Yes, and Boca actually has two train stations run by two different railroads, which confuses plenty of first-timers. Our team’s short version is that one is fast and polished, the other is cheap and a bit slower, and the right pick comes down to how you’d like the day to go.
| Brightline | Tri-Rail | |
|---|---|---|
| Boca station | Downtown, near Mizner Park | Yamato Road, west of I-95 |
| Miami end | MiamiCentral, downtown | Several stops, including Miami Airport |
| Ride time | Under an hour | Closer to ninety minutes |
| Price | Higher, moves with demand | Low regional fares |
| Vibe | Assigned seats, new trains, snacks | Commuters, laptops, earbuds |
Brightline is the easy pick if you’re going downtown. Trains leave MiamiCentral about once an hour, and the Boca station puts you a short walk or quick ride from Mizner Park and East Palmetto Park Road. Fares change with demand and seat class, so a Saturday morning ticket can cost noticeably more than the same ride on a Wednesday.
Tri-Rail is the regional commuter line. It makes more stops, takes longer, and costs a fraction of Brightline. Its Boca station is out on Yamato Road near the office parks, so you’ll usually need a shuttle, bus or rideshare once you get off. It has one big advantage, though, which is a stop at Miami International Airport. If you’re coming straight off a flight with a suitcase, that saves you a trip across town to Brightline. Weekend trains run less often, so check the schedule before you head out.
We see plenty of people who live in one city and work in the other, and if you’re one of them, the train can make the I-95 commute a lot less painful. If you’re thinking about opening a shop instead, we wrote up a first month in business in Boca too.