Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Calls for a Brightline Safety Review

Statement

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson issued the following statement calling for a federal safety review of Brightline passenger trains following two fatalities and an accident during its first week in operation:

"I join with Florida Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson in calling on Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao to conduct a thorough investigation into the fatal accidents involving Florida's Brightline high-speed rail service. As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Railroad Subcommittee, I am especially concerned and determined to seek solutions on how to prevent these tragic incidents.

"On the morning of Friday, January 12, committee members joined me on a Brightline train for a preview voyage from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale. That very evening a woman was struck by a train. Since then, a second fatality occurred, and on January 19, a person was struck and hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.

"For three years before the Brightline launch, I had several discussions with representatives from All Aboard Florida about safety, which was my top committee priority then and continues to be now. As a member of the Railroad Subcommittee, I am committed to using every available resource to fight for safety improvements."

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