SunRail extends late-night service

CENTRAL FLORIDA — State transportation officials are extending nighttime SunRail service for a year after a trial lasting several weeks, but it could be a while before service is expanded to the weekends or more often during the afternoons.

“I feel like it’s a good thing, especially for all the sports stuff, like Solar Bears and Magic games,” said SunRail rider Jordan Laica.

The DOT first added the late-night round-trip train about two and a half weeks ago to test ridership.

The added cost was about $340 per day.

The train leaves the DeBary station and heads south at 9:05 p.m.

It arrives at the Sand Lake Road station just after 10 p.m., then heads north, arriving at the DeBary station about 11:20 p.m.

“Back home in Chicago they have the trains running all night so people can get around easy. I think it will be a benefit to the city,” said Felix Jimenez, who moved to Orlando two weeks ago.

The additional train does not operate on the weekends or on holidays.

Expanding service into the weekends could cost as much as $19 million for additional trains.

Another $10 million would be used for operating and maintenance costs.

WFTV