So that's a first, now I wonder if Brightline will try to emulate this in the United States?
I doubt it. The major cities served by Brightline (except for Miami) are not hubs for any domestic carrier. Miami is more of a gateway city to and from Latin America and joining a specific marketing alliance could rule out a number of other carriers.
I agree, Paul. DB serves many major airports in Germany directly, for example: Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf and the new Berlin Brandenburg. And of course the entire nation and beyond.
While Orlando might not be an official hub of one of the legacy airlines, it is an operating base of Southwest Airlines (reportedly the largest domestic carrier) and a major destination city for all airlines. Orlando has non-stop service to almost 100 domestic cities, and lots of international ones.
I think it might be valuable at this point to introduce precisely why the news is so important:
https://railway-news.com/db-becomes-first-intermodal-partner-of-the-star-alliance/
CMStP&P is correct in noting that many of the advantages of inherent intermodal 'facilitation' would work perfectly well between air service to and from Orlando and the adjacent new Brightline facility. The same ought to be true from Miami, and a logical extension might be 'one-ticket' facilitation of regional transit, rideshare, etc. to make last-mile part of a coherent 'experience' optimized for customer satisfaction.
The difference and problem is that Brightline only serves two metro areas.
charlie hebdoThe difference and problem is that Brightline only serves two metro areas.
A cooperative synergy doesn't have to be global to benefit both the operators and the passengers.
OvermodEven if it served only one, it would provide the 'intermodal' benefits mentioned for the Star Alliance. A cooperative synergy doesn't have to be global to benefit both the operators and the passengers.
Agree, plus Brightline offers service door to door for passengers which I don't see DB offering at the present time (unless you pack yourself in your luggage). Additionally, I am real confident the partnerships with Brightline will far exceed anything DB sets up including the potential at hauling cruise ship passengers to and from dock side in Miami. I don't think DB has any dock side service. I think the dock side service with Brightline will be a real hit with the increasing number of European travelers using Florida as a second residence and as a vacation destination.
https://www.annamaria.net/why-so-many-europeans-opt-for-follow-up-visits-to-florida/
I don't think I would argue that Brightline would do anything that DB 'doesn't' -- I think that part of DB participating in the Star Alliance is that it potentially adds a great many things, including regional high speed service to take load off regional air (I am tempted to say that most German service might count as 'regional' by American-scale standards...)
The point isn't really DB marketing, but Star Alliance marketing with DB as one of the potential 'solution providers' for travel options. It would be simple for the Star Alliance to include 'last-mile' solutions including the German equivalent of 'paratransit', SuperShuttle-style rideshare, Uber/Lyft, and car service... all in one portal with one consumer ordering and billing point.
Although Brightline serves Orlando, most of the people flying into Orlando are staying there (think Disneyworld). Another thing to take into consideration is that the entire country of Germany has only two air hubs, one big and one small. They are Frankfurt and Munich. Much of Germany is within distance of one or the other to make rail competitive with air.
Will Brightline's new line to Tampa run close to Tampa's main airport?
Backshop Although Brightline serves Orlando, most of the people flying into Orlando are staying there (think Disneyworld). Another thing to take into consideration is that the entire country of Germany has only two air hubs, one big and one small. They are Frankfurt and Munich. Much of Germany is within distance of one or the other to make rail competitive with air.
Add the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport.
charlie hebdo Backshop Although Brightline serves Orlando, most of the people flying into Orlando are staying there (think Disneyworld). Another thing to take into consideration is that the entire country of Germany has only two air hubs, one big and one small. They are Frankfurt and Munich. Much of Germany is within distance of one or the other to make rail competitive with air. Add the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport.
I don't think hub and spoke is prevalent. It's the new international airport serving the capital with a DB line integral.
I am sure Luftansia is having similar issues staffing their regional service. This allows them to set up the potential to ‘codeshare’ rail segments for short domestic connections to major airports. Maybe when Brightline adds more station it would make sense for American to use them as a feeder to MIA or MCO.
I am surprised that Brightline is not building into the Cruise Ship terminals at Port Canaveral to capture that business.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.