Starting this Thursday, taking the South Florida commuter train costs more: Tri-Rail has implemented a 10% increase across all its fares — single tickets, round trips, 12-trip passes, and monthly passes — the first fare hike since 2019, directly affecting thousands of residents in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach, including the large Cuban community in Hialeah that relies on the system to commute to work.
The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) approved the increase following a public hearing held on June 26, and the new fare schedule by zones is as follows: a one-zone trip increases from $2.50 to $3; two zones from $3.75 to $4; three zones from $5 to $6; four zones from $6.25 to $7; five zones from $7.50 to $8; and six zones from $8.75 to $10.
The regional monthly pass increases from $155 to $165. The flat weekend rate, set at $5, remains unchanged. Discounts for eligible passengers are maintained and amount to half of the full fare.
For those who travel five days a week in three zones—such as between Hialeah and Miami or between Hialeah and Fort Lauderdale—the monthly expense on single tickets increases from around $100 to approximately $120.
The executive deputy director of the SFRTA, Diane Hernandez Del Calvo, justified the measure with these words: “Tri-Rail remains an important and affordable transportation option for residents, regular travelers, and visitors from across the region."
"This rate adjustment is just one of the components to sustain the service and support the long-term financial sustainability of the system."
Behind the increase is a structural financial crisis. The agency approved a budget of $150.2 million for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, relying on a state subsidy of only $15 million, far below the statutory minimum of $42.1 million. Without new sources of revenue, the SFRTA itself warned that the system could only operate until July 2027.
Tri-Rail connects 19 stations along 73 miles between MiamiCentral and West Palm Beach. For the Cuban community in Hialeah, key stops are Hialeah Market and the transfer station with Metrorail in Hialeah (2567 East 11th Avenue), where regional pass holders have free access to Miami-Dade Metrorail.
The landscape of rail transport in South Florida becomes even more complicated with the situation of Brightline.
Last Friday, the private company operating the train between Miami and the Orlando airport filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a New Jersey court, with a total debt of approximately $5.5 billion accumulated after years of revenues and passenger numbers significantly below expectations.
In 2025, Brightline transported 3.1 million passengers and generated $214 million in revenue, compared to an original projection of 6.6 million passengers and $485 million. The average fare for long trips was 19% lower than estimated because the company implemented aggressive discounts to attract travelers.
The bankruptcy affects Brightline Holdings LLC and other parent entities, but it expressly excludes the operating company Brightline Trains Florida LLC, so the trains continue to run as usual. The company secured $258 million in funding during the restructuring process, and its creditors have committed to providing an additional $490 million once the bankruptcy is concluded.
This context of higher cost of living in Miami —which in 2026 surpassed that of New York for the first time— means that the rising cost of public transportation particularly affects Cuban families and other low- to middle-income residents who rely on the train for their daily activities.
Those who need to consult the new fare table can do so at tri-rail.com or by calling 1-800-TRI-RAIL (874-7245).
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