SunRail

Page was last updated on 03/07/2025.

SunRail is the commuter rail line encompassing Osceola, Orange, Seminole, & Volusia Counties. The corridor is situated along roughly 61 miles of track formerly owned by CSX Transportation that stretches from Poinciana in Osceola County to DeLand in Volusia County. The line crosses through downtown Orlando as well as Kissimmee, Winter Park, Altomonte Springs, Longwood, Lake Mary, & Sanford.

Service Snapshot

  • Owned by: Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission (governing body), Florida Department of Transportation (track ownership, dispatch operations, state-level funding, rolling stock procurement, website).
  • Operated by: Alstom [(originally Bombardier Transportation, which was absorbed by Alstom in 2021) day-to-day operations].
  • Service Launched: May 1, 2014.
  • Number of Stations: 16.
  • Number of Trains in Operation: 11 Diesel-powered Locomotives, 23 passenger cars.

NEXT STOPS:

Fare Payment Information

Current Schedules

Station Information

Interactive Map

Main Website

Trip Planner

Service Overview

SunRail was largely designed as a commuter alternative to Interstate 4 during & after the I-4 Ultimate reconstruction project that took place between 2016 & 2021. Trains operate on weekdays between 5:30am & 10:00pm, except on major holidays such as New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, & Christmas. There is currently no weekend service, but limited weekend service may be carried out during certain events in the region – assuming the necessary funding to operate such service is in place.

During the AM & PM peak periods, trains typically operate every 30 minutes, with 60 to 90 minute headways during the midday & late evening hours.

Holiday Schedule

SunRail does not operate on the following major holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas.

Line Map

A static diagram of SunRail, its stations, & transit connections, is shown below. However, the SunRail website provides an interactive map showing station locations, parking options, major destinations along the corridor, & train locations as the move up & down the corridor.

Fares

Fares are paid via a tap-&-go farecard system called the SunCard & works very similarly to Chicago’s Ventra system, New York City’s OMNY system, & Flamingo Fares in Tampa & St. Petersburg. Customers who ride SunRail often can purchase & register a SunCard to use to board trains. Card value can be loaded online at the SunRail website or at station ticket vending machines. Those only using SunRail on occasion, such as visitors, may purchase a limited-use ticket that is good for a one-way or one round-trip journey only.

Upon arriving at the originating station & purchasing their fare, customers will need to utilize a fare valdiator machine at the station platform to validate their card prior to boarding the train. Once at the destination station, the card must be read against a validator machine again to ensure that the correct fare is charged. For those who have used BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) in the San Francisco, CA Bay Area, it works the exact same way.

A SunRail ticket validator machine at LYNX Central Station.

Rolling Stock

SunRail utilizes 11 MotivePower MP32PH-Q diesel-powered locomotives & 23 Bombardier-built bi-level passenger coaches. A typical consist will comprise of 1 locomotive (facing north) & 2 to 3 passenger cars. During special events, longer consists will be used to handle larger crowds.

Inside one of the Bombardier bi-level coaches.

A more expansive photo gallery is coming soon!

Future

There are currently two separate expansion projects that are undergoing the study phase – the Polk County extension & the Central Florida Sunshine Corridor. The latter is currently receiving the most attention & has slowly, but steadily been moving ahead despite political crosswinds that threaten to ultimately derail the entire project. The former is receiving a moderate amount of attention, but funding constraints & political crosswinds may also result in this project also not moving forward. A third project (though physically separate from SunRail itself) initially received some early-stage discussion & planning but has lay dormant since the late 2010s with little to no chance of moving forward. There are also two smaller, lesser-known extension proposals that have received limited attention from time to time, but have not moved forward.

  • SunRail Mainline
    • Initial Section (Phase I) – DeBary to Sand Lake Rd – Opened on May 1, 2014.
    • Phase 2 South – Sand Lake Rd to Poinciana – Opened on July 30, 2018.
    • Phase 2 North – DeBary to DeLand – Opened on August 12, 2024.
    • Polk County Extension – Under Study (includes 2 phases).
    • Central Florida Sunshine Corridor – Under Study (singular project).
    • Daytona Beach Extension – Limited study & discussion during the mid/late 2010s. No further updates have been provided during the past 5 years.
    • Sanford Airport Extension – Limited study & discussion during the mid/late 2010s. No further updates have been provided during the past 5 years.
  • Orange Blossom Express (separate project & network) – Limited study & discussion during the early/mid 2010s, with no further updates provided since 2019. There is little to no chance of the project moving forward.

Diagrams depicting both the proposed Lakeland extension & the planned Central Florida Sunshine Corridor project.

Disclaimer

While I do my best to keep the information listed in the Transport sections accurate, please keep in mind that schedules, fares, & other information is subject to change without notice. To obtain the latest information, please contact the transit agency directly. If you spot something wrong, please let me know via the Contact form.