New Accolade Bolsters the Company’s Substantial Accomplishments in Providing a Clean and Healthy Environment for its Travelers and Staff
MIAMI – Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail in America, is now the first train company worldwide to receive the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management for its trains and stations as awarded by the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™), the organization that oversees the world’s premier framework for advancing health and well-being in buildings and communities of all kinds. Informed by the WELL Building Standard™ (WELL™) and more than 600 experts from the Task Force on COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Infections, the rating recognizes Brightline’s efforts to help protect the health, safety and well-being of its guests and teammates on trains and in stations and its commitment to building a sustainable and environmentally-forward high-speed trains in the U.S.
“Since our inception, Brightline has been committed to leading the industry in cleanliness standards and protocols that enhance the safety of our guests and teammates, and we are honored to be the first train in the world to achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating,” said Brightline President Patrick Goddard. “This recognition also validates our overall effort to provide a clean and safer ride to everyone onboard our trains and visiting our facilities. From supporting the use of solar power at our stations, to working toward operating completely carbon-free rides, we know every choice has an impact and we are proud of our substantial strong record.”
The WELL Health-Safety Rating is an evidence-based, third-party verified rating for all new and existing building and facility types focusing on operational policies, maintenance protocols, stakeholder engagement and emergency plans. Brightline has received this designation based upon demonstrating that the company’s trains and stations meet up to 15 operational protocols including:
- Air Quality: continuous Virus, Pathogen, and Air Quality Treatment, Brightline’s on-train air systems, supported by Siemens Technology, have the ability to mechanically increase fresh air supply and reduce human-and product generated air pollution to improve indoor air quality.
- Safety Features: robust emergency preparedness and response measures, including provision of resources, personnel and training that supports the teammates and guests’ response to diverse emergency situations. This also includes having a post-emergency plan for maintenance and sanitation protocols, access to PPE, phased re-entry, and ongoing evaluation of health and safety protocols in trains and stations.
- Cleaning & Sanitization Procedures: inventory of cleaning products that contain less hazardous ingredients in an effort to reduce the risk of respiratory and dermal symptoms of teammates and guests. Brightline coaches also feature touchless hygiene, including a touchless flush and a Dyson faucet that both dispenses water and dries hands from the same fixture, eliminating water dripping onto the floor.
“Feeling safe while we travel is paramount. In being the first train company to achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating, Brightline demonstrates a clear commitment to protocols that put people first as they move from point A to B,” said Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO, IWBI. “With this achievement, Brightline is leading the way for transportation providers by helping their customers feel more confident stepping on board.”
Brightline trains and stations will soon display the WELL Health-Safety seal communicating to guests and teammates that the public spaces are operated and maintained by evidence-based measures and best practices for safety that have been third-party verified. Brightline joins a list of like-minded companies to receive a WELL Health-Safety rating, including 1 Hotels and Planet Fitness.
“The determination in achieving this rating, which has never been accomplished by any moving structure, displays the innovative and collaborative spirit that we continuously promote at Brightline,” said Denaye Hinds, Director of Sustainability at Brightline. “Health, safety and well-being components contribute significantly to sustainability, and we will continue to push the boundaries of how this creates a positive environmental impact for rail and transportation as an industry.”
The WELL Health-Safety Rating designation is just one accolade in Brightline’s substantial sustainability repertoire, achieved through an ongoing commitment to improving the environment and communities it serves since it started service in 2018:
Sustainability
Brightline is the most environmentally friendly biodiesel-electric train in service, sourcing its biodiesel locally out of West Palm Beach. Its locomotives meet the highest emission standards set by the federal government. Riding the train reduces CO2 emissions by 75 percent per passenger mile (or kilometer) when compared to travel by a personal vehicle. This service will remove three million cars per year from area roadways.
Dual Locomotives
Every Brightline trainset is powered by two locomotives, one on each end. The train will never have to “turn around” – it runs back and forth. Having two locomotives provides backup power in case one engine fails, and keeps the A/C blowing in all conditions. Also, the locomotives are modular— the roof can be easily removed, and every major component can be lifted out and replaced.
Diesel-Electric Engines
The train is powered by a 16-cylinder, 4,000hp Cummins EPA Tier-IV compliant diesel-electric engine. And there’s one in each of the trains’ two locomotives. That’s a hugely powerful engine that is known for how cleanly and quietly it runs.
Integrating Clean Micromobility for Door-to-Door Service
Brightline is taking eco-consciousness and zero emission operations to the next level through its mobility as a service, Brightline+. As the most significant enhancement made to Brightline since its inception, the Brightline+ service enables passengers to leverage an upgraded Brightline mobile app to plan, book, and pay for their entire journey across a variety of eco-friendly transport modes, leading to a lower environmental impact. These vehicles include Brightline+’s fleet of Tesla cars, shared electric vans, and Circuit neighborhood electric vehicles (fully electric shared shuttles). All Brightline+ vehicles will be operated by private chauffeurs vetted and trained by Brightline and its mobility partner, Via, the global leader in TransitTech. Customers who choose to use their own vehicle to arrive at the station can pre-book and pay for their parking through the app and will use the QR code on their boarding pass to enter and exit the parking garage.
Brightline West To Be Fully Electric and the Cleanest High-Speed Train in the U.S.
Brightline West, the company’s future 260-mile expansion of service between Las Vegas and downtown Los Angeles, will utilize fully-electrified trainsets and maximize power generated by renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, which is expected to provide even greater reductions in transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. Running with zero emissions, it will be the cleanest high-speed train in America and will reach speeds exceeding 180mph.
Source: Brightline
Rod Washington: Rod is a blogger, writer, filmmaker, photographer, daydreamer who likes to cook. Rod produces and directs the web series, CUPIC: Diary of an Investigator. He also produces news and documentary video projects. Check out his podcast StoriesThisMoment at https://m3e.d71.myftpupload.com/stm-tncn-podcasts/
