Brightline derails, causing extensive damage; 'definitive' cause in question

A  Brightline train derailed during testing earlier this year, causing more than $400,000 of damage, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.

The derailment occurred at 5 p.m. Feb. 11 as one of Brightline's five passenger trains returned to the railroad's West Palm Beach maintenance facility, according to the incident report Brightline filed with the federal agency.

The train had just finished performing signal tests, according to Brightline.

As the train entered the yard, the locomotive truck — the part of the train that supports the locomotive and provides propulsion and braking — derailed, taking two axles off the track.

Damages to the train was about $408,000; damage to the track was negligible, according to Brightline.

The $3.5 billion Miami-to-Orlando passenger railroad is to begin phase 1 service, between Miami and West Palm Beach, by the end of the year. The railroad has not set a date for phase 2 — from West Palm, through the Treasure Coast and Space Coast and on to Orlando International Airport — but service is expected to be at least several years away.

Though popular in South Florida and much of Brevard County, Brightline has faced staunch opposition and legal action from Treasure Coast governments and citizen groups, which say the railroad would endanger public safety, the environment and quality of life.

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In its report to the agency, Brightline said the February derailment was caused by irregular track alignment, but noted its assessment is not “definitive."

The railroad said it found a few “anomalies” that could have been contributing factors.

For one, the configuration of the track — sharply curved — was “not ideal,” according to Brightline. Also, the track was new, with very rough surfaces that, according to Brightline, would have led to high friction.

Brightline realigned the track Feb. 21.

The locomotive truck that derailed was sent to Siemens, the manufacturer, for analysis. It was repaired, tested and sent back to West Palm, according to Brightline.

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All Aboard Florida on Monday said it followed proper procedures in reporting the incident to the federal agency.

“As confirmed by the Federal Railroad Administration, Brightline followed all applicable rules by providing prompt notification about the minor incident that occurred on its private property," Brightline said in an emailed statement.

But Treasure Coast rail-expansion opponents sharply criticized Brightline for what they described as a lack of transparency.

“Soon after this incident, AAF officials attended not one but two state legislative hearings about rail safety and never once disclosed facts about the derailment,” Brent Hanlon, chairman of the opposition group CARE FL, said in a news release.

CARE FL — the Citizens Against Rail Expansion in Florida — added that it confirmed the derailment after Martin County’s legal team wrote to the U.S. Department of Transportation, demanding information.

“It is unfortunate that Martin County is forced to spend taxpayer money to make sure our safety concerns are addressed at the state and federal levels,” Ruth Holmes, Martin County senior assistant attorney, said.

Brightline on Monday fired back, calling the opponents' statements "baseless fear tactic(s) by Treasure Coast consultants.”

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