A deal to brand Brightline trains in Florida and California with the Virgin name has fallen through, likely another victim of pandemic-imposed economic woes.
Brightline, which operates a rail line from Miami to Palm Beach and is building an extension to Orlando and is preparing to build a line from Las Vegas to Southern California, had agreed last year to rebrand its trains Virgin Trains, and to pay Richard Branson’s Virgin operation for the privilege. The amount has not been revealed, but the former Virgin America airline was paying about $7.7 million a year.
The woes that have placed Virgin Atlantic airlines in bankruptcy proceedings and have forced the sale of Virgin Australia have reduced both the luster of the name, and Branson’s ability to pay for an equity position in the rail operation.
