Brightline Holdings

Nicolas Petrovic as CEO of Brightline Holdings LLC (Courtesy of Brightline Trains)

People News: Brightline, UTA, NCTD, TriMet

Brightline Trains appoints Nicolas Petrovic as CEO of Brightline Holdings LLC and Mauricio Anderson as Chief Financial Officer of Brightline Holdings and its subsidiaries (other than Brightline West). Also, Paul Ray joins Utah Transit Authority (UTA) as Government Relations Director; Adrienne L. Johnson transitions to Deputy Chief People Officer at North County Transit–San Diego Railroad (NCTD) in California; and Jamie Snook rises to Executive Director of Capital Project Delivery at Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet).

RSI President Jim Riley (far right) moderated a fireside-chat style session with (left to right) Benji Schwartz, Director of Government Affairs and Advocacy, APTA; Greg Regan, President, Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO; Robert Pearsall, Partnerships Director, USHSR; and Husein Cumber, Senior Advisor, Brightline Holdings. (Marybeth Luczak Photograph)

How to Position Passenger Rail for Federal Funding

Navigating passenger rail funding in a new political landscape was the theme of a May 21 session at Railway Interchange 2025. The Railway Supply Institute (RSI), one of the three associations hosting the event, brought together executives from Brightline Holdings, U.S. High Speed Rail Association (USHSR), American Public Transportation Association (APTA), and Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) to discuss how companies can adapt.

Brightline West has inked a commitment with the High-Speed Rail Labor Coalition, which comprises 13 rail unions representing more than 160,000 freight, regional, commuter and passenger railroad workers in the United States. (Photograph Courtesy of Brightline West)

Transit Briefs: Brightline West, Metrolinx, NYMTA

Brightline West supports using union labor for its planned 218-mile high-speed rail system connecting Las Vegas and Southern California. Also, Metrolinx provides updates the Finch West LRT’s Humber College Station and Toronto Union Station projects in Canada; and the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will test “wide-aisle” fare gates.

Report: Brightline Eyes $1B Debt Sale

Brightline Holdings is looking to sell $1 billion in additional tax-exempt private activity bonds, Bloomberg L.P. reported on Nov. 4; the move would primarily finance the private-sector passenger rail operator’s new Miami to Orlando, Fla., line.

Brightline Acquires Site for Las Vegas Terminal

Brightline Holdings has bought 110 acres of land at the south end of Las Vegas Boulevard for a Brightline West terminal, part of its planned $8.4 billion high speed rail project connecting Las Vegas and Southern California.

Commentary

High-Speed Debate Continues—in Congress

The long-simmering controversy over high-speed rail (HSR) continued during a May 6 hearing before the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials. Its theme: “When Unlimited Potential Meets Limited Resources: The Benefits and Challenges of High-Speed Rail and Emerging Rail Technologies.”