On April 12, a Florida train accident resulted in tragedy when a Virgin Trains USA train struck a pedestrian in Pompano Beach, who then died near the tracks. This comes less than a month after another person was killed when a Virgin train struck their vehicle and dragged it for several blocks in North Miami. 

Brightline began operations in Florida in early 2018 and was formally rebranded as Virgin Trains USA on April 4, 2019. Since then, Virgin Trains USA has been criticized for the numerous deaths that have resulted from individuals being hit by its trains. One of the distinguishing features that sets Virgin Trains apart from previously existing rail lines is its high-speed rail system: the Miami to West Palm Beach route has trains traveling up to 79 miles per hour, which is substantially faster than the slow freight trains many Floridians are used to seeing.

Safety concerns prompted Florida lawmakers to call for a federal review of Virgin Trains’ safety protocols shortly after the rail line opened. In fact, Florida Senator Marco Rubio called for a safety review in January 2018 after two fatal accidents occurred within just the first week of operation: “how does the Department intend to ensure that the Florida Department of Transportation, its local partners, and the Florida East Coast Railway safeguard pedestrians at Brightline rail crossings?”

Virgin Trains has been quick to deny responsibility for the fatalities, insisting that its safety protocols should not be blamed. In response to these criticisms, it launched a safety campaign with the slogan “Stay Off Train Tracks”, effectively placing the responsibility to stay safe on each individual’s own shoulders.

Virgin Trains’ unwillingness to accept its role in the several fatalities caused by Virgin trains is unacceptable. It is unrealistic to expect that even vulnerable individuals, such as children and teenagers who do not fully understand how dangerous train tracks are, will go unharmed without additional safety efforts from Virgins Trains.