU) prototype control car and unpowered bi-level coach entered regular service with Tri-Rail in October 2006. The new purpose-built railcars are larger than the [[Bombardier BiLevel Coach]]es, holding up to 188 passengers, with room for bicycles and luggage. Tri-Rail possessed four DMU control cars and two unpowered trailer cars. One DMU train usually consists of two DMU power cars at each end of a trailer coach (making for two complete DMU+trailer+DMU sets on the system). Throughout their short careers, the cars suffered from many mechanical issues. Because of this all the cars were placed in permanent storage in 2012. As of 2024, all the DMUs and trailers have been retired with 704, 7001, and 7002 sold to the [[Indiana Railway Museum]] for excursion train service and are now off the property.

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Tri-Rail EMD GP49 engine 813 in Hialeah Railyard.jpg|A pair of DMUs trailing behind EMD GP49 engine 813 in Hialeah Railyard
File:Tri-Rail (SFRTA) interior 2nd level.jpg|Colorado Railcar interior
File:Tri Rail DMU 706.png|Colorado Railcar DMU 706
</gallery>

=== Chart ===

==== Current fleet ====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year built
!Make and model
!Road Nos.
!Number delivered
!Number in service
!Capacity
!Notes
|-
| colspan="7" align="center" | '''Locomotives'''
|-
|1992 (Rebuilt 2020–21)
|[[Morrison–Knudsen|M-K]] [[EMD F40PH|F40PHM-3C]]
|807-809
|3
|3
| rowspan="4" |3 crew
|Units rebuilt between 2016-2019. Re-entered service in May 2021.
|-
|1981 (Rebuilt 2020–21)
|[[Electro-Motive Diesel|EMD]] [[EMD F40PH|F40PHR-3C]]
|810-811
|2
|2
|Ex-[[Amtrak]] units acquired in 1997. Units rebuilt between 2016-2019. Re-entered service in May 2021.
|-
|1980 (Rebuilt 2006)
|[[EMD GP49|EMD GP49H-3]]
|812, 815, 816
|6
|3
|Ex-[[Norfolk Southern Railway|NS]] GP49s. Locomotives were rebuilt and reclassified as GP49H-3 in 2006. Originally part of a larger fleet of GP49H-3 locomotives, numbered 812-817. 
*813 was retired after a crash in January 2016.
*814 was retired after a mechanical failure and was then used as a parts source. 
*817 was retired after a mechanical failure and is currently waiting final disposition. 
*As of July 2023, 813 and 814 have been sold to {{Tooltip|BUGX|Bruggere & Monson}} and are now off property.
*Remaining units to be retired in 2025.
|-
|2013–15
|[[Brookville Equipment|Brookville]] [[BL36PH]]
|818-829
|12
|12
|Delivered from 2013 to 2015. All are in service.
*818, 819, 822, are wrapped in the new paint scheme. 
|-
| colspan="7" align="center" | '''Passenger coaches and cab cars'''
|-
|1987
|[[UTDC]] [[Bombardier BiLevel Coach|Bi-Level]] [[Cab Car]]
|501-506
|6
|6
|136 and 3 crew
|Single-window half-width cab cars.
*501 and 503-505 are wrapped in the new paint scheme.
|-
|1987–1990
|[[UTDC]] [[Bombardier BiLevel Coach|Bi-Level Passenger Coach]]
|1001–1015
|15
|15
|142 (trailer cars),<br />128 (bicycle cars)
|All are now bicycle cars, with the exception of 1009 and 1015.
* 1002-1004, 1006, 1008-1010, and 1012-1015 are wrapped in the new paint scheme.
|-
|1996
|[[Bombardier BiLevel Coach|Bombardier Bi-Level Cab Car]]
|507-511
|5
|3
|136 and 3 crew
|Full-width cab cars with two front windows and washroom at B end of car. Originally part of a larger fleet of coaches, numbered 507-511. 
*507, 508, 510, and 511 are wrapped in the new paint scheme.
*509 was stored after sustaining damage in a crash with a truck and is currently awaiting repair at Alstom’s plant in Hornell, New York.
*510 was severely damaged after colliding into garbage truck in 2016. However, it was repaired at Alstom’s plant in [[Hornell, New York]] and is currently stored.
|-
| rowspan="2" |2010–11
|[[Hyundai Rotem]] [[Rotem Commuter Cars|Cab Car]] 
|512-521
|10
|9
|140 and 3 crew
|In service since 2013. Briefly banned from leading following the failure of an inspection in 2019.
* 513-515 and 517-521 are wrapped in the new paint scheme.
|-
|[[Hyundai Rotem]] [[Rotem Commuter Cars|Passenger Coach]]
|1101–1114
|14
|14
|146
|Entered service from 2011 to 2013, and all are currently active.
*1101-1107, 1110, 1111, 1113, and 1114 are wrapped in the new paint scheme.
|-
|}

==== Former fleet ====

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year built
!Make and model
!Road Nos.
!Quantity
!Capacity
!Notes
|-
|1968 (Rebuilt 1988)
|[[Morrison–Knudsen|M-K]] [[EMD F40PH|F40PHL-2]]
|801-805
|5
| rowspan="2" |3 crew
|Rebuilt from [[Conrail|CR]] [[GP40]] locomotives using [[Burlington Northern Railroad|BN]] [[EMD F45|F45]] parts in 1988. Retired in 2015. 
*802, 803, and 805 were sold to {{Tooltip|BUGX|Bruggere & Monson}} and are stored in [[St. Marys, Georgia]].
*801 and 804 were sold to Motive Power and Equipment Solutions{{efn|A former locomotive builder in [[Greenville, South Carolina|Greenville]], [[South Carolina]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hawes |first1=Clarissa |title=Rail equipment provider files Chapter 7, cites 'cash flow issues' |url=https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-equipment-provider-files-chapter-7-cites-cash-flow-issues |website=FreightWaves |access-date=29 December 2023 |date=25 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Railroad Locomotives for Sale - MP&ES |url=https://railequipmentsolutions.com/|website=Motive Power & Equipment Solutions, Inc. |access-date=29 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309190248/https://railequipmentsolutions.com/ |archive-date=9 March 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This company is not to be confused with [[MotivePower, Inc.]].}} and rebuilt into F40NG’s for the [[D&SNG]].
|-
|1980 (Rebuilt 2006)
|[[EMD GP49|EMD GP49H-3]]
|813-814, 817
|3
|Ex-[[Norfolk Southern Railway|NS]] GP49s. Locomotives were rebuilt and reclassified as GP49H-3 in 2006, alongside the currently-active 812, 815, and 816. 
*813 was retired after a crash in January 2016 which burned its engine. 
*814 was retired after a mechanical failure in 2015. 
*817 was retired after a mechanical failure in 2023 and is currently being used as a parts source.
*As of July 2023, 813 and 814 have been sold to {{Tooltip|BUGX|Bruggere & Monson}} and are now off property.
|-
|2002
|[[Colorado Railcar]] [[Colorado Railcar DMU|Single-Level DMU Demo]]
|702
|1
|73 and 3 crew
|Formerly Colorado Railcar #2002; brought by Tri-Rail, repainted, and given a new number in 2004. It is now stored in Pueblo, Colorado.
|-
|2005–09
|[[Colorado Railcar]] [[Colorado Railcar DMU|Bi-Level DMU]]
|703-706
|4
|165 and 3 crew
|All were retired in 2012 due to reliability issues, left Tri-Rail in August 2023. 704 and 706 to [[Indiana Railway Museum]] and was delivered in March 2024.
|-
|2005–07
|[[Colorado Railcar]] [[Colorado Railcar DMU|Bi-Level Trailer Coach]]
|7001-7002
|2
|182
|Large double-decker coaches that usually transited with two DMUs. Sold to Indiana Railway Museum and were delivered in March 2024.
|}

==== Planned Fleet ====
Rolling stock planned to be built for Tri-Rail
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year built
!Make and model
!Road Nos.
!Quantity
!Capacity
!Notes

|-
|planned
|Newest [[Bombardier BiLevel Coach]]
|unknown
|unknown
|specifics unknown (136 min, to 162 max)
|[[Alstom]] now builds the cars
|}

== Accidents and incidents ==
On January 4, 2016, a passenger train collided with a [[garbage truck]] which had broken down on a [[grade crossing]] at [[Lake Worth Beach station]] and derailed. Twenty-two people were injured.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/lake-worth/tri-rail-hits-truck-in-lake-worth |title=Tri-Rail hits garbage truck in Lake Worth; 22 people suffer minor injuries |first1=Scott |last1=Sutton |first2=Christina |last2=Noce |first3=Gabrielle |last3=Sarann |publisher=WPTV |date=4 January 2016 |access-date=2016-01-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160107045906/http://www.wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/lake-worth/tri-rail-hits-truck-in-lake-worth |archive-date=7 January 2016 }}</ref> This marked the first derailment in almost 27 years of operation.

On January 28, 2016, Tri-Rail suffered their second derailment in [[Pompano Beach]], after a train hit debris on the tracks between the Cypress Creek and Pompano Beach stations. This section of track is also where Tri-Rail is allowed to go its fastest speed, 79&nbsp;MPH. One injury was reported and GP49H-3 locomotive #813 and a Bombardier BiLevel Coach directly behind it came off the rail.<ref name="wsvn">{{cite web|url= http://www.wsvn.com/story/31078604/train-derailed-in-fort-lauderdale-1-injured|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160129074126/http://www.wsvn.com/story/31078604/train-derailed-in-fort-lauderdale-1-injured |url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-01-29|title=Delays expected after Tri-Rail train derailment in Pompano Beach |work=WSVN-TV – 7NEWS |date=2016-01-28|access-date=2016-11-16}}</ref>

On October 25, 2019, a northbound Tri-Rail train led by Bombardier cabcar #509 hit a semitruck in [[Oakland Park, Florida|Oakland Park]]. Several people were injured, and cabcar 509 was sidelined after the incident.<ref>{{cite news |title=Several Injured In Tri-Rail Collision With Semi-Truck In Oakland Park |url=https://miami.cbslocal.com/2019/10/25/several-injured-in-tri-rail-collision-with-semi-truck-in-oakland-park/ |access-date=8 May 2022 |work=CBS Miami 4 News |agency=CBS Miami 4 |date=2019-10-25}}</ref>

On August 19, 2020 at [[Deerfield Beach]], GP49H-3 locomotive 816 caught on fire and its passengers from the train were safely evacuated. No injuries were reported.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tri-Rail train evacuated after engine catches fire in Deerfield Beach |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4EXj6LMdOc |website=YouTube | date=August 19, 2020 |publisher=WPLG Local 10 |access-date=17 July 2022}}</ref>

On August 27, 2022, a northbound Tri-Rail train hit a vehicle left on the tracks in Fort Lauderdale. 6 people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The train partially derailed as a result of the impact.<ref>{{cite web |title=6 sent to hospital after Tri-Rail train slams into abandoned vehicle, partially derails |url=https://www.local10.com/news/local/2022/08/27/6-sent-to-hospital-after-tri-rail-train-slams-into-abandoned-vehicle-partially-derails/ |website=WPLG Local 10 |date=27 August 2022 |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed">
File:TriRail on the ground.jpg|Derailed Tri-Rail cars in Lake Worth Beach on January 4, 2016
File:TriRail P604.jpg|View of the train and garbage truck it struck in Lake Worth Beach
File:Out of commission.jpg|Wrecked crossing signals at the site of the Lake Worth Beach accident
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Metrorail (Miami-Dade County)]]
* [[Metromover]]
* [[SunRail]]
* [[Transportation in South Florida]]
* [[List of Florida railroads]]
* [[List of United States commuter rail systems by ridership]]
* [[Commuter rail in North America]]

== References ==

{{notelist}}
{{reflist|33em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Tri-Rail}}
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
* {{official website}}
* [http://tri-railcoastallinkstudy.com/ Tri-Rail Coastal Link Study]
* [https://www.tri-rail.com South Florida Regional Transportation Authority]

{{South Florida rail metro system}}
{{USCommRail}}
{{FloridaTransSystems}}
{{Florida railroads}}
{{Greater Miami}}
{{Transdev}}

[[Category:Tri-Rail| ]]
[[Category:Commuter rail in the United States]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Florida]]
[[Category:Transdev]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1989]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1989]]
[[Category:1989 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Transportation in Miami]]